Those who have pets consider them family. Your fur baby has been right by your side as you have faced the problems that life has thrown at you, so he should be there on the next part of your journey in a pet-friendly drug rehab center. He has laid his head in your lap while you spiraled into a life of drug addiction, so it’s only right that he should be there while you battle to regain control of your life. Facing the challenge of becoming sober and staying that way is best done with the support and help of someone or something that will unconditionally love you. Your pet will stay by your side the entire way without judgement. You can do this together with the help of a pet-friendly drug rehab center.
What are the advantages to pet-friendly drug rehab?
Your pet is always there for you with a wagging tail or a purr when you need it. You may have pushed everyone else away, but this little being relies on you for love and food. No one considers the anxiety, depression, and feelings of being unworthy that addicts experience as they progress into the darkness of their minds that is caused when they are addicted to drugs. They isolate themselves from everyone they love because they feel judged and have lost their self-esteem. Building confidence is important in recovery and your dog or cat can help you do that.
Typically, it is uncomfortable when first walking into the center that you choose but having your faithful companion with you can make it easier. Those who enter alcohol detox and rehab have some challenging days ahead of them. Who better to have by your side than the one who supplies you with unconditional love? Research has concluded that someone’s emotional and physical state are both improved from the love of a pet. Pets help:
- Decrease blood pressure and pulse
- Reduce anxiety
- Improve and stabilize mood
- Increase levels of endorphin
- Reduce sadness and anger
- Raise self-esteem
- Diminish frustration
- Decrease negative emotions
Pets are also a conversation starter. Sometimes it is nice to talk about something other than your drug use when that’s what you focus on all day long, and there is never a lack of conversation when you have your dog or cat at rehab. Besides the unconditional love and physical side effects of having a pet, there are also a number of reasons why pets specifically help in a drug rehab program that include:
- A healthy diversion from the challenges of difficult days in detox and rehab
- Constantly feeling loved and supported from your pet
- The building of a routine around your dog or cat can show you that you are able to build a routine in your own life
- A sense of accountability to caring for your pet.
- Appreciation for your pet that leads to taking better care of yourself so that you can better care for your fur baby, who has helped you through this difficult time.
- They make you feel more secure and less lonely.
How do I choose a drug rehab program that allows pets?
Choosing a drug rehab program is one of the most important decisions you will make when trying to achieve and maintain sobriety. It will determine the course of your recovery and your future as you deal with normal life stressors that arise. You are interviewing a facility as much as they are interviewing you, so asking questions will determine if it is a good fit for both of you. Some questions to get answered include:
- Do they welcome pets, such as small dogs, cats and other animals?
- Some are specifically pet-friendly, some are regular rehab facilities that allow pets as an amenity, and some do not allow them at all?
- Does their program treat the appropriate addiction or addictions?
- Every drug changes the brain differently, as well as creates its own set of problems during detox and withdrawal. The staff must be experienced in the detox and rehab of the particular addiction since some can be life-threatening as they leave your system.
- What combination of therapies are used?
- Each person responds to therapy in different ways. They may open right up in a group setting and shut down when one on one. A good program is customized according to the needs of each patient. Some treatments include:
- CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) helps patients recognize that they lack the capability of coping with outside stimuli. Patients learn how to change negative thoughts to positive ones so that they can better handle stress and anxiety. These skills benefit them long after they leave rehab and are especially valuable in dual diagnosis treatments.
- DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) allows the patient to discover what their triggers are and helps them avoid them in the future. They will also learn to adopt healthier behaviors instead of the damaging ones they are used to.
- REBT (Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy) helps people overcome self-defeating emotions like guilt, anger, and anxiety, while helping them change how they react to issues.
- MM (Matrix Model) has significantly helped those with stimulant addictions. The therapist forms a positive, non-confrontational, and encouraging relationship with the patient, helping to increase their self-esteem and self-worth.
- MI (Motivational Interviewing) is best used on those who did not want to go to rehab in the first place, which is about 60% of the facility’s population. This technique helps motivate them to accept and take full advantage of treatment.
- CM (Contingency Management) employs the use of incentives to help patients sustain sobriety and remain in drug addiction rehab.
- MAT (medication-assisted treatment) involves drugs designed to reduce uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms and intense cravings, especially since it can be fatal with some. The most common ones used for drug addictions are:
- Methadone eases withdrawal symptoms and blocks the feeling of being high if someone uses. If they are on the drug after successfully completing the program, methadone clinics provide their dose and support options.
- Suboxone (buprenorphine) can be prescribed outside of an addiction center setting. It decreases physical dependency, withdrawal symptoms, and cravings. Suboxone clinics offer their dose and are supportive to people who are in recovery.
- Vivitrol (naltrexone) blocks the high feeling. It is not itself addictive and will not cause withdrawal symptoms. It also suppresses cravings.
- Naloxone reverses the toxic effects of the drug, stopping an overdose.
- Alternate therapies that are utilized in different programs also include equine, art, music, drama, pet-friendly, acupuncture, and others that help to heal the person as a whole and remind them of what they used to love before drugs took over their mind.
- Do they have support options for after program completion?
- NA (Narcotics Anonymous) is a 12-step program that has been clinically proven to work. People in similar situations provide support and learn how to transition back into the world. There are also halfway houses and sober living homes that can help them transition slowly back into society.
- What are the financial options?
How much does pet-friendly drug rehab cost?
While it might be more expensive to choose a pet-friendly center, it is definitely a viable option. It is difficult to determine clear-cut prices with every center offering different amenities; however, facilities range from government-funded to luxury ones, and many are paid by health insurance. Cost averages can help someone decide on choosing which one benefits them.
- Detox costs
- Outpatient detox treatments range from $1,000 to $1,500, with the majority of inpatient programs including it in the plan.
- Inpatient rehab costs
- 30-day programs include housing, food, and activities so are more expensive at average at about $6,000. Renowned facilities are asking for $20,000 for those 30 days. 60- and 90-day programs range between $12,000 and $60,000.
- Outpatient rehab costs
- It costs $5,000 for 90 days of outpatient treatment, while more well-known ones cost $10,000. The price is adjusted to how often and how long the visits are made.
How can I afford pet-friendly drug rehab?
It is important to you to involve your pet in your rehabilitation. They have supported you through thick and think, and you cannot imagine leaving them with family, friends, or a boarding center. Instead of using them as an excuse not to go to rehab, find one that will include them. It is already overwhelming for an addict to think about coping with their issues without relying on drugs and thinking about the cost of it can send them back to their drug of choice. Financing your recovery should not have to be stressful. When it is not as simple as writing a check, some options include:
- Health insurance - One of the most popular ways to pay with coverage depending on the insurer’s policy. Types of insurance include:
- Medicaid
- Medicare
- Obamacare, or the ACA (Affordable Care Act)
- Private insurance
- Military insurance, such as may be used in rehab centers for vets.
- Grants and scholarships
- SAMSHA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - a branch of the government branch that provides substance abuse information and assistance paying for rehab.
- Sliding scale fees
- Payments set up according to the patient’s income level.
- Payment plans
- Monthly payment plans are generally offered and are often financed by third party institutions.
- Savings
- The use of an IRA, 401k plan, or a home’s equity may seem crazy, but there will be no future without the commitment, and these can help fund that.
- Crowdfunding
- Organizations, such as GoFundMe, allow friends, family, and community to donate to recovery. People can also make payments directly to the facility to avoid confusion.
One of the biggest steps of drug addiction recovery is truly the initial realization that you need help to recover. This is because it is followed by the overwhelming process of choosing and paying for a center, as well as the preparation to enter it — including covering responsibilities of job, family, and pets. Since your dog or cat have been there for you through every problem you have faced, keeping them with you through rehab may be all the support you need to get through it successfully. Finding a pet-friendly drug rehab center can help you survive a difficult process with your fur baby and best friend.
How Do I Find Pet Friendly Drug Rehab Near Me?
