How to choose — questions worth asking
This page does not recommend or list any facility. Instead, here are the questions that help you tell honest, clinical care from a glossy sales pitch — so you can evaluate any program on its merits.
A reminder on how to read this: a slick website, stock photos of beaches, or a 24/7 sales line tell you nothing about quality. What matters is licensing, evidence-based care, medication access, and a real aftercare plan.
Six questions to ask any program
Is it licensed and accredited?
Look for state licensing plus accreditation from the Joint Commission or CARF. These aren't guarantees, but their absence is a flag worth asking about.
Do they offer medication when it's indicated?
For opioid or alcohol use disorder, a program that refuses to offer or coordinate FDA-approved medication is out of step with the evidence. Ask directly.
Which evidence-based therapies do they use?
A good answer names specific approaches (CBT, MI, contingency management) and how often you'd get them — not vague talk of being 'holistic.'
How do they handle co-occurring mental health?
Depression, anxiety, trauma, and PTSD are common alongside addiction. Ask whether they assess and treat both together.
What does aftercare look like?
Recovery continues after discharge. A serious program plans for ongoing therapy, medication, and support — not just a graduation.
How are you paid, and what will I owe?
Ask what insurance covers and what you'd pay out of pocket. Thanks to federal parity law (MHPAEA), many plans must cover addiction care comparably to other medical care.
Watch for these warning signs
- Promises of a "cure" or a guaranteed success rate. Addiction is a chronic condition; honest programs talk about management, not miracles.
- Pressure to commit on the phone, or a "bed available right now, decide now" push.
- Vague answers about cost, or offers to waive your copay or pay for travel — these can be signs of unethical "patient brokering."
- Hostility toward medication for opioid or alcohol use disorder.
If something feels like a sales call rather than a clinical conversation, it's reasonable to slow down and get a second opinion. The free FindTreatment.gov tool and the SAMHSA Helpline can help you sanity-check options at no cost.
Not sure where to start? The SAMHSA National Helpline is free, confidential, and staffed 24/7 — they answer questions and make referrals to local treatment and support regardless of insurance. Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357), or use the government tool FindTreatment.gov.
By Maantis Editorial TeamClinically reviewed by Ariadne Wright-Zamelis, LMHCLast reviewed June 16, 2026