The Best Consumer’s Guide to Choosing a Treatment Center

Knowing what to ask can help set you up for an optimal experience.

Meet Dr. Bob Lynn: A Pioneer in Addiction Treatment

A few years ago, I had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Bob Lynn through LinkedIn. With a career spanning half a century, Dr. Lynn has made significant contributions to the field of addiction treatment. He has held prominent roles in various clinical settings, addiction treatment levels, Employee Assistance Programs, State Government, and academia. As a Board Certified Licensed Professional Counselor and Senior Fellow in Neurofeedback Practice, he is a recognized authority in Family Therapy and Behavioral Therapy.

Dr. Lynn’s Contributions to the Treatment Community

Dr. Lynn is renowned for his many contributions to the Treatment Community, particularly his development of methods for client assessment and placement. He has been instrumental in creating client-centered care coordinated treatment systems that focus on research and outcome data. These systems have been implemented not only in the United States but also in Europe and the Middle East. His primary focus is on developing systemic community-based systems that promote wellness.

Changing the Face of Addiction Treatment

Our conversations often revolve around our shared goal of transforming the way addiction treatment is delivered. We both recognize that the current treatment methods have seen little evolution over the decades, and the stakes are too high to remain complacent. Too many people are struggling to access quality treatment and support services, and we are committed to changing this.

Sharing Knowledge to Improve Addiction Treatment Services

When I came across Dr. Lynn’s post about helping people choose addiction treatment services, I felt compelled to share it. I hope that this guide will be a valuable resource for those seeking help for addiction, and I encourage you to share it with others who may benefit from it.

Since, sadly, standards of care and scientific outcomes are rarely available, he is offering the following advice in choosing a treatment center for a loved one:
1. Ask for their outcomes — if not available — stay away
2. You need an independent evaluation, not a recommendation from a business development person who is getting paid to bring folks to the program
3. Go to the website. If they mention 12 step immersion for everyone and testimonials from Alumni — stay away
4. Ask if they provide Medication Assisted Therapy and Harm Reduction as a treatment option if they do not — stay away.
5. If you know the length of stay in advance — stay away
6. Ask if they provide Case Management in your community post treatment If they don’t — stay away.
7. Ask if you are isolated from your family and they take away your email and phone if they say yes — stay away.
8. Ask what the average length of inpatient stay is, if it is more than a few weeks — stay away. (unless it is in an acute care hospital)
9. Ask if support in the community includes help in finding jobs, housing, transportation, childcare, medical services, if not — stay away
10. When possible avoid programs that are in resort areas or are away from your community by more than several hours
11. Your treatment plan should include what you want, within clinical and ethical standards and is agreed upon by yourself if not — stay away
12. Ask if your family is involved in the program from day one, if not -stay away

Conclusion

The bottom line is that the stakes are simply too high for the field to keep doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results. As healthcare consumers we deserve scientifically validated and evidence-based care for our financial, emotional, physical, spiritual, and cultural capital.

We are entitled to patient-centered care, rather than the current treatment centered care where a formula is presented and then when it doesn’t work the consumer is to blame.

To learn more about Dr. Bob Lynn please check out the Addiction and Behavioral Health Alliance.

To learn more about Family Addiction Recovery coaching click here.