Being admitted to an addiction treatment centre is a decision that the person having problems with substance use has to make. But very often, it is their family members who will take the first step by looking for more information. Questions typically include the following:
- What types of centres are there?
- What are the facilities like?
- Who are the professionals in charge of managing the centre?
- How will their loved one be treated?
No matter who takes the first step, the role of the family will always be fundamental, whether it is to make the person aware of their need to enter a treatment centre or to support and accompany them during the recovery process and their journey back to their previous, everyday lives.
As a matter of fact, it’s completely normal for family members to want more details about the prospect of their son, daughter, mother, father, or partner spending time away from them, to make sure they are in the best possible hands and receive the treatment they deserve.
That’s why we would like to share with you in this article how the admission process works at Quinta das Lapas, Dianova’s International Addiction Treatment Centre in Portugal – so that you have as much information as possible and can rest assured you are making the right decision.
How do people initially get in touch?
As we mentioned earlier, most inquiries come from the person’s family members and are received through various channels:
- Through Dianova’s website: here you’ll find a contact form and a telephone number you can use to get in touch.
- Through the Specialized Treatment Team (ET) or the Integrated Response Center (CRI): these are interdisciplinary teams that work with Portugal’s public health system and refer their patients to an addiction treatment centre (co-financed by the Portuguese state).
- On somebody else’s recommendation: this will usually be other family members or friends who know the centre.
We give all these channels top priority, because we believe it’s important for the family and the person concerned asking for help to get it as quickly as possible.
What’s more, we are aware that the person and those close to them are facing a dramatic, unsustainable situation, and that an urgent, empathetic response is needed, free from criticism or prejudice.
How does the admission process work?
Step 1: Online meeting
Once initial contact has been made, the next step is to agree on a date for an online consultation with one of our psychologists, who specialize in treating addictions.
This virtual event is very much an informal affair; the objective is for both parties to get to know each other better and to answer some initial questions like how the person is feeling, and what their personal and family circumstances are. At the same time, the person can ask any questions they might have regarding the treatment program.
Once the conversation is finished, we assess whether the treatment that we offer is the right one for this particular person or if they should be referred to another specialist centre instead. If we can help them, we ask them whether they’d like to go ahead with the next step.
Step 2: Physical examination and health check-up
If the person decides to take the next step, we carry out a physical examination to assess their overall health. This includes a blood test and an X-ray to see if there are any previous diseases and to ensure we can monitor the treatment correctly.
Step 3: Examination results
After receiving the results, our clinical personnel will analyze them and provide an assessment within 48 hours. If there are no restricting physical conditions, the person will be able to start treatment with us (after taking a COVID-19 antigen test).
Step 4: First day at the centre
During their first day, the patient is very likely to be nervous, so our staff will be ready to welcome them warmly and make their first day comfortable. After all, this is the first day of their journey to recovery!
Family members can also accompany the patient, meet the staff, and get to know the facilities better.
Firstly, the patient will be welcome by the Technical Director, who will provide them with information about the centre, explain the recovery program, and introduce them to the supervisor in charge of managing the admission.
Once all the paperwork is taken care of, they will be introduced to the rest of the team and other patients who they will be spending time with and joining in activities during their stay. They will also familiarize themselves with the facilities and the room they have been assigned.
The objective of the first day is to ensure you feel comfortable and accompanied and to make you aware that there are people who will take good care of you or your loved one, just as they are taking care of other people who are going through the same situation. Above all, we want you to understand that, together, we’ll succeed in bringing the patient back to a normal life, free from addiction.
Would you like to find out more?
You can follow this link to get more information about Dianova’s Quinta Das Lapas International Addiction Treatment Centre and read about our methodology, see more of our facilities, hear some of our patient testimonials, and find our contact details.
You have the chance to change your life. A life without addictions is possible.