Choosing treatment
How to find a good rehab without getting scammed
The addiction treatment industry includes excellent programs and predatory operations that exploit desperate families. Reddit's recovery communities have been warning people about scams for years. Here is what they have identified.
Red flags the community warns about
Free flights to treatment: If a facility pays for your flight, ask yourself why. Legitimate programs do not need to fly patients across the country. This is often patient brokering. Guaranteed success rates: No program can guarantee outcomes. Any facility claiming 90%+ success is lying or measuring dishonestly. High-pressure admissions: If the admissions call feels like a car dealership, that is a red flag. Legitimate facilities provide information and allow you time to decide. Per-admission referral fees: EKRA violation. If the person who referred you is being paid per head, the referral is not in your interest. No accreditation: If a facility is not CARF or Joint Commission accredited, ask why. Accreditation is the minimum quality standard.
Quality indicators that actually matter
CARF or Joint Commission accreditation. Licensed clinical staff (not just certified counselors). Evidence-based therapies named specifically (CBT, DBT, MI, EMDR). MAT available without ideological barriers. Individualized treatment planning. Comprehensive aftercare. Outcome tracking. Transparent about costs. Verified on directories like Treatment Association.
How to verify
Check CARF at carf.org. Joint Commission at jointcommission.org. LegitScript at legitscript.com. State licensing through your state substance abuse agency. Read Google reviews critically (check our guide on spotting fake reviews). Call the facility and ask specific clinical questions. If they cannot name their therapeutic approach, that tells you everything.
Use verified directories
Our treatment directory sources all 18,215 facilities from SAMHSA's national database. No facility pays to be listed. Verified members undergo additional quality review.
Need help?
SAMHSA: 1-800-662-4357 (free, 24/7) | Treatment Directory