Finding Treatment

Finding treatment for drug and alcohol recovery can be a complex process. Whether you’re looking for yourself or for a loved one, there are many options available. More programs are opening to help combat the opioid epidemic and current programs are restructuring to better meet the needs of people in recovery.

First Steps

In New York State, most treatment programs must be certified by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) in order to operate. When looking for programs, check with the provider to confirm that they received certification from OASAS.

It is important to ensure that you find the correct level of care. Different levels are designed for both different needs and different points in recovery. One person might thrive in one type of program but might not benefit from another. OASAS developed the Level of Care for Alcohol and Drug Treatment Referral (LOCADTR) tool to help clinicians determine the level of care that best meets each person’s treatment needs.

Talking with professionals to get an assessment is critical in finding treatment. By using the LOCADTR, our Intake professionals can help you find the most suitable program. Cazenovia Recovery offers residential treatment and support programs, and we will gladly connect anyone to other providers for services we don’t offer.

Other Recommendations for Finding Treatment

When finding treatment options, there are a few other tips to keep in mind. First, look for programs or agencies with a history of success. With many new programs and agencies developing, it’s hard to know which are truly familiar with both the recovery process and how to best serve people in need.

Second, ensure the program uses evidence-based practices. These include things like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Group Therapy, and others. Such practices are all backed by scientific evidence and have been proven to help people in recovery.

Third, stay away from guarantees. Recovery is a disease. Just like with cancer, recurrences can and do happen. There is no way to guarantee that a person doesn’t experience a recurrence of use later. Any program that offers a guarantee doesn’t understand the realities of the disease.

Keep all of the above recommendations in mind when finding treatment. If you are interested in treatment, contact our Intake Department to talk about potential options. OASAS has also designed a dashboard for treatment availability that shows you programs and treatment availability in your area.