It’s scary to think that there are people out there looking to take advantage of you when you are at your most vulnerable. The last thing you need when you are taking steps up to get your life in order is someone pushing you back down. Here are some things to look out for and keep in mind when choosing the best rehabilitation option for you.
Who works there?
Can you find details of who works at the clinic and what their qualifications are? If a rehabilitation centre is unable to provide or share any of these details it’s a good idea to stop and consider, why not? It’s important to be able to trust the team that are going to be taking care of and supporting you through an intense and challenging time in your life.
Want to know more about the team at Arrow Health? You can read about our team, our medical advisory committee, and our business advisory board.
Watch out for hidden costs.
Scam rehabs tend to operate using hidden costs and additional charges. Ensure that you receive a written statement from your rehab centre regarding the total amount of payments required for your visit. This should also include information on how and when these payments are to be made. This plan should include any tests or additional requirements that are needed for your treatment and full disclosure of the charges for these.
It’s also a good idea to ask if you can see the centre before you commit to employing it’s services. One common way that some dodgy AOD (alcohol and other drugs) clinics work is by capturing you with a pretty brochure. According to the Victorian Health Complaints Commissioner’s two-year investigation into complaints against the private AOD sector, misrepresentation of both services and facilities were common issues.
Ask if you can take a tour of the premises and be sure to check out the accomodation and any other extras.
Are they invested in your recovery?
When you start engaging with a rehab clinic pay attention to the types of questions they ask you. Do they enquire about your history and/or request information from previous therapists or doctors? How interested do they seem in genuinely hearing about your struggles and the type of help you are looking for? Do they ask you in-depth questions about your addiction and offer treatment suggestions that align with you? If they only ask surface level questions and offer a generic sales pitch, it might be a good idea to hold off on signing anything further until you take the time to do more research.
Getting the right help is super important when it comes to your recovery.
I think I might have been scammed?
Scamwatch is run by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Their role is to provide information for people to recognise, avoid and report scams. If you think that you have been caught up in a scam or fraudulent activity you can report a scam. Please be aware that they are unable to assist you with recouping any financial losses.