How to choose a rehab centre in Israel
Choose a rehab centre by five signs: a valid Israeli Ministry of Health licence, a medical team (doctor and psychiatrist) for detox and dual diagnosis, a programme of at least 30 days, family work and aftercare after discharge. Then a clear price with a contract and a language the person can work in. Below are 10 questions to ask before paying, and the red flags.
By Viacheslav Sviadish, founder of IsraRehab, 26 years of practice · Updated: 7 November 2026
10 questions to ask before paying
- Does the centre hold a valid Israeli Ministry of Health licence? Ask to see it: the number, expiry date, name of the institution and address should all match.
- Who is responsible for the medical side? Is there a doctor and a psychiatrist, how is detox done and who monitors the person in the first days?
- What happens if, besides the addiction, there is depression, anxiety or another mental disorder (dual diagnosis)?
- How long is the programme? Less than 30 days is detox rather than treatment.
- Which methods are used? Look for clear approaches — cognitive behavioural therapy, the 12-step programme, family work — not "secret" methods.
- How does the centre work with the family, during treatment and after?
- What happens after discharge? Is there aftercare, for how long and in what form?
- What does it cost, what is included and what happens to the payment if the person leaves early? All of this should be in the contract.
- In which language are the groups, individual sessions and documents?
- Can you visit the centre and meet the team?
Red flags
- Promises of a "guaranteed cure" or "100% success".
- Offers to "cure" the person in 3–7 days.
- No licence shown, or the question is avoided.
- Offers to take the person by force or by deception.
- Demands the full amount up front and without a contract.
- No doctor, with detox offered "on site" without medical supervision.
- Cannot explain what happens after discharge.
What kinds of help exist in Israel
- Addiction treatment unit in the local social services department — assessment, outpatient treatment, referrals.
- Day centre — the person lives at home and attends the programme during the day.
- Inpatient detox (אשפוזית) — medical withdrawal from physical dependence.
- Therapeutic community (קהילה טיפולית) — long-term living and treatment in a community.
- Long-term medication-assisted treatment centre — for opioid addiction.
- Private licensed centre — an inpatient programme with a choice of place, start date and language.
How IsraRehab answers these questions
IsraRehab is our centre, so compare it by the same questions as any other.
Licence No. 16630 from the Israeli Ministry of Health and Ministry of Welfare — an inpatient facility for addiction treatment in Kiryat Ekron. The medical side is led by the medical director, a psychiatrist. Programme: detox 5–14 days, inpatient stay 30–90 days or longer, family work and 12 months of aftercare. Languages: Russian, Hebrew, English. Price — from $8,000 per month; the first consultation is free.
Licences and documents →Frequently asked questions
How do I check a rehab centre's licence in Israel?
Ask to see the Ministry of Health licence: number, expiry date, name of the institution and address. If in doubt, check with the Ministry of Health information centre Kol HaBriut on *5400.
How is a private centre different from a public programme?
Public help goes through the local social services department, costs less and requires a referral. A private licensed centre costs more but gives a choice of place and start date, a programme in your own language and usually aftercare.
How long should rehab last?
As a guide: detox 5–14 days, then an inpatient programme of 30–90 days or longer, followed by at least 12 months of aftercare. A short course with no follow-up more often ends in relapse.
What if my loved one has not agreed to treatment yet?
Start with the family: stop rescuing, agree on one position and arrange a place in advance. See the guide "What to do when a loved one refuses addiction treatment".
Can we come to Israel for treatment from another country?
Yes. Preparation and consultations take place online, and the centre helps arrange the trip, pick-up and transfer.
Read next
Loved one refuses treatment →
A step-by-step guide for families: what to do, what to say and what to avoid when a person with an addiction refuses treatment.
How much rehab costs →
Addiction treatment prices in Israel, what affects the cost and what to ask a centre before paying.
Crisis intervention →
A prepared family conversation after which the person agrees to get treatment.
Consultations for families →
What to do when your husband drinks, your son uses, and every attempt to help only makes it worse.