Today in the U.S. there are over 30 million people who ideally need a drug rehab program. With around 12 to 14 thousand facilities offering a range of services from inpatient, outpatient, detox, residential drug rehab etc, you'd think we were making progress. However, recently I ran across information that only 3 percent of those needing treatment actually received it.

This is alarming. How can the addiction issue get any better if there is no major percentage of those in need actually getting the rehabilitation they need. I am aware that many of the programs or treatment centers out there are actually 5 to 7 day detox facilities which will detox  a person immediately off drugs but go no where toward helping that person rebuild their life. Recently in a discussion with an addiction treatment referral unit I asked what challenges they faced when trying to get someone help. Ann at the referral center said that one of the biggest issues was funding. In other words, many people she deals with on a daily basis don't have the funding for private rehab and the programs which are funded have too long of a waiting list.

Additionally I corresponded with another agency that specializes in referring people to those longer term residential drug rehab facilities and the Chemical Dependency Counselor explained that those who can afford private residential drug rehab and alcohol rehab programs should consider themselves fortunate. Desiree said "the best treatment available is privately funded and there are relatively few who actually get to attend the programs that they should consider themselves lucky as there are millions who would like to but can't due to financial constraints".

I suggest we learn all we can about getting more quality drug rehab programs available for the millions who desperately need it.