Addictions counseling and treatment provide support to the most vulnerable people, at a time when the family is in crisis. Unfortunately, there are many companies that prey upon the desperation of those affected by addiction. 

Not all rehabs are created equal. 

The following are some of my observations from working within the field.

Private addictions treatment centers have no governing body to enforce regulations. A private rehab can make things up as it goes along. There isn't any accountability. If a social worker’s performance is questioned, the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) would be the primary contact. The organization investigates to ensure that services and job performance adhere to standards and ethics. 

Private treatment centers answer to no one.

The term ‘addictions counselor’ is used to describe a job, not necessarily a qualification or certification. For example, I've seen fresh grads get hired as ‘addictions counselors’ with very little experience, conducting one-on-one counseling sessions without supervision of any kind. This is irresponsible and dangerous. There is a federation that certifies addictions counselors, who then may use the designation officially (CCAC or ICADC). However, certification is not required to call yourself an addictions counselor. 

In contrast, the term ‘social worker’ may only be used when registered with the OCSWSSW.

Calling to speak with intake staff doesn't mean you're speaking with an ‘addictions specialist’. Again, these terms refer to job titles rather than qualifications. When you call a private treatment facility, you are not speaking to a counselor, you are speaking to a salesperson.

Many private rehabs will outsource their calls to private, commission-based salespeople.

Private means the focus is on profit. A private treatment center offered to give me 10% of the profit (in cash, under the table) if I convinced any of the clients to extend their stays. There is not enough space in this blog to list how many ethical violations that arrangement would have included. This is just one of many examples where money trumped appropriate care or morals.

There's no way to assess a program's effectiveness. With the very nature of mental health treatment, the clientele with whom we work, and the various modalities,  it is not possible to quantify a success rate. Thus, any treatment facility giving you success ‘stats’ or indicating they are ‘one of the best’  is purely marketing.

Paying more doesn’t increase the quality of care/service.

Like so many people, I assumed that working in the private sector would mean more funding, higher qualifications and better resources than the public-funded centres. Boy, was I wrong! In fact, I would argue it’s the opposite. When working at a private centre, I had more experience (6 years at the time) than all the other clinical staff COMBINED! When clients would point out the glaring discrepancies between what was promised, and what was being delivered, their concerns were attributed to them being ‘addicts’ and dismissed.

Anyone looking for residential support for addiction treatment, please do your research.

Despite the above, I believe a good treatment centre can make all the difference in someone’s life. But, being victimized by a for-profit company can kill all hope for recovery. Research! Research! Research!

Here are some questions to ask and specific information to look for when you are researching private addiction treatment centres.

What are the specific qualifications of the counsellors? Are they certified or part of a regulatory body?

Ask about the specific modalities that are used by the counsellors - Is the program abstinence-based? AA-based?

Red Flag: if the answers are vague, for example, “ We use whatever approach meets the client's needs”. This is a good answer. But that goes without saying. What therapy-specific training have the staff received i.e. CBT? DBT?

Are the staff supervised by a psychiatrist or psychologist? Both of these professions use the Dr. title, as they require PhD-level education.

How are families involved in the recovery process? Although PHIPA (privacy laws) prevent staff from disclosing any information without permission, families should have a conversation about how much they will know about what is happening with their loved ones.

Ask for the service agreement in advance, including the rules, policies and procedures. What happens if someone gets kicked out? What can they get kicked out for?

If possible, get a lawyer to review the service agreement.

If you need any support navigating this confusing system, I am here to help!

Click here to book a free 20 minute consultation or here to book a full hour to make a plan for your specific needs.

Alicia