What Is Luxury Drug Treatment?

Posted under Drug Rehab on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

When people think of treatment for drug and alcohol abuse, the image that most often comes to mind is one of deprivation, pain, dreariness and struggle. We can’t help but carry with us impressions we may have received through portrayals of drug addicts in or out of treatment in the movies, what we’ve read about or seen first-hand. This does a tremendous injustice to the actual alcohol and substance abuse treatment available today to clients of all means. Whether you are a person with limited income, a businessman or housewife solidly in the middle class, or a top executive, or high-profile celebrity, by choosing the right drug treatment facility for your particular needs, you can be assured of the best possible care. There is, however, a specific difference with luxury drug treatment that you will not find with the others: everything is first-class.

Reputation is Key

How do clients find out about the best luxury drug rehab treatment centers? It’s no secret that most do so by the reputation of the facilities themselves. There’s also word of mouth among private therapists and counselors, as well as media coverage of celebrity clients, even past attendance by the individual returning following a relapse. To use a phrase that seems to fit, there’s the best, and then there’s the rest. To the individual accustomed to only the best in life – furs, jewels, designer clothes, yachts, Lamborghinis, and multiple residences – the only drug treatment facility they would even consider is one that meets all their expectations. In other words, they want one that has the finest reputation – and track record.

That commitment to meeting client expectations is one of the attractions of the luxury drug treatment facility. Why? Because what really happens in those facilities is hard work. The staff and professionals at these facilities know that and recognize that anything they can do to ease clients’ minds and make them feel more comfortable while they’re in treatment is a step in the right direction. In essence, it’s one thing less for the clients to worry about.

What Does a Luxury Drug Treatment Facility Look Like?

Think, for a moment, of the lifestyle of the rich and famous. Where do they live? What types of creature comforts surround them at home and when they travel? Everything they do, everywhere they go, even the people they interact with, exude a certain level of exclusivity, class, and, yes, money. If you are in this league, you want what you’re accustomed to – all the time. That includes your stay in a luxury drug treatment facility.

Some luxury drug rehab facilities have been described as high-priced executive retreats, secluded private estates, or castles by the sea. Far from the medical institution-type look and feel, luxury drug treatment facilities and centers more resemble five-star hotels. It all begins with the first glimpse of the facility. Every attention to detail is evident in the exterior design, landscaping, and the immediate feeling of quietness, privacy and peacefulness. This first-class ambiance and décor continues inside.

Once the client steps through the door into the luxury drug treatment facility, the intent is to provide a safe, comfortable and relaxing environment in which to heal, to strengthen the inner self and learn to live a drug-free, sober life.

Typical Amenities Offered in Luxury Drug Treatment

While the following list is by no means all-inclusive, it does serve as a reference point for some of the typical amenities offered clients during luxury drug treatment. Some facilities have more of them available than others due to proximity to specific areas (ocean, mountains, wilderness), while others may be known for specific ultra-luxurious touches. In any case, the overarching reason for providing client with the highest quality features and amenities is to ensure that the individual concentrates on the necessary work to overcome the addiction that brought him there in the first place. Less stress over living conditions means greater peace of mind.

You might ask if these luxury amenities are included in the cost of the luxury drug treatment. The answer is: that depends on the facility, the type of addiction, length of treatment, type and quality of amenities, whether some are considered part of the treatment or add-on services. Generally speaking, however, the finest quality materials and furnishings are included in the luxury drug treatment facilities. Check with the specific facility you have in mind to find out what they include in their list of services and amenities.

• Secluded locations

• Intimate attention from leading drug and alcohol rehabilitation experts

• Guaranteed privacy

• Life coaching/recovery coaching

• In-depth psychological assessment

• Comprehensive plan to get the client back to a productive life

• Apartment suites with private entrances, some with ocean view (depending on facility)

• Secluded decks, private patios and sitting areas

• Private recovery suites (available)

• World-class, resort-style amenities (luxurious thread-count sheets, linens, scented soaps, toiletries, designer-style furniture and lighting)

• Flat-panel plasma TVs

• Fireplaces

• Full kitchens

• Full-time chef providing gourmet meals

• Full-time maid service

• High-speed Internet

• Personal trainer and gym

• Weekly massage

• Yoga and Pilates (may be optional)

• Garden, swimming pools, Jacuzzis, tennis courts

• Recreational activities such as rock climbing, hiking and more

• Weekly ocean excursions on private yachts (some locations)

• Beach access, close to the beach (some locations)

• Close to exclusive shops, boutiques and galleries (some locations)

• Weekend outings

Cutting-Edge Care

The best luxury drug treatment facilities provide much more than just style. What’s really important is the type of treatment, the caliber of the professionals involved, and the intimate, one-on-one attention that clients receive. Without leading rehabilitation experts and supreme attention to personalized care, all the fine amenities in the world won’t make a difference.

Each luxury drug treatment center has its own philosophy and uses multi-disciplinary treatment modalities. Some of these may include the following:

• Medically-monitored detoxification services (if necessary, to purge the body of alcohol and substances)

• Psychiatry

• Counseling

• Individual psychotherapy

• Family therapy

• Psychoeducational groups

• Group therapy

• Relapse prevention

• Stress management strategies

• Psychodrama

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

• Dialectic behavioral therapy (DBT)

• Somatic therapy

• Experiential therapy

• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

• Yoga/meditation

• Acupuncture

• Fitness and nutritional counseling

• Equine-assisted therapy

• Art therapy

• Spiritual development

Treatment for drug, alcohol and other addictions should focus on treating, not just the symptoms, but the whole person and the total condition.

How Long Will it Take?

Each person’s addiction is different. Your own tolerance, habit, type of addiction, length of addiction, whether or not you have multiple addictions (drugs, alcohol, gambling, sexual, etc.) or co-occurring addictions (drug and/or alcohol and mental health disorder), family history, general physical and emotional health and a number of other factors all come into play. During the initial assessment and screening, all these will be taken into account so that the professionals can develop a customized treatment plan based on your wants and needs. As such, your timetable will be completely independent of any other client.

Your progress will continue to be monitored and adjusted according to your readiness for more challenges. Some clients with shorter history of addiction or addiction to milder substances may go through treatment and into recovery faster than those suffering from a long-term addiction or a tougher-to-overcome addiction such as heroin. But even that is a generalization. Again, each person is different.

Be prepared to put in the time and do the work necessary to accomplish your goals – learning how to live drug- and addiction-free. Learn about the disease of addiction while you learn about yourself. Understand the underlying causes that drive your addictive behaviors, and gain the all-important tools that will help you in recovery.

Luxury Drug Treatment Comes with a Price

Naturally, the more exclusive the facility, the more expensive the treatment will be. Those with stellar reputations (such and such celebrity went there and kicked drugs and alcohol, etc.) are harder to get into and, therefore, may seem even more desirable to the potential client.

Clients who check into luxury drug treatment centers usually aren’t concerned about the cost. But don’t be deterred if this is the type of treatment that you feel will most benefit you. There is always a way to find the type of treatment you need. You may just have to search a little longer. If price is a consideration, then, contact the luxury drug treatment facility and inquire about payment plans, financing, or other options. Some residential luxury drug treatment facilities may offer outpatient programs or intensive treatment workshops that may be appropriate for your needs. These may be in conjunction with private psychotherapy, 12-step group meetings or other individual and/or group counseling sessions.

Ultimate Consideration – How Well Does it Work?

More than price, more than amenities, location, world-class chefs and services – what you need to consider most of all is how well does the luxury drug treatment program work? What is the track record of the facility in treating the type or types of addiction that you have? That’s all that should ultimately concern you. If you’re a compulsive gambler who also drinks, does the facility specialize in treating both addictions? If you have a sexual compulsivity or addiction, does the facility have certified sexual addiction therapists (CSATs) on staff? Also factor in the type and variety of aftercare programs available once you leave treatment and are in recovery.

No matter how luxurious the drug treatment center, how well they treat you and how well you do while you’re there, eventually you will leave and re-enter your world. If you hope to overcome the temptations, the stresses and cravings that are bound to appear, you need continuing assistance and support. Another measure of how well the luxury drug treatment program works is the quality of the aftercare support it provides.

In the End – Choose Recovery

Weigh all your options, whether that’s the location and exclusivity of the luxury drug treatment facility, number and type of amenities, its reputation, track record, credentials of the staff, and aftercare. Narrow your list to the few facilities that most appeal to you. Make an appointment and visit them, and ask all the questions you need to ensure that you’re satisfied. Then, make the choice to choose recovery. In the end, that’s the only decision that matters because it’s the one that can change your life forever.