The Revolving Door of Rehab
The addiction treatment industry, a realm once meant to offer hope and healing, is increasingly shrouded in a troubling reality - The pursuit of revenue overshadows genuine patient outcomes. As rehab centers prioritize profit over care, the revolving door model takes hold, trapping vulnerable individuals in a cycle of relapse and readmission.
This blog takes a peak into only a few of the many dark truths of the rehab industry, including the alarming prescription of addictive medications without proper explanation, the questionable partnerships with lower-quality sober livings and the exploitative practices of referral relations. It is time to shed light on these issues and advocate for a shift towards patient-centric care and true recovery.
The Medication Quandary:
Many rehab centers prescribe highly addictive medications to their clients without fully discussing the side effects, dependency and long-term effects of what they are prescribed and discharged on. This lack of transparency leaves individuals unaware of the risks they are facing, perpetuating a cycle of reliance on these medications. Consequently, after being discharged, many find themselves back in the clutches of addiction or unable to break free from the medication dependency they were unknowingly handed, resulting in having to return to treatment centers to be tapered off or detoxed from the prescribed medication. This heartbreaking reality contributes to the revolving door and robs individuals of the opportunity to make informed decisions about their health and recovery.
Dubious Partnerships:
A concerning trend within the rehab industry is the association with lower-quality sober living facilities. Driven by convenience and referral relationships, some rehab centers overlook the lack of success stories and structure in these sober livings. Personal relationships between rehab management and sober living owners lead to off-the-record agreements, ensuring a steady stream of returning clients. Often the motivation behind such collaborations is the poorly managed houses proximity to the intensive outpatient centers of the referring treatment facility - not out of concern for quality care, but rather for maintaining census and increasing admissions.
The Referral Game:
Intensifying the concerning situation, rehab centers often rely on business developers, responsible for acquiring referrals. These individuals are generally untrained in any clinical matters and undergo minimal onboarding, limited to familiarizing themselves with CRM systems and LinkedIn posts. Armed with repetitive sales scripts and keywords, they spend minimal time within the facility, promoting it with an air of eloquence that masks their lack of knowledge about the actual quality of care provided. Their referral practices are often based on personal connections in the industry or reciprocation agreements, prioritizing quantity over quality and placing revenue streams above patient outcomes. As a result, the industry suffers from a disturbingly high turnover rate for this position, and individuals seeking help are being mislead, perpetuating a cycle of profit-driven practices rather than focusing on genuine patient well-being.
Gambit Recovery: Paving the Path to Recovery
While acknowledging that there are ethical rehab programs that prioritize their clients' well-being, we also recognize that we alone cannot overhaul the entire treatment center business model. However, at Gambit Recovery, we are dedicated to going above and beyond to advocate for people struggling with substance use issues. Our mission is to help individuals get and stay sober, so they don't have to return to the revolving doors of treatment. We aim to empower individuals to achieve lasting sobriety, guiding them towards a successful recovery journey that doesn't lead them back to the vicious cycle of relapse and readmission.
Gambit Recovery stands firm in its commitment to break the chains of the revolving door, by way of advocating for genuine care, transparency, and lasting recovery. We will continue to be the new standard of quality sober living and hope to drive positive change within the industry and help those struggling with addiction find a path towards healing and hope.
