If you’re addicted to drugs and/or alcohol, your first reflex is to go to a local rehab center to get treatment.
However, as the COVID-19 pandemic has already started to wind down and travel to other countries is becoming possible again, why not go overseas for treatment instead?
You might think, “That’s too costly!
Travel expenses plus rehab equals an empty bank account!”
This isn’t necessarily the case.
There are times when it’s actually cheaper to avail of inpatient rehab in another country even when you take into account the travel expenses.
No....,it doesn’t sound too good to be true. It’s reality!
The Top 4 Countries For Drug Rehab
If you wish to successfully recover from your alcoholism or drug addiction, a simple the pros and cons of each country can help you reach a decision
United States
The U.S.A. remains one of the best countries for alcoholism and drug rehab in the entire world.
It’s particularly known for its strict Anti-Drug Programs instituted by President Reagan back in the 1980's that led to mass incarceration of its own citizens.
Here are the programs the U.S. is most famous for.
Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous
The U.S. is where AA and NA were first founded. It’s a 12-step peer group system of rehab.
AA and NA served as the blueprint on how the U.S went about outpatient rehab treatment.
Betty Ford Clinic
The world-famous Betty Ford clinic offers multidisciplinary alcoholism treatment that expanded into drug treatment.
It offers an 80 percent recovery rate.
It starts at $10,000 a month and prices can go up to $1,000 to $1,200 daily, or $30,000 to $36,000 monthly.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has adopted U.S. rehab standards of treatment such as 12-step programs and CBT.
It also has a more nationalized system of rehab since it’s a smaller (set of) countries than the U.S.
The Priory Group
This is the United Kingdom’s foremost inpatient and outpatient rehab center. It’s like the U.K.’s equivalent of the Betty Ford Clinic.
It offers £2,000-a-week or $2,600-a-week packages.
You can spend upwards of £8,000-£12,000, or $10,400-$13,000 a month at Priory’s facilities.
Portugal
The progressive Portuguese government decriminalized low-level drug use, and legalized controlled usage of such substances to help with rehab and addiction treatment.
Portugal rehab centers are located in touristy and secluded locales of Alentejo and Algarve.
They’re allowed to pursue biomedical treatment of addiction.
Nova Vida Recovery
Portugal’s Nova Vida Recovery provides recovering patients with a tourist-friendly rehab center located on the Algarve coast.
It uses research-based personalized treatment on a case-to-case basis on top of legalized controlled usage.
It costs €14,000 or $15,500 for 28 days of inpatient treatment.
The length of the stay ranges from 7 to 28 days.
Switzerland
The Swiss government follows a more “patients first” approach to dealing with rehab vs. the U.S. and its criminalization of drug possession.
They instituted a safe injection program, and a HAT program wherein prescribed doses of heroin are given to addicts to help them wean off the drugs.
It’s a country that caters more to executives and professionals though, so its price tag is at a heftier $50,000 to $75,000 on average.
Clinic Les Alpes
The Clinic Les Alpes (Alps Clinic) is Switzerland’s best rehab center. It’s a luxury alpine chateau with inpatient treatment ranging from individual to group and family therapy.
The all-inclusive rehab service offers $31,000 to $47,000 weekly ,and between $124,000 to $188,000 monthly.
Thailand
Thailand doesn’t only indulge in tourism.
With a strong focus on dental tourism and cosmetic tourism for years, it is quickly expanding into other medical fields including drug and alcohol rehabilitation services.
As of 2020, Thailand has 370 registered private hospitals, and has a focus on delivering world-class medical tourism.
Rehab in Thailand on average can cost as little as $10,000 for 28 days of treatment, which includes includes all meals, accommodation and basic travel on top of the medical programs
East Meets West Type of Rehab Treatment
Miracles Asia in particular offers mindfulness meditation, 12-step programs, CBT, and holistic treatment.
It also offers esoteric Buddhist teachings to assist in teaching patients the value of self-control.
The main appeal of Thai rehab is cost-effectiveness.
Even though the same treatments you can find locally or in countries within E.U., U.K., North America (U.S. and Canada), Australia, or elsewhere in Asia are available in Thailand, you can get them at a fraction of the cost due to the difference in countries low cost of living.
First-World Healthcare That Puts First-World Countries to Shame
Rehab treatment in Thailand across the board combines CBT and medical detoxification with Buddhist or Zen teachings to empower your ability to control yourself mentally and physically for only $10,000 USD and get 28-30 days of access to addiction treatment.
Thailand’s healthcare services that help bolster the rehab offerings of every last Thailand rehab center are arguably superior to privatized U.S. healthcare or certainly their attempts at making it “universal”.
Dual Diagnosis and Co-Occurring Conditions
Thailand healthcare makes everything more affordable for rehab centers, thus allowing them to focus on CBT and group therapy care of internationally trained counselors, doctors, and psychiatrists.
Many of them also practice dual diagnosis so as to treat co-occurring mental health issues like PTSD and depression that might serve as one of the root causes of the substance abuse in the first place.
This is all done in a secluded and relaxing tropical backdrop for good measure.
Licensed By the Government
Like in the case with Portugal and Switzerland, Thailand’s government is supportive of their rehab and medical tourism market.
The country’s Ministry of Health certifies the authenticity and quality of the best rehab centers within it.
This should allow rehab patients from overseas to know which rehab centers will give them the best return for their investment when push comes to shove.
Feel free to hunt for the certifications of the accredited medical personnel and therapists.
Miracles Asia
The facilities and program offered by Miracles Asia is unique and the most engaging one you'll find in Phuket Thailand.
As we cater to the individual patient on a case-by-case basis, instead of offering the standard "one-size-fits-all treatment" that many other centers in the country deliver our clients often connect with their therapists and community here which allows them to gain a deeper understanding of how addiction is affecting their lives, and the life of those around them
Miracles Asia offer services such as CBT, dual diagnosis, detox, group therapy, individual therapy, as well as engagement with the 12-step AA program.
Conclusion
As you can see, you don’t need to go to your local rehab center by default.
There are plenty of international options available which might be better suited to your own individual needs and situation.
In fact, it might even be more advantageous to head overseas to be completely bubbled from all your normal triggers and emotions
You can also transform the stay into a complete wellness vacation with some time on tropical beaches and exploring other countries after your done with addiction treatment
Regarding the rehab center you should go to, you have loads of options, and each of the countries outlined above have their own unique ways to deal with drug addiction and substance abuse.
The most important thing is that you go with the best fit for your circumstances and needs.
Once you have narrowed down the country, you can read a more detailed guides on how to choose a drug rehabilitation center which lists out detailed questions you should ask during this research phase.
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