You’ve looked through options for a heroin addiction treatment center. In fact, you’ve found several that offer a robust LGBTQ curriculum. How should you choose between the gay drug rehab centers that you picked out? Are there deal breakers?
The Hallmarks of High-Quality Gay Drug Rehab Centers
The clinicians understand and respect the needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning community. They incorporate LGBTQ-informed treatments into the overall menu of services. Most importantly, many mainstream rehab centers have a friendly, welcoming, and non-judgmental attitude. Therefore, you feel safe at the various facilities.
Looking for the Deal Breakers
Dig a little deeper to differentiate between an excellent LGBTQ heroin treatment center and one that’s still on its way. Case in point is the availability of housing that respects gender identification versus the gender assigned at birth. Typically, residential treatment facilities offer onsite gender-separated accommodations. Transgender program participants should be able to select housing that reflects the gender they identify as during treatment if they so desire.
Another deal breaker is the absence of LGBTQ alumni. Most rehab programs feature alumni engagement as part of an aftercare setup. If a facility doesn’t, it can jeopardize your participation in this aspect of recovery. Rather than risking relapse, choose a facility that offers strong LGBTQ alumni representation.
Last but not least, identify the current participation of LGBTQ peers. Even though a program may typically have a significant gay participation rate overall, it may not right now. Peer support is of vital importance during recovery. Therefore, opt for a facility that includes a vibrant support group when you’re ready to check in.
Must-Have Modalities
High-quality gay drug rehab centers focus on your particular needs. That said, they do so with evidence-based modalities. Examples include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy for overcoming dysfunctional patterns in thinking and acting
- Dialectical behavior treatment, which lets you take control of overwhelming emotions under challenging circumstances
- Trauma treatment as a way to overcome past experiences that contribute to drug abuse
- LGBTQ support group participation that tackles issues such as coming out, HIV, hormone treatments, and family relationships
- Family therapy that welcomes your partner or chosen family members for healing and re-establishing of communication
Dual diagnosis treatment is another necessity. Many individuals with chemical dependency also have underlying mental health problems. Examples include bipolar disorder and anxiety. Members of the LGBTQ community are more likely to face these issues.
This has to do with stigmatization, early childhood challenges, and lack of acceptance by peers. Therefore, any mainstream, gay, or transgender addiction treatment center must have a robust dual diagnosis assessment and care program. Participating in this therapeutic intervention frequently eliminates one trigger for substance abuse.
Don’t Wait Any Longer to Check into Rehab
You’ve found some acceptable gay drug rehab centers. Look for must-have modalities as well as any deal breakers. Next, consult with the intake counselors to get a feel for the facilities. Finally, choose a program and sign up.
