Drug rehab is available nowadays in a dizzying array of shapes and sizes, from very basic outpatient detox through fully immersive and involved rural retreats in beautiful locations. Some people naturally assume one is better than the other, or that the length and price of that stay should be key indicators of their effectiveness. In fact, the only true measure of a drug rehab treatment center’s value is its success rate with addicts. Period.

There is some correlation between length of stay and efficacy, but generally the point is to find a program that actually takes an informed and scientific approach to treatment. Addiction is widely misunderstood, and these days more centers seem more concerned with toeing the “disease” line than coming up with more incisive approaches. Thankfully there are some centers that get everything right about drug abuse, and many offer something like crash courses in this valuable knowledge.

If you want to get well and stay sober, it is essential to understand what’s driving your addiction. Facile answers such as the sun’s coming up in the morning only make light of the problem, implying addiction is somehow a genetic “mystery” beyond the means of science to ever crack. In fact, countless studies have shown that addicts evince the same thoughts, feelings and motives as everyone else, making the addictive act utterly comprehensible and treatable.

All you need to get started is a program that places an emphasis on true individualized therapy. Whether it be massage, meditation or traditional talk therapy, one-on-one attention is key to unlocking this scourge’s terrible power.