Even this quiet land of cows and cheese is not immune to drug abuse. Wisconsin’s most rural areas are witnessing a creeping tide of methamphetamine. Club drugs, cocaine, and heroin are prevalent in the populous eastern part of the state. Families who thought that drug abuse could not crop up in their community, let alone their own family, should be aware that no one is immune. Parents especially should educate themselves on the signs of drug abuse, and seek help immediately for any suspected problem.

Even in Wisconsin, drug and alcohol rehabilitation and treatment centers are more widely available than many people might realize. Because they are not all the same, offering a wide range of services, individuals and families seeking help should educate themselves on the requirements for effective drug or alcohol treatment. Only by careful evaluation of available programs will you be able to avoid the pitfalls that often lead to failure and a repeating cycle of addiction, recovery, and relapse.

Addiction has no magic cure. The process is complex and success depends on the individual, but a well-managed and comprehensive program is far more likely to produce a better outcome than one with a shotgun approach to addiction or one that cannot offer end-to-end continuity of care. This is often beyond the scope of clinics in smaller Wisconsin communities, which are often limited in staff and funding and must outsource many aspects of their program to local hospitals. Outpatient care is often littered with traps for the addict attempting to juggle school, work, family, and the temptations of the neighborhood tavern. Some programs focus on only one element of the process: detoxification, counseling, or support. A holistic approach is required.

It is natural for Wisconsin families to want to seek treatment close to home, at a drug and alcohol rehab center in Wisconsin. However, a local detox center may not be the best choice. Self transformation, the critical process of moving from a drug lifestyle back into the mainstream, is often best effected by breaking the addict completely away from the old environment during recovery. Families can unwittingly enable the addict by supporting him financially, or refusing to confront him, or simply by failing to realize how their own behavior is contributing to the addict’s stress. Quite often it is best to begin the process of recovery by checking in to an inpatient program in Wisconsin or somewhere else where the patient can focus 100% on getting well.

Such an approach is often better for families as well, who can then take advantage of this time alone to mend their own emotional damage. Any Wisconsin drug and alcohol rehab center should extend a hand to families by means of outreach programs that help addicts and families reconnect.

Choosing the right drug and alcohol treatment facility is critical to a good outcome. Rehab centers in Wisconsin vary just as they do elsewhere, so ask good questions before committing yourself or a loved one to anyone’s care.