Presley Gerber’s death at 27 has drawn attention to the difficult search for help with addiction and mental health.

The model and son of Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber died at a rehabilitation facility on September 20, according to reporting by The Associated Press. Police were investigating a suspected overdose, but the medical examiner had not established a cause of death in that report.

Those unanswered questions matter. Publicly available information does not establish whether his treatment contributed to his death or whether his care was appropriate.

For families seeking help, the questions to ask before choosing rehab go beyond cost and location. They include who provides treatment, how the facility handles medical emergencies and what support continues after discharge.

A useful starting point is to ask providers to explain the care behind the price. Federal guidance identifies qualified staff, evidence-based treatment, access to appropriate medications, family involvement and continuing support as signs of quality addiction care.

How to Find Addiction Treatment That Fits Your Loved One’s Needs

Before committing to a program, ask who will assess the patient and how that assessment determines the treatment plan.

Can the program address both substance use and mental health concerns? How will it decide whether the person needs outpatient appointments, residential treatment or a more intensive medical setting? How will the plan change if symptoms worsen?

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s treatment navigator identifies comprehensive assessment and an individualized plan among its indicators of higher-quality care. Its guidance focuses on alcohol treatment, but offers useful questions about how providers evaluate and respond to a patient’s needs.

Families can also ask how the assessment explores the stress and emotional distress surrounding substance use.

“When the nervous system is in survival mode, the brain prioritizes immediate relief over long-term well-being,” says Shara Turner LPC, MSC, NARM, EMDR, Executive Director at Sabino Recovery. “As a result, people frequently reach for whatever provides the quickest relief, even when that solution ultimately causes harm.”

Ask who is responsible for medications

For someone receiving prescriptions from more than one clinician, a practical question is: Who reviews the complete medication list and coordinates changes?

Ask how the program communicates with outside prescribers, monitors side effects and explains the purpose of each medication. Bring a list of current medicines and previous treatments to the assessment.

Medication combinations require careful interpretation. The FDA warns that taking buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid addiction, with benzodiazepines or other central nervous system depressants increases the risk of serious side effects. But it also advises that buprenorphine should not automatically be withheld from patients taking those drugs: Untreated opioid addiction can pose greater harm, and careful medication management can reduce risks.

A medication list alone cannot establish whether someone received inappropriate care or explain a death.

Look closely at staffing and oversight

Ask whether the program is licensed or certified for the services it provides, whether it is in good standing with the state and what qualifications its clinicians hold. These are among the checks SAMHSA recommends when evaluating treatment.

For a residential or detox program, ask about safety protocols during withdrawal, including how patients are monitored and who responds if complications arise. Clarify which clinicians are physically on-site, their credentials and how often they are present, including overnight and on weekends. A clinician listed on the website may not be regularly at the facility. Ask for the program’s escalation protocol, including who decides when a patient needs a higher level of medical care and how an emergency transfer is arranged.

Ask providers to distinguish the services included in the daily rate from those available only through outside clinicians or at additional cost.

Get the financial details in writing

Request an itemized estimate covering treatment, accommodation, medication, testing and follow-up appointments. Ask what could increase the bill and what the cancellation or refund terms are.

Then check coverage directly with the insurer. SAMHSA recommends asking which services are covered, what the patient must pay and which providers are preferred under the plan. Also ask whether an insurer’s case manager can help identify options that fit both medical and financial needs.

If costs are unaffordable, ask about payment plans, sliding-scale fees and publicly funded options. SAMHSA provides information on free and lower-cost care .

For High-Net-Worth Families, What Does a Higher Price Include?

For families with substantial resources, the financial question may be less about affordability and more about understanding what a higher fee provides. When comparing private programs, ask providers to itemize clinical services separately from amenities such as private accommodations.

Make the clinical questions specific: How often will the patient see an addiction specialist? What psychiatric care is available? Who coordinates outside doctors and prescriptions? What medical staff are present overnight?

Families using an assistant, advisor or family office to manage payments and logistics can also ask the program to identify a clinical point of contact. With the patient’s consent, clarify who can receive updates and how concerns will reach the treatment team.

Privacy and comfort may matter deeply to a family. They should evaluate those features alongside staff qualifications, appropriate treatment and continuing support — the qualities emphasized in SAMHSA’s guidance for choosing care.

That makes the program’s approach to patients another part of the comparison. Ask how staff respond when someone is struggling and how the treatment plan addresses that person’s needs.

“When people are met with compassion, curiosity, and evidence-based treatment that addresses the whole person, they are better positioned to heal, reconnect and build a meaningful life in recovery,” Turner says.

What Happens After Rehab? Planning for Continuing Care

Before admission, ask how the program arranges continuing care. Who will handle prescriptions? Will follow-up appointments be scheduled? How can family members participate, with the patient’s consent?

Continuing recovery support is one of the quality indicators highlighted by federal treatment guidance. It deserves a place in the financial conversation, too: Ask what ongoing services will cost and whether insurance covers them.

“Sustainable change often requires more than willpower, insight, or behavior modification,” Turner says. “It requires addressing the underlying wounds that gave rise to the coping strategy in the first place.”

Families do not have to resolve every question alone. An insurance case manager or trusted health professional can help evaluate options. Treatment searches can also begin through FindTreatment.gov .

Seeking help is already a consequential step. Families deserve clear answers about the care being offered, who will provide it and what they will be expected to pay.