Perhaps unsurprisingly, the United States has seen a rise in mental health concerns since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. Sure, it’s only been a couple of months since society adopted self-quarantine and social distancing measures. Still, these months have undoubtedly been dense with fear, financial insecurity, and isolation.
For those recovering from substance abuse and mental health disorders, the novel coronavirus outbreak is a challenging storm to withstand. That’s why, if someone relapses on drugs and alcohol during the COVID-19 pandemic, they may choose to attend a drug and alcohol addiction treatment center.
Addiction and mental illnesses can increase the risk of contracting the novel coronavirus, and lower peoples’ immunity to dangerous microorganisms. So, if you’re browsing addiction treatment facilities in search of the right spot for you, it’s crucial to choose an excellent place taking the necessary precautions.
Specific treatment centers may be taking more safety measures than others to prevent the spread of this new virus. Here are five crucial considerations to keep in mind if you’re currently searching for an addiction treatment program.
1. Is The Treatment Center Screening Potential Clients For Symptoms Before Admission?
If the treatment center that you’re considering entering isn’t conducting thorough phone interviews or virtual assessments before admitting their clients, they likely aren’t taking the novel coronavirus seriously.
One of the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to perform a thorough evaluation of a clients’ physical symptoms, if they have any. Some common symptoms of COVID-19 include:
2. Is the Addiction Center Adhering To CDC Guidelines?
The Centers for Disease Control recently created a myriad of guidelines for healthcare facilities (and the general public) to follow. This medical advice is highly valuable for preventing the spread of COVID-19. When you’re looking for a treatment center, you might want to double check that they’re complying with every guideline recommended by the CDC.
From physical distancing to diligent hand-washing, addiction treatment center staff must be fully aware of the proper precautions to take during the coronavirus outbreak (and relentlessly following them).
3. Are They Aware Of How COVID-19 Presents?
Yes, COVID-19 is classically viewed as a respiratory illness. However, it doesn’t always initially reveal itself in the lungs.
In fact, some of the first signs that someone contracted the novel coronavirus include nausea, diarrhea, headaches, and more. Unfortunately, these symptoms often tend to overlap with symptoms of drug or alcohol withdrawal.
That’s why it’s important for a rehab to have a knowledgeable admissions team ready to answer any questions you may have about the collision of treatment and COVID-19.
4. Is This Addiction Rehab Utilizing Virtual Means Of Communication?
Hotel California by the Sea currently conducts all outpatient services through telehealth appointments, including support groups. This way, our outpatient clients rarely, or never, need to leave their homes while receiving the help they need to recover from drug addiction or alcoholism.
Using technology to communicate can drastically reduce the chances of contracting this dangerous virus. For this reason, choosing to attend a treatment program that utilizes virtual communication methods in their program is a smart choice.
5. Are Staff Members And Clients Monitored Daily For Symptoms?
It isn’t enough for a mental health facility to check once whether a client has contracted the newest coronavirus. In order to provide the best long term recovery support to clients, a rehab facility should constantly monitor the health of their patients.
At Hotel California by the Sea, we screen and monitor for COVID-19 symptoms every single day. That way, if any symptoms present themselves in a client, we can act immediately and execute the necessary emergency protocols to protect all of our clients.
With the government stressing taking social distancing measures, it could be challenging to decide whether or not going to inpatient addiction treatment is a good idea. We’re here to tell you that, if done right, addiction treatment is the best choice for someone suffering from drug or alcohol abuse – even during a global pandemic.
If you decide to contact a treatment center, make sure to ask about everything their health care professionals are doing to prevent the spread of the virus. The right addiction treatment program will be happy to answer your questions and address any of your concerns about contracting an illness like COVID-19.
COVID-19 doesn’t need to stop someone from seeking the help they need. If you or a loved one is suffering from addiction, or has relapsed on drugs or alcohol during the COVID-19 outbreak, be sure to contact ustoday. Our admissions staff are ready to answer your questions 24/7. Learn more about what we’re doing to protect our clients from COVID-19 here.