Work-Friendly Drug and Alcohol Rehab Centers

Taking the first step in addiction recovery by enrolling in a rehab program can be overwhelming and challenging. On top of this, many Americans have responsibilities they cannot abandon during treatment, such as their job.

Luckily, there are many work-friendly options when it comes to substance abuse recovery that allow you to balance your work commitments alongside your treatment needs.

Keep reading to learn all about work-friendly alcohol and drug rehab centers including types of treatment programs available, how to find the right addiction treatment center for you, and cost and insurance information.

Sometimes referred to as rehab for working professionals, work-friendly recovery programs are designed to treat addiction while accommodating the unique needs of individuals with full-time careers.

A common stigma associated with people with substance use disorders (SUDs) is that they cannot keep a job due to their addiction. However, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that 9.5% (10.8 million) of full-time employees had an SUD.

Many people in this position may not feel as though they can take time off to get drug or alcohol treatment. There are several laws and regulations that protect your right to receive treatment while employed and work-friendly rehabilitation programs are an important part of the equation.

There are a few ways work-friendly programs may differ from traditional rehab programs. These can include more access to technology, flexible treatment schedules, and different amenities.

Rehab for working professionals can have many benefits besides the numerous benefits of traditional rehab programs.

Benefits of traditional programs include:

• Improved physical health
• Improved mental health
• Decreased risk of overdose
• Improved relationships
• New friendships
• New hobbies
• Improved financial health
• Benefits specific to work-friendly programs include:
• Shorter treatment duration (in some cases)
• Ability to balance treatment and work
• Specialized treatment for specific careers
• Coordination between your employer and healthcare provider
• Access to technology/work amenities

There are many different kinds of work-friendly rehab programs. Based on the extent of your addiction, your needs, and your work needs, one type of program may be more well-suited for you than others.

There are two main modalities of addiction treatment programs: inpatient and outpatient. Some people start with inpatient treatment and transition to outpatient treatment while others start with outpatient rehab right off the bat.

Inpatient treatment is considered the highest level of care in the addiction recovery world as it offers round-the-clock care and supervision. This makes it a great option for people with more severe addictions. However, it requires participants to temporarily live in a care facility. This can be challenging for working professionals, which is why work-friendly programs offer unique amenities.

Outpatient treatment is still a very effective treatment approach but is not quite as intense as inpatient treatment. Some people with less severe addictions start in outpatient rehab, while others complete an inpatient program prior to enrolling in an outpatient program. Outpatient treatment is held at a treatment facility at specific times, and participants are only required to be there during these times. This can be more feasible for certain careers, which is why some professionals find outpatient treatment to better suit their needs.

Both can involve treatments like medication-assisted treatment (MAT), detox services, or behavioral health services like therapy.

While most treatment programs are inpatient or outpatient, there are some programs that serve as an in-between step for the two. These include intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) and partial hospitalization programs (PHPs). For someone who feels as though they need a higher level of care than an outpatient program and cannot commit to an inpatient program for one reason or another, these modalities can be more appealing.

Traditional outpatient programs tend to meet once a week for treatment, which may not be enough for some individuals. As a result, your provider may suggest a PHP. This is a more structured, supervised level of outpatient care that typically involves several hours of treatment most days of the week. PHPs involve intensive therapy as well as individual and group counseling primarily.

IOPs are very similar but are essentially a step down from PHPs. IOPs involve a couple of hours of treatment a couple of times a week, though exact numbers vary from program to program. IOPs can be a nice transition step between more intensive care and returning to your daily routine. They also tend to focus on aftercare options and relapse prevention to help bridge the gap.

Finally, if traveling to a recovery center is simply not feasible, you may consider a telehealth or virtual addiction treatment program.

Virtual and telehealth programs are held via phone or computer, typically via video chat. This can include one-on-one therapy or group counseling sessions. Telehealth programs can be very effective in helping treat addiction and learning healthy coping mechanisms but do not provide the supervision that other treatment modalities offer.

As a result, virtual programs are often recommended as a follow-up treatment service to more intensive programs. That being said, some full-time workers may find telehealth options to best suit their needs.

A part of many types of treatment programs, dual diagnosis treatment is a unique treatment approach designed to simultaneously address addiction and any co-occurring mental health conditions. Co-occurring conditions can include depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and more.

Dual diagnosis treatment prioritizes mental and behavioral health alongside physical health by offering services like behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy is all about reframing thought processes and learning healthy coping mechanisms to deal with the stresses and symptoms of mental illness.

While work-friendly programs are dedicated to helping you balance work and addiction treatment, it’s important to understand the steps you can take to improve this balance.

There are several strategies you can use to manage your work responsibilities while undergoing treatment. This can help you avoid burnout and ensure you receive as much benefit as possible from treatment under the circumstances.

Strategies to balance work and rehab include:

• Create an open line of communication with your employer
• Check in with yourself frequently
• Focus on self-care activities outside of work and treatment
• Build a good support system
• Find a mentor or peer who has undergone treatment while working for advice
• Practice time management techniques
• Set strict work hours for yourself
• Set small goals for work and treatment
• Prioritize your overall wellness

One of the most important factors in balancing work and rehab is communicating with your employer. It’s important to be honest and realistic about your needs when it comes to rehab to ensure that they understand the circumstances and have reasonable expectations of you. Your care provider may be able to help facilitate this discussion, but it will ultimately be up to you to be honest with your supervisor.

Finally, it’s vital to note that as a full-time worker, you have rights and are protected by specific laws that allow you to receive treatment without being penalized or fired for doing so. One of the biggest protections for American workers is the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

The FMLA allows eligible employees to take unpaid, protected leave for familial and medical reasons with continued health insurance. This includes up to 12 work weeks in a year for a serious health condition, such as addiction, that prevents an employee from effectively doing their job.

Individual states also have unique laws pertaining to substance abuse treatment. The bottom line is, that it is your right to get the care you need, and you should not feel as though you cannot or that you will be reprimanded for doing so.

Work-friendly rehab centers offer unique features that help participants balance their work and their recovery.

One main feature is flexible schedules and treatment options. Many work-friendly programs offer flexible treatment schedules that carve out specific hours of the day for work and others for rehabilitation services. Additionally, as mentioned above, there are many treatment modalities that can make it easier for full-time employees to access treatment.

Similarly, some rehab facilities offer treatment after hours or on weekends to make treatment more accessible for workers. This way, you can work your job as usual and attend treatment outside of work hours.

Lastly, many treatment programs for working professionals offer onsite amenities specifically designed for full-time employees. This can include WiFi, dedicated workspaces, and even computers and other technologies you may need. This varies from facility to facility of course.

When searching for a treatment facility, many people are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of options. It can be difficult to narrow down your options and understand what might make a rehab center right for you. Here are a few tips to get you started.

First, we recommend looking for treatment centers with positive reviews and client testimonials. These can help you understand what the client experience is like and what people like and do not like about specific facilities.

Another great thing to look out for is accreditations. There are several accreditations that can indicate that a treatment center is reputable and offers evidence-based care. A couple to look out for include Joint Commission accreditation and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accreditation.

It’s also essential to find a rehab center that offers individualized treatment plans. Like other healthcare services, addiction treatment is a very personal experience and thus requires personalized care. Treatment is not one-size-fits-all, so facilities that offer individualized plans often have better treatment success.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask potential centers any questions you may have.

Here are a couple to get you started:

• Do you offer work-friendly programs?
• What amenities do you offer for full-time workers?
• What is the cost of your treatment program?
• Is your program inpatient or outpatient?
• How long is your treatment program?
• What do your housing arrangements look like? Will I be sharing a room?
• What aftercare support do you offer?
• Do you offer payment plans/scholarships?
• Do you accept insurance?
• How will my treatment plan be developed?
• What certifications and licenses do your staff have?
• Do you allow pets?
• What are your visitor restrictions?

One concern many working professionals have with accessing addiction treatment is maintaining confidentiality and privacy during treatment. If you are absent from work or start to work different hours in order to receive treatment, you may worry that your private matters will be exposed to coworkers and others. However, there are many systems in place to ensure this does not happen.

While your employer may tell coworkers and other relevant individuals that you are on FMLA, they are prohibited from sharing why you are taking FMLA. In other words, your coworkers may know you’re out for a family or medical leave reason, but will not know that you are receiving substance abuse treatment unless you share that information.

If you are worried about what information is shared, you can discuss your privacy concerns with your employer. Be honest with your employer and set clear boundaries about what type of information they can share with other employees and what you would like them to avoid sharing outside of information they are legally prohibited from sharing.

Additionally, treatment centers have many systems in place to ensure your privacy concerns are met and that confidentiality is kept. One of these regulations is HIPPA or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Passed in 1996, this act protects privacy and security regarding certain kinds of information about your health and healthcare. This means health information that is individually identifiable cannot be shared with others or used for other purposes without your written consent.

Treatment itself is the biggest step in recovery, but having a good support system and engaging in aftercare services are just as important.

Both during and after treatment, having a solid support system can make all the difference in your recovery. Be it friends, family members, or peers you met through rehab, support systems can help hold you accountable and motivate you when you feel discouraged on your recovery journey. Additionally, they can help keep an eye out for signs of relapse post-treatment.

On a similar note, aftercare or continuing care services are essential to a smooth transition from treatment to your daily routine. These services look different for everyone based on individual needs but can include options such as regular therapy sessions, joining a support group or 12-step meeting, trying holistic treatments or alternative therapies, or living in sober housing temporarily.

Another part of aftercare is relapse prevention. Relapse education and relapse prevention strategies are vital to helping you identify potential relapse and prevent relapse. Strategies can include taking up new hobbies, practicing healthy coping mechanisms, and checking in with your support system.

When it comes to full-time employees, the stresses of work can be triggers for substance abuse. That being said, it’s important to practice self-care and healthy coping mechanisms. Setting boundaries for work is also important in maintaining sobriety.

Understanding the cost of work-friendly rehab programs can be a bit confusing, but if you talk to the right people and ask the right questions, you’ll be able to get all the information you need.

The cost of an addiction treatment program varies based on several factors. This can include type of treatment, length of program, availability of space, location, and your insurance provider. Some treatment centers offer financial assistance and payment plans, but details vary. Don’t be afraid to ask about financial assistance to get more information on how you can get your treatment covered.

For individuals with health insurance, it is often possible to get their treatment at least partially covered through insurance. Different insurance companies have different requirements for coverage, so be sure to check with your provider for details. Some insurance companies require that you receive a specific type of treatment, receive a diagnosis prior to treatment, or meet your deductible before receiving coverage. Additionally, you’ll need to ensure that the facility you choose accepts your insurance provider.

Accessing proper addiction treatment can be challenging for full-time employees. Luckily, there are many protections in place that ensure they are able to receive the treatment they need without facing repercussions. Additionally, many treatment centers offer rehab programs dedicated to treating working professionals.

Are you or a loved one ready to take the first step toward sobriety? Call our helpline today with any questions you have or for general guidance.