Costa Rica is known to be a peaceful country covered in green nature and is also one of the happiest countries in the world, these are part of the reasons why the country has become an important destination for wellness and medical tourism including drug and alcohol treatment centers.

Drug and alcohol addiction is a growing problem everywhere in the world, on the road to recovery many choose to seek help outside their own country to distance themselves from the damaging environment surrounding them. Costa Rica being just a short flight aways and known to have affordable programs has become an ideal location for patients from North America seeking help to treat their addiction.

There are different types of drug and alcohol treatment centers in Costa Rica, and it is of great importance to choose the right one for the patient’s needs since this can make all the difference when it comes to a successful recovery.

Here are some tips on how to choose a drug and alcohol treatment center in Costa Rica:

1) Understanding Patient’s Needs: Knowing and being clear about the patient’s condition and needs is the first step towards finding the right help, whether it is you or someone you love who is seeking help it is necessary to learn everything possible about the addiction, how long the patient has used, and get recommendations on the type of help required, this can be inpatient or outpatient care for instance.

2) Choose the Right Program: Once you are clear on what the patient’s needs are find two or three options that seem to offer the right alternatives and start your research, make a list of the questions you may have and aspects related to the patient’s condition and contact each of these centers, present the specific case and get as much information as possible regarding their experience, methodologies, programs, prices, etc.

3) Certifications: All drug and alcohol treatment centers in Costa Rica must be have an operating permit by the Ministry of Health and must be certified as a treatment facility for alcoholism and drug addiction by IAFA (Institute on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence).

4) Comprehensive Programs: Drug addiction is a complex disease that has both, medical and psychological aspects to it, recovery requires to treat both aspects of this seeking to recover the balance between mind, body and emotional health. A comprehensive program should include individual and group therapy, medical check-ups, physical activity, nutrition, among others.

5) Experience: Make sure to choose a center that not only offers a capable and professional team, but also has the personal experience of recovering from addiction and/or alcoholism. It is not the same to know all the theory behind a disease, which is great and needed, but having had the experience of going through it offers a different level of understanding the disease and the challenges that come with recovering.

Treatment Centres like Costa Rica Recovery have been in operation and helping patients with various addictions for over 12 years. CRR has the best trained staff in the country and have a proven success rate.  Other Clinics might look “good” on the outside but have very little time operating in the country, no long term proven success rate, don’t have the amount of full time staff that their websites show and have absentee owners who have no experience running a successful treatment clinic. Who will you trust your loved ones with?