Kentucky, like nearly every other state in the Union, has a widespread drug problem that encompasses everything from cocaine and heroin to the newer and rapidly spreading problems of meth and prescription drug abuse. Alcohol as well as club drugs like Ecstasy can be found wherever young people hang out, which means that every family in Kentucky could someday find themselves facing the need to find a drug or alcohol treatment program for a loved one.

Kentucky families have a wide choice of treatment options for substance abuse. Public as well as private drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers in Kentucky are available, but families should do their homework before committing to any particular program. While rehab centers in Kentucky are located in most larger communities statewide, the one in your area may or may not offer the type and level of services you need. A holistic approach to drug and alcohol treatment is required to produce a really positive outcome. The local detox center may only offer programs for managing withdrawal, or it may be a clinic which must outsource most of its programs, which makes continuity of care difficult. This can radically affect the quality of treatment and the patient’s ability to stick with it.

Make sure that any drug treatment program or center you consider is experienced in your particular problem, and can offer a holistic approach. For smaller communities in Kentucky, drug and alcohol treatment centers may be limited in their funding and staffing, and may not offer the type of inpatient care that is often the best way to get control of a drug or alcohol habit. Families should not hesitate to look farther afield in order to find the right facility, as picking the wrong one could simply lengthen the cycle of abuse, recovery, and relapse.

Drug treatment and alcohol recovery involves a lengthy course of detoxification, counseling, and behavior modification. A drug treatment center or program, in Kentucky or anywhere else, that does not address all three of these key elements is unlikely to effect a permanent recovery. Any family with an addiction problem should seriously consider the merits of inpatient care at a facility whose sole focus is on recovery. Such programs offer addicts a chance to make a total break from the old, enabling lifestyle while they work on the self-transformation required to kick a habit for life. Family and work stresses can distract from recovery; inpatient care allows the addict to distress, detox, and contemplate a new life, while receiving daily counseling and medical care designed to rebuild both the abused body and the mind.

There is no single approach to drug and alcohol treatment. Kentucky families must decide for themselves what approach to take, but any program should be tailored to the individual and his or her specific addiction. A good rehab center offers no-nonsense care and support to break emotional dependency on drugs and teach addicts how to cope with life without them. And that, for any addict, is the real goal.