Which is the best policy for a drug or alcohol rehab program? How does a residential program deal with on-site illicit use? Obviously there are 2 different rooute that can be taken. One is some sort of punitive action but essentially allows people back in or continue if they have a slip. The other is a zero tolerance policy that with any useage or drugs or alcohol the person is removed and not allowed back in.

The risk with the forgiveness policy is that it make the consequences of using not as great and it may actually allow clients to plan a “relapse” because if they get caught it is not that big a deal. This of course leads to a facility that ends up with more drugs and alcohol being smuggled in. This puts the other clients at greater risk as they may relapse if exposed to drug or alcohol early in their rehab treatment. Sometimes if someone has a slip they will decide to leave the facility and lead to a full blown relaspe. So a lack of a zero tolerance policy may lead to a greater risk for more clients in a rehab.

The risk of an absolute zero tolerance policy is that it may appear to be cruel and unforgiving. By expecting clients who have admitted they have a problem to have a perfect record in rehab treatment, are we expecting too much? However if someone knows the consequences will be immediate and final it will discourage people from trying to use alcohol or drugs and is that not the main purpose of a rehab? There is also the question of the law. Many of the substances abused are illegal and does a rehab even have the “right” to forgive illegal action?

Tough questions but I tend to fall on the side of zero tolerance. The people who go to a rehab and actually do not try to smuggle or find drugs or alcohol deserve the safety that zero tolerance affords them. It is also the only sane way to deal with the legal issue. The research also tends to favor zero tolerance rehabs with a lower relapse rate. Zero tolerance also aids people in regaining their boudaries, another treatment goal. Before you go to any rehab treatment center though, ask what their policy is and make sure you understand it.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 20th, 2005 at 8:50 pm and is filed under Drug Addiction, Drug Rehab. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.