Connecticut has an unfortunate location with regard to the war on drugs: smack in the middle of the New England Pipeline for drug smugglers, between Canada and New York. Heroin and cocaine abuse are exploding in a state with an historically low substance abuse problem. Add to that the abrupt rise of meth and club drugs among thrill-seeking high school and college students, and Connecticut’s drug problem is reaching stealthily out of the inner cities toward every middle class home.

Combating the problem are Connecticut’s drug courts and publicly funded drug rehabilitation programs and centers. A statewide network of alcohol and drug treatment centers includes both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation and recovery centers run by the state of Connecticut. Alcohol and drug treatment facilities in Connecticut range from detox centers to hospitals and mental health clinics, public rehabilitation centers and residential treatment facilities.

The sheer array of available services may be bewildering to families unaccustomed to dealing with drug abuse. How to choose? You should ask questions and evaluate all treatment facilities against the long-term goal of “sober for life.” Simple detoxification is not enough. Choose a rehabilitation facility in Connecticut or anywhere else based on its experience with your type of problem and the level of service it can offer.

A holistic approach is vital to long-term recovery. Three key elements of any successful drug or alcohol treatment program involve detoxification to remove drug toxins from the abuser’s system; counseling to help the addict cope with the psychological craving for the substance; and behavior modification to prevent relapse. You may or may not find the perfect rehab facility in Connecticut; if the ones in your local area seem to offer a limited or cookie cutter approach to abuse, keep looking.

Some families resist sending a loved one to an inpatient treatment facility away from their anxious eyes. This can be a serious mistake. Often a residential rehabilitation center is the best choice for removing the addict from the enabling environment and forcing a transformation in attitude and lifestyle. Without the distractions of work and family and the temptations of the local liquor store or corner drug dealer, the addict is free to focus on recovery. This is helped along by exposure to a staff trained to help the patient confront his addiction and learn to cope without drugs. Professional counseling, close support, and therapy that teaches the addict how to recognize and resist the factors that triggered cravings are all essential to full recovery.

Evaluate the centers for drug and alcohol rehabilitation in your area of Connecticut and extend your search if you do not find one that seems to offer a comprehensive program. Detox is only the beginning. Returning to health means nutrition and fitness as well as constant emotional support to rebuild shattered lives. Above all, the addict needs to discover what drove the addiction and how to stop reaching for drugs to deal with life’s problems. The right rehab center is one that focuses on “clean for life.”