How long is rehab for drugs or alcohol

How Long is Rehab for Drugs or Alcohol?

Looking at the Time Needed for Successful Recovery Results

Many people who enter rehab do so after months or years of substance abuse. You’ve likely fallen into a pattern of what is comfortable and familiar. And, even when you decide that the consequences are no longer worth it and you’d like to quit, it can still be hard to break away from the norm. It’s even harder when you don’t know what to expect.

And one key question many clients ask is: how long is rehab for drugs or alcohol?

Time spent in treatment depends on factors like the time you can commit to a treatment program and insurance coverage. However, treatment plans with the highest success rates involve three months of inpatient rehab, three months of intensive outpatient treatment, and then six months of continued therapy and support.

At South Shores, you’ll spend this time in a serene setting near the beach where you can truly focus on recovery. We offer a comprehensive, total wellness approach to rehab that focuses on mental, spiritual, and physical wellness. Keep reading to learn more about what to expect when you enter rehab.

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How Long Does Addiction Treatment Last?

A comprehensive alcohol or drug addiction treatment plan lasts about a year. For the first 3 months, many people benefit from the intensive care and structure of a residential rehab program. Then, you’ll transition to outpatient care with an intensity that tapers off slowly as you go through the treatment process.

Even though this is considered one of the more effective approaches for better outcomes, South Shores Detox and Recovery understands that the same treatment goals don’t work for everyone. We offer customized treatment plans tailored to your specific needs, insurance coverage, and schedule to make addiction treatment accessible to those who need it.

How Long is Inpatient Treatment for Alcohol and Drug Abuse?

Inpatient Treatment for Alcohol

The average length of stay at an inpatient treatment program for drug rehab or alcohol rehab varies. Many treatment facilities offer 30-, 60-, and 90-day rehab programs. Long-term treatment offers the best outcomes, especially for people who follow it with outpatient day programs. It is even proven effective for people with severe addictions.

What Residential Treatment Looks Like

While receiving inpatient care, you’ll work with an individual therapist to better understand your relationship with addiction and its root causes. You’ll learn more about motivations for leading a drug-free life, how to identify when you’re at risk of relapse, and coping mechanisms to overcome life stresses and triggers.

During group therapy, you’ll build social skills and continue to learn tools for overcoming addiction. You’ll also have an opportunity to share thoughts, struggles, and successes with people who understand what you are going through.

At South Shores, we use a holistic approach to healing. We encourage our clients to develop hobbies with art and music therapy. You’ll spend plenty of time on the beach at our treatment facility, participating in meditation, yoga, and surf therapy. We also offer nutritional support and teach you about healthy habits like keeping a routine and getting enough sleep.

How Long is Medical Detox?

Medical detox treatment programs last around a month. They are a good choice for people with a strong physical dependence on alcohol or drugs. During medical detox, you’ll be supervised by a medical professional who may prescribe medications to make withdrawal more comfortable.

Some people do experience symptoms like depression and intense drug cravings for a month or longer after quitting the addictive substance. These symptoms can remain months after every trace of the drug is removed from a person’s system.

The length of stay might be longer for individuals struggling with these symptoms. Often, medical detox is part of longer programs for addiction treatment.

How Long Are IOP and PHP Programs?

Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) and partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) are day programs commonly recommended for clients leaving residential treatment. The best treatment outcomes occur with a length of stay of three months after completing a program at a residential treatment facility. Shorter or longer durations can also be recommended.

During IOPs and PHPs, you’ll receive outpatient services at our drug rehab center for several hours at a time. These sessions are spaced out on different days of the week. The number of days depends on the level of support needed.

A partial hospitalization program typically requires a greater time commitment than an intensive outpatient program. In either program, you’ll work with a treatment team focused on helping you maintain sobriety.

Other Outpatient Services

Outpatient Services

According to the National Institute of Health, you are at the greatest risk of relapse in the first year following substance abuse treatment. Even when withdrawal symptoms have subsided and you don’t feel so physically dependent on drugs or alcohol, you will be challenged by stresses, triggers, and cravings.

Attending individual therapy, group therapy, or other outpatient services is often recommended once or twice per week after completing an inpatient program. However, the frequency of sessions may decrease over time.

If you have physical health ailments that cause pain or mental health conditions, you may also need to see a doctor regularly for medication management. Handling physical and mental health disorders helps heal symptoms that might otherwise put you at risk of relapse.

Many people also attend group support meetings including Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous(NA), and SMART Recovery. Some people go regularly, while those farther along in recovery might only seek meetings when they are struggling. You can learn a lot in early recovery by regularly attending support groups.

How Long is Rehab for Drugs or Alcohol? Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, dual diagnosis programs are most effective for the treatment of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. For lasting sobriety, it’s important to address alcohol or drug addiction and any existing mental health condition. At South Shores, we offer dual diagnosis at all levels of care.

It is not uncommon for people struggling with substance use disorder to also have mental health issues. Mental health disorders share similar risk factors as addiction including genetics and environment.

Mental symptoms like mood swings, insomnia, anxiety, and depression are also common when you stop drug or alcohol abuse. Some people experience delusions or psychosis.

Furthermore, some people turn to drugs or alcohol to treat conditions like anxiety, depression, mood disorders, or post-traumatic stress disorder. As you use substances to feel better, it is easy to get trapped in a cycle that leads to substance use disorder.

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Benefits of Extended-Stay Addiction Treatment Programs

A longer length of stay at an inpatient facility means that you have more time to prepare yourself to handle addiction when you’re back in the real world. Our rehab center provides a safe, comfortable, and drug-free environment where you can focus solely on building a solid foundation of skills that support long-term recovery.

Longer stays at rehab programs also acclimate you to a more structured environment and lifestyle. When you leave our drug rehab facility, you’ll feel confident getting enough sleep, staying physically active, and supporting your body with nutrition.

It is our experience that a longer length of stay also gives you more time to understand your addiction and triggers. As you work in individual and group therapies, you gain greater insight into how to lead a life without addiction. It also gives you time to understand yourself and your desires. You’re better prepared to set long-term treatment goals and set yourself up for success.

Despite the benefits, an extended period of stay at residential rehab facilities doesn’t work for everyone. As an alternative, some people stay at a sober living facility while attending outpatient treatment or day programs. Sober living facilities are also a great alternative for people who do not have a safe or drug-free environment to return to after completing inpatient rehab.

Factors Affecting the Length of Alcohol or Drug Rehab

Treatment Process

The length of time the treatment process takes typically depends on the severity of addiction, the level of care needed, and the type of insurance coverage for rehab being used.

Type and Severity of Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Certain drugs like alcohol or opioids are highly addictive, with relapse rates for these substances being the highest. Typically, addiction to these substances requires a longer length of stay in drug rehab programs.

Short-term rehab is most effective for people addicted to stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine. There are lower rates of relapse for these drugs compared to alcohol or opioids.

People who have been struggling with long-term drug or alcohol use may also require a longer stay in rehab. According to the National Institute on drug abuse, severe addictions change the neurological structure of the brain. It is particularly hard to overcome without structured, evidence-based treatment like you’ll find at South Shores Recovery.

Level of Care Needed

Sometimes, people need more support to overcome addiction. Someone with existing trauma or a mental health disorder, for example, may need more intense care than someone who is only struggling with substance use.

Severe cases of substance use disorder may also warrant longer care. If you’ve attempted recovery before without long-term success, more time in a treatment program can help.

Insurance Coverage

Many insurance companies offer coverage for rehab programs, including inpatient and outpatient treatment options. Some clients even stay at our rehab program with no out-of-pocket costs.

The total cost of rehab varies depending on your insurance provider and plan. At South Shores, we accept many types of public and private health insurance, ensuring high-quality addiction treatment is accessible to people who need it, regardless of financial status.

If you have questions about coverage, don’t hesitate to reach out. One of our team members can verify your insurance provider over the phone, answer questions you may have about coverage, or discuss alternate payment options. We can also work with you to create an individualized treatment plan that fits your schedule and budget.

Will I Ever Fully Recover from Addiction?

Maintaining Sobriety

There will be times when maintaining sobriety is easy. You’ll feel focused on your treatment goals and confident in the recovery process. Unfortunately, addiction is a life-long condition. Certain situations might trigger drug cravings after years of sobriety – but that does not mean you have to relapse.

By the time you leave treatment at South Shores, you’ll have an arsenal of relapse-prevention techniques at hand. These tools will help you identify and cope with stress, triggers, and drug cravings. You’ll learn to lead a structured life that supports total wellness and achieving your goals.

Lastly, with the proper motivation to stay sober, you’ll feel confident in your ability to reach out for support if you need it. Remember that there is nothing wrong with asking for help. Your future, sober self will thank you for it.

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Find Effective, Evidence-Based Treatment at South Shores

Many recent studies have shown that having the right support throughout the first year of recovery is critical for success in attaining long-term sobriety. You’ll find support, evidence-based therapies, and customized treatment programs tailored to your specific needs at South Shores Recovery.

One of our admissions team is waiting to take your call. Whether you have questions about insurance coverage or want to discuss treatment options, reach out today. This phone call can be a lifeline and a path to a better, brighter future. All calls are confidential, so please reach out now and let’s start overcoming addiction together!

References

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9579533/
  2. https://www.samhsa.gov/medications-substance-use-disorders/medications-counseling-related-conditions/co-occurring-disorders
  3. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/ondcp/healthcare
  4. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drugs-brain