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A Guide to Luxury Rehab

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Whether or not you think an upscale rehab centre is right for you, there’s no denying that the comfort and luxury it brings can make the struggle of addiction recovery that much easier. Addiction recovery is not an easy process. Would it even be called recovery if it was easy an easy process? 

For that reason, many find the comfort, scenery, and relaxing setting of a luxury rehab worth it in easing the stresses and strains that come with the recovery process. So, carry on reading to find out how an upscale facility might be suitable for you.

Background plays a part

Like a disease, substance abuse can infect the lives of any of us. Addiction is a mental health issue affecting more than one group of people, regardless of social, cultural, or financial background. Rich or poor, substance abuse can affect us all

The predisposing factors for drug addiction are more likely to be impacted by social pressure, genetic predisposition, and mental/emotional factors. Therefore, different walks of life will need various treatment programmes, depending on the individual’s needs and background. This necessity results in a wide range of drug addiction treatment and rehab programmes available to suit the needs of many.

Filtering through this vast array of alcohol and substance abuse treatments is all the harder when you put a price tag on it. Whereas in everyday life, a highly-priced item might be considered of the best quality. That’s not always the case with rehab. 

Inpatient addiction centres should not always be measured based on how much they cost, but rather on whether they provide the treatments and type of tailored programme to suit your needs. So don’t fall into the same trap that those with plenty of money do. Don’t just choose the most expensive centre. Instead, do your research and ask plenty of questions to find the right treatment programme to suit you.

Focus on care and treatment

Upscale rehab facilities aren’t just about fancy amenities and scenic surroundings; a balance in quality and the appropriate amount of treatment and care is essential. Most good luxury rehabs strike this balance well

Justifying the cost of luxury treatment centres

The rehab centre with the highest price isn’t always the best choice, depending on the individual. The rich, famous, and wealthy can be particularly notorious for signing up for the most expensive or luxurious centres. 

However, the cost of the facility isn’t necessarily the glaring aspect, as it’s not always relevant or predictive of the type of care the centre will provide. Yes, high-quality rehabilitation centres allow you to spend extended periods in recovery in comfortable surroundings with the kind of amenities you might expect from a tropical, five-star resort. 

However, the level of care provided will and should be the most critical aspect of the centre. Therefore, it’s best to research a luxury rehab facility’s overall success rate, therapies, services, and amenities rather than just location. But, again, the price shouldn’t be the primary consideration. 

Recovery at Mountain Resorts, Beaches and Country Manors 

Research indicates that adolescents from wealthy homes are more likely to consume alcohol and misuse marijuana. However, drug use, in general, is not statistically different from that of other socioeconomic classes. Therefore, those with higher socioeconomic status are not safe from life’s issues that lead to addiction and drug abuse, as indicated by recent research and historical observation. So, regardless of your social upbringing, ideas about society or income level, treatment is necessary for addiction or drug abuse.

You may likely have seen celebrities and the rich recovering from addiction on TV and in films in beautifully serene, exotic, and private locations. Notably, a calming situational mood comes from spa-like activities, making the stay feel more like a holiday than a drug treatment programme. Helpfully, this allows a chance to recover mentally from the problems that drive individuals to alcohol and drug abuse. 

Luxury rehab facilities enable this relaxation by combining serene scenery and luxurious accommodations, such as ensuite and well-furnished private rooms, and highly celebrated medical and counselling personnel. This aspect of rehab is beneficial as recovery can be the focus more than the distraction of everyday responsibilities.

The secluded locations and privacy that ensue are essential to those who need this higher level of confidentiality to protect their public and professional lives. However, some may not have the option to switch off and avoid daily life, although this switch-off is essential for luxury facilities. 

For example, centres can often offer executive treatment programmes catering to CEOs, athletes, celebrities, and other high-profile people who may have to continue conducting business while undergoing a treatment programme. In addition, there is often more availability of external communication, computer, and business centres, to allow those who want to keep active in their busy lives to do so while also undergoing treatment.

Luxury rehab amenities

To provide a relaxed and serene environment that allows inpatients to have a better chance at recovery, luxury rehab centres offer lush and diverse amenities, such as:

  • Room service and concierge
  • Physical therapy and massage
  • Restaurant-style catered dining 
  • Holistic treatments like meditation and yoga
  • Exercise facilities, such as gyms and hiking programmes 
  • Recreation activities in the form of swimming, tennis or even horseback riding

Choosing a smaller rehab facility with these amenities can often mean more personalized treatment by high-profile doctors and therapists, something which you’ll come to expect when spending a lot of money on a centre. In addition, these additional holistic treatments listed above, combined with the core medical treatments, often allow patients to have other needs catered to. Different requirements to support recovery include emotional, spiritual, nutritional and environmental.

The attraction of these spa-like amenities cannot be denied, with the treatment process feeling less like hospital treatment and more like a spa. With enough money in the bank, it’s too easy to choose a rehab programme based purely on these amenities. Nevertheless, there are more important factors to consider when choosing a substance abuse treatment programme. 

Core qualities of high-end rehab

In contrast to popular belief, there is more to quality care in luxury rehab than just the comfort and amenities provided. The fundamental aspects of quality care lie more in combining treatments per the specific drug addiction that needs treatment. 

Choosing a treatment programme with the highest likelihood of long-term recovery means selecting a centre with an intense treatment plan that focuses on treating the specific substance abuse and mental health issues that might contribute to this addiction. Quality care cannot exist without this combination.

Outpatient programmes for those with too many commitments to stay in a residential facility can provide this level of service; however, the best chance to remain focused and distraction-free is through an inpatient programme.

The equality of luxury rehabs

Long-term recovery needs a well-rounded and comprehensive treatment plan to help the patient recover physically and mentally, focusing on long-term aftercare. This is where choosing a rehabilitation facility becomes frustrating; not all rehabs are equal. For example, not all drug and alcohol abuse centres may not have the facilities to support severe alcohol or substance abuse.

To be genuinely successful, centres need to focus on the inpatient’s psychological and physical needs. Research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse shows how success in treatment and long-term recovery is possible when a rehab centre focuses on more than just drug abuse. Other essential aspects of drug addiction treatment should include research-backed therapies, behavioural therapies, and post-treatment coping strategies. 

Unfortunately, when a rehab centre’s focus is the scenery, accommodation, and extravagance they provide, the proper recovery treatment may not be available. So don’t get stuck in this trap, and query if the rehab centre you’re considering offers the below: 

  • Medically-led detox services
  • Treatments that are research-led
  • Drug-specific treatment programmes
  • Peer support groups per the nature of addiction 
  • Provision of medical maintenance if needed
  • Talking therapies and other support services for mental health 

For long-term recovery, you must choose a centre that focuses on these aspects of treatment, particularly behavioural therapies, medically supported detox, and ongoing support. Yes, luxurious spa-like settings and luxurious amenities can make a patient extraordinarily comfortable and in the right frame of mind to focus on recovery. However, these aspects are not enough alone to allow for long-term recovery. Comprehensive treatment programmes that provide an entire medically researched treatment plan combined with luxurious and comfortable settings create an unrivalled treatment with long-lasting results.

Getting value for money at rehab

In contrast, you are much more likely to find the appropriate level of care based on the amount you are paying when finding a centre that focuses on methods backed by science and medical research. So always look for value for money spent, no matter how much you are spending.

However, those looking to spend more to enter an upmarket addiction rehab programme are more likely to see such luxury programmes as perks rather than necessities. Instead, always focus on the critical aspects of treatment that are more likely to result in long-term recoveries, such as research-backed therapies and appropriate medical treatment. Basing your research on these vital aspects of care makes it much more likely to get the most out of your investment.


Dennis Relojo-Howell is the managing director of Psychreg.

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© Copyright 2014–2023 Psychreg Ltd