Recovery is possible. We are open 24/7. 866-797-7962

Why Should I Choose an Accredited Drug Rehab Facility in North Carolina?

Medically Verified: 2/1/24

Medical Reviewer

Chief Editor

All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.

Addiction is a chronic and progressive disease that causes devastating effects on every area of an individual’s life. When left untreated, substance abuse can lead to harrowing physical and mental health effects. Because of this, treating drug and alcohol addiction must be done with tact and skill. This is why drug rehab facilities are not considered effective unless they are accredited by a professional service provider.

When a drug treatment program is accredited, that means it has been evaluated to ensure therapy and client care standards. In other words, drug rehab facilities without accreditation cannot guarantee safety, success, or quality of care. The best way to ensure the quality of care is to send a loved one to an accredited drug rehab facility in North Carolina.

What is Accreditation?

Accreditation proves that an addiction treatment center is performing to international standards in regards to the quality of care and efficacy of treatment methodologies. One of the most well-known accrediting bodies is the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). This company began in 1966 and has evaluated thousands of programs around the world. Because of this, the CARF gold seal is something many individuals look for when choosing an addiction treatment center in North Carolina.

To become accredited by CARF, the treatment center will be initially evaluated through an internal examination of the program and business practices. After this is completed, a team of CARF experts will begin an on-site survey. During this survey, the experts will decipher whether the treatment center meets quality standards. This protects potential patients and ensures that the treatment facility can meet their needs.

If any areas need to be improved, the treatment center is required to submit a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) to demonstrate how the issues will be addressed.

Why is Accreditation Important for Drug Rehab Programs?

Accreditation is an essential tool for deciphering whether an addiction treatment program is reputable. Accredited drug rehab facilities in North Carolina are quality-controlled and equipped to provide the highest levels of care. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons that accreditation is important for drug and alcohol rehab programs.

Individualized Care

One of the standards that accreditation processes check for is the option for individualized treatment plans. Individualized care is extremely important when it comes to addiction treatment. Each patient comes from a different background, abused substances for different reasons, and struggles with varying co-occurring disorders. Because of this, every patient will require different methods of treatment for success.

Accreditation experts ensure that the treatment center has an effective intake and assessment process that allows them to create individualized treatment plans for each of their patients. These intake processes should include a thorough biopsychosocial assessment to determine the patient’s needs based on their biological, social, and psychological history.[1] This provides the drug rehab program with the whole picture of what the patient may need throughout their time in treatment.

Evidence-Based Addiction Treatment

When someone is attending a drug rehab program, they expect to be treated with evidence-based practices. Accredited programs base their treatment approaches on evidence-based therapy and addiction education.

Examples of evidence-based treatment approaches include:[2]

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
  • Contingency management (CM)
  • Motivational Interviewing (MI)
  • The matrix model
  • 12-step facilitation therapy
  • Family behavior therapy
  • Adolescent behavior therapy
  • Pharmacotherapies for tobacco, opioid, and alcohol addiction

While many treatment centers utilize holistic treatment approaches, they should always do so in combination with evidence-based practices. This is one of the things that CARF accreditation looks for before providing a drug rehab program in North Carolina with an accreditation certificate.

Adherence to Policy and Procedure Standards

When a treatment center is accredited, this means that its policies and procedures have been assessed and deemed “up to standards.” In other words, this means that the treatment center is running its business ethically.

Some of the policies and procedures that will be assessed include:

  • Daily operations
  • The education and training provided to staff members
  • Safety protocols
  • Privacy protocols
  • Client care processes
  • Policies/rules for staff and patients

Ensuring that a treatment center is properly enforcing policies and procedures is extremely important to the patients’ and staff’s safety. Without an accreditation, there is no one checking to make sure that the treatment center is doing so.

Diversity Training and Cultural Sensitivity

This is arguably one of the most important aspects of attending an accredited addiction treatment program in North Carolina.

Because every patient is from a different background, it is important for the staff members of the rehab to have diversity and cultural sensitivity training. When someone goes to an addiction treatment facility, they already feel shame and guilt due to their issues with substance abuse. It is important for them to feel safe and supported no matter their race, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, or religion.[3]

Accredited drug rehab centers have been reviewed and assessed to ensure that they provide diversity training to their staff members.

Attend a CARF Accredited Drug Rehab Program in North Carolina

If you or a loved one require addiction treatment, it is important that you find a reputable drug rehab facility to attend. Carolina Center for Recovery is a state-licensed, CARF accredited drug rehab program in North Carolina. We offer the highest levels of care, place an emphasis on evidence-based treatment, and provide individualized treatment planning for each patient who walks through our doors. Contact us for more information on how to get started.

References:

  1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30009748/
  2. https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition/evidence-based-approaches-to-drug-addiction-treatment
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3092156/

WE'RE READY TO HELP YOU BEGIN A NEW LIFE