How to Determine Success Rates at a Residential Treatment Facility

While there are plenty of excellent residential treatment facilities out there, not all of them offer the same type of program nor share their success rates. Should you or one of your family members need such a program, thorough research is essential to help you choose the best residential treatment center to help your loved one.

What Affects the Success Rates of a Residential Treatment Facility?

Several factors can affect positive outcome rates. While the program and methodology play a huge role, they shouldn’t be the only considerations. 

Individual factors include:

• • Motivation and willingness to change: Teens who are actively engaged in the treatment process and motivated to make positive changes are more likely to succeed.

• • Participant autonomy: Research confirms that individuals who voluntarily enter drug rehab or residential treatment for mental health tend to have higher recovery rates compared to those who are coerced or mandated.

• • Severity of the issue: Teens with less severe issues may have higher completion rates compared to those with more complex or longstanding problems.

• • Co-occurring disorders: The presence of co-occurring mental health disorders can complicate treatment and may impact the success ratio.

• • Family support: Teens with strong family support systems who are involved in the treatment process often have better outcomes.

 

According to the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, their Patient Outcomes Study Results indicate that the success of addiction recovery can be measured through a combination of detoxification effectiveness, family services, and outpatient mental health support.

This comprehensive approach helps them ensure their patients receive continuous care tailored to their individual needs. While there are no standards, their process is similar to the process used by most residential treatment facilities.

Additionally, a review by the Recovery Research Institute highlights that mental health outcomes, social well-being, and legal involvement are critical metrics in determining the effectiveness of residential treatment. The majority of studies reviewed reported significant improvements in these areas over time among attendees, underscoring the importance of holistic and integrated treatment plans

Mandated Addiction Treatment or Compulsory Admission into a Psychiatric Facility

Sometimes, the justice system mandates addiction treatment, such as for alcohol or drug abuse. Parents and law enforcement may mandate teenage children to attend a psychiatric or mental health residential facility following an acute mental health crisis or emergency intervention.

Individuals who feel forced into treatment are more likely to resist the process and find it harder to benefit from the therapy and support. They may be less open to feedback, less willing to try new approaches, and more likely to return to old habits at the end of the program.

Relapse rates for addiction resemble those of other chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and asthma.  ~ NIH – National Institute on Drug Abuse

Less Favorable Outcomes in Involuntary Admissions

Naturally, involuntary admissions tend to result in less favorable outcomes. While crisis interventions reduce immediate risks of individuals harming themselves or others, without long-term treatment plans like residential or inpatient treatment or even outpatient treatment with aftercare, these individuals relapse when they return to their normal patterns.

Even with the best laid plans, people can be influenced and slip into old habits. If they fail to fully accept methods of changing behaviors and offsetting triggers, it can be very difficult for them to bypass certain temptations.

Hope for Change

There is hope though that a large number of these individuals will end up seeing the light and really taking part in what such a program has to offer them. However, you can only lead a horse to water but not make him drink!

While voluntary participation typically leads to better results, it’s not the sole determining factor.

The Importance of Well-Structured Treatment Programs

A well-structured program that meets individual needs provides a supportive environment, and encourages active engagement can significantly impact outcomes for all participants, regardless of their initial motivation.

Program Efficacy Factors:

• • Quality of the program: Programs with experienced staff, evidence-based therapies, and personalized treatment plans tend to yield better outcomes. 

• • Program duration: Longer treatment programs may be more effective for some teens, allowing for deeper exploration and resolution of underlying issues.

• • Therapeutic approach: Programs that offer a variety of therapeutic modalities, such as individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, and experiential therapies, may have better outcomes.

• • Aftercare planning: Comprehensive aftercare planning, including ongoing therapy, support groups, and relapse prevention strategies, is crucial for maintaining progress after treatment.

Environmental Factors:

• • Peer influence: The presence of positive peer influences in the treatment environment can be beneficial for teens in recovery.

• • Supportive community: A supportive community that reinforces positive behaviors and provides resources for ongoing recovery can contribute to long-term recovery.

Indicators of Positive Outcomes in a Treatment Program

Staff Qualifications

Find out what the qualifications are of the staff that work at a given residential treatment facility. They should have a solid background in what they are offering to patients. This includes both an educational background and on the job training. You should also be concerned about how much one-on-one time the staff has for each patient. If the staff-to-patient ratio is too high, the recovery program is likely to have less favorable outcome percentages. Is there a team approach that includes highly qualified doctors, therapists, nurses, counselors, and educational and support staff?

Rules at the Facility

All residential treatment facilities have rules that the patients need to follow. It seems that the more rigid and structured that such a program is, the better it seems that patients are able to succeed with it. Make sure you carefully go over all the rules that will be enforced with a given residential treatment program before you take part in it. For parents, knowing what rules their children have to follow there helps them to decide if it is a good idea or not.

Balance of the Program

A quality residential treatment program also has a good balance. There is plenty of time for individual and group counseling, time alone to reflect on things, and fun activities to look forward to. You want to find a program that is encouraging more than it is demanding.

Programs that only focus on counseling or offering medications to help detox will have higher recidivism. This is because, for a person to truly change their behaviors, they need comprehensive help in different aspects of their psyche. 

What Type of Treatment is Offered?

It isn’t fair to compare the effectiveness of one type of residential treatment program against that of a treatment program in an entirely different category. For example, programs that deal with weight loss for teens often have higher recovery rates than those that deal with adult substance abuse. When you are comparing the efficacy of a program, please be sure you are measuring up apples against apples.

While statistics may be available, very few drug rehab programs or residential treatment facilities are able to really track how well those patients are doing six months or even a year down the road. However, you may be able to find some stories online shared by people about their experience in a particular residential treatment facility. Many program participants or patients want to share their experiences and help others to choose the same or a similar program. 

A tell-tale sign of the best programs are the evidence-based therapies and modalities they use. Ask questions. What scientifically validated treatment methods do they offer? There are many evidence-based treatment methods with documented success ratios. Are they using any of those?

Accreditation and Licensing

Health insurance companies typically only cover treatment at accredited facilities. Accreditation from reputable organizations like The Joint Commission or CARF ensures that the center meets high standards of care. If the program operates on a cash-only basis without proper accreditation, it may be a red flag indicating potential issues with the quality of care provided.

Transparency in Pricing and Services:

Accredited facilities are usually transparent about their pricing, services offered, and successful outcomes. A cash-only program that lacks transparency may not be providing comprehensive care or could be avoiding regulatory scrutiny.

Out-Patient Treatment

Outstanding residential treatment facilities recommend after care programs or have one of their own. They know the importance of ongoing post treatment counseling in long-term recovery and how it improves short and long-term recovery rates. Programs that offer after-care have higher recovery rates than those that do not offer similar services to their patients. 

Practical Tips for Choosing a Residential Treatment Facility with Higher Success Ratios

• • Verify Accreditation: Always verify the accreditation of the facility through official websites of accrediting bodies.

• • Insurance Compatibility: Confirm with your insurance provider which facilities are covered under your plan to ensure you’re choosing an accredited and compliant treatment center.

• • Evaluate Transparency: Be cautious of programs that are cash-only and lack transparency regarding their services and outcomes. Accredited facilities are generally more forthcoming with this information.

• • High Patient Satisfaction: Look for testimonials and reviews from former patients and their families. Positive feedback often reflects the quality of care and efficacy of treatment.

• • Clear Metrics and Success Ratios: Reputable programs should be transparent about their outcomes and the metrics they use to measure treatment effectiveness.  Including openly sharing outcome data on patient progress, completion rates, and post-treatment outcomes. 

By considering these factors, you can better assess the quality and reliability of a treatment center, ensuring that you or your loved one receive the best possible care.