When choosing between all of the drug and alcohol rehabs available today there are so many points to ponder. Another thing to consider is whether of not the facility gives refunds if after a few days if you decide it is not the place for you. This is a small point and it may have a big outcome or influence on your addiction treatment. When you closely examine the situation, it is another one of those things in life where the obvious right choice, is not necessarily right.

I’m sure when you read the point about refunds you said to yourself, oh yes I should ask about that, and make sure they give a refund if I don’t like it. These would seem to be the logical and prudent choice when choosing a drug rehab. However in rehabs, and a lot of other things in your life, having reversibility may not be the best thing for you and your mental health. First of all let’s remember that changing patterns involved in a medium to long term addiction is not easy. If it was, why would we need rehabs in the first place? Changing these patterns requires all your focus and sometimes a lot of hard work. Little distractions from your focus, might in some peoples cases, make the difference between success and failure at rehab. If the facility you choose gives a refund or a pro-rated refund, it might at a difficult time, give you reason to quit. You might tell yourself, “I’m not quite ready yet, so I should leave and save the rest of my money, and I’ll go back to rehab when I’m sure I can make it.” Or if there is one or two things you don’t like about the rehab or it’s program you will start looking for other places that are “better”. You know the grass is always greener, or in this case, the rehab is always greener on the other side. There will always be something you don’t like about a rehab, I don’t care if it’s the very best on in the world.

In the book, The Paradox of Choice, by Barry Shwartz, he states that people are happier, have less stress, and feel less “buyer’s remorse” if they make nonreversible decisions (1). Let’s see, doesn’t less stress, less remorse and more happy sound like the perfect recipe for relapse prevention? Please don’t mistake what I’m saying. Do your homework. Go look at the rehab, check with former clients, ask tough questions. But, once you pick your best choice you can afford, COMMIT to it. Don’t be afraid of a nonrefundable policy. Decide up front to stay the appropriate time at the rehab for you particular drug or alcohol addiction. Don’t do the “I’ll go and see in 30 days how I’m doing?” thing. Then inevitably you will leave too soon and end up maybe having to go back to rehab again. Please make your next rehab experience, your very last rehab experience.

1. The Paradox of Choice, Schwartz,B , HarpersCollins 2005, p 228

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