Not all addictions are bad at the outset, but many – such as those addictions to substances or alcohol – can become very detrimental to physical health, mental health, and an overall sense of well-being. This is why, when we talk about addictions, it’s usually with the idea of helping someone decide to overcome it.

One such way to overcome an addiction is to attend rehab. When someone chooses to attend treatment for their addiction, they are seeking tools and methods to help them abstain from abusing the source of their addiction. It can be a highly effective way to begin living a healthy, happy life again.

Does Rehab Really Work?

There are a lot of rehab centers across the country. However, there is still that negative stigma about people going into rehab. As a result, a lot of people struggling with addiction – those people who needed help the most – end up not getting help due to their fear of getting judged.

To answer the above question, rehab can work. On the contrary, there is no cure for addiction – only treatment methods that can help those struggling with addiction to come clean. Likewise, the effectiveness of rehab treatment still lies with the struggling individual himself.

On a positive note, rehab centers have worked for individuals struggling with drug and alcohol addiction across the country. Then again, it depends on the person and the effort they put into it. It is just two things – go back to their own ways, or change their lives for the better.

Likewise, people who need such help should have something to motivate them to come clean. In most cases, it should be their own families and loved ones. Thus, struggling addicts will have higher chances of healing with the help and support from people around them. Otherwise, these people who need help will most probably fall back into their old, destructive routine.

Misconceptions About Rehab Treatments

Entering rehab provides hope and healing from addiction. However, a lot of struggling drug addicts and alcoholics end up not seeking any help due to the uncertainty of what they expect during rehab. Moreover, these misconceptions often hinder these individuals to seek help.

Here are some of the common misconceptions about rehab treatments and the truth behind it:

• Rehab can cure addiction: The truth is that addiction is a condition that has the tendency to recur when there is the presence of triggers. Recovery is not solely dependent on how long drug rehab lasts, but other factors also play a big part. Thus, entering into rehab does not mean it can totally cure a person of his or her addiction. Instead, rehab treatments help struggling addicts to stay sober and away from their source of addictions, and often they are referred to as “recovering” rather than “cured”. Their complete transformation lies in not resorting to their old ways again.
• Drug users/alcoholics should reach their lowest points before seeking help: Struggling users should not wait for their lives to be completely destroyed before seeking help. Instead, they should seek help immediately before it is too late – before these harmful substances completely control their lives. The earlier they seek help, the better, as this treatment requires the least amount of recovery time. According to studies, individuals who sought help earlier showed higher chances of staying sober during their rehab stint. Hence, it is still better to do something about addiction before it turns worse.
• Going into rehab is a sign of weakness: Addiction is something that cannot be conquered by willpower alone. That is why different methods are used to increase the effectiveness of rehab. Moreover, people entering rehab are not considered weak. In fact, it takes a lot of courage to admit their addiction struggles and accept help instead of letting pride get in their way.
• Addicts who enter rehab could lose their jobs: In the US, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family Medical Leave Act assures individuals entering into rehab that they won’t lose their jobs. Furthermore, these legislation laws state that employers should assure that an individual’s job will be left vacant for them while receiving treatment.
• All rehab treatments are the same: The truth is that rehab treatments vary from person to person and may depend on the type of addiction being treated. That is why a lot of rehab centers offer customized treatments for each individual. In order for the treatment to be more effective, patients and their families should talk to the facility staff to ensure their particular needs will be matched. For example, the length of treatment for alcohol addiction is different from opiate addiction. You will be informed by your physician on how long rehab for alcohol and how long does alcohol rehab last if you are an alcoholic. The same thing applies to other substances and opiates. Your physician will explain the process and how long it takes to recover from opiate addiction or other substances.

How Long Are Rehab Programs?

Depending on an individual’s treatment needs and wants, rehab treatment programs usually last from 28 to 90 days. There are even 2-week drug rehab programs. More so, there are different programs that differ in duration – some may require either shorter or longer stays inside the facility. On the other hand, there are other treatments that allow patients to go home, yet are required to follow the facility’s rules and regulations in order for the treatment to be successful.

There is also a 12-step program rehab. This program involves meetings aimed to help one recover from addiction. In this program, the people involved learn to admit their mistakes and surrender. They are also taught to stay sober in the process. So, how long is a 12-step program? For this program, there is actually no timetable. It depends on the person’s readiness and comes on their own time.

Normally, the longer the treatment, the higher the chance of treatment success regardless of what type of program is employed. In fact, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reveals that patients are more successful in their addiction recovery when they undergo a 90-day or longer treatment program. Moreover, the NIDA also recommends longer stays to maintain and ensure sobriety in the long run.

If you are still hesitant because of the length of treatment, you have to remember that this is a small step toward a better life and future. So no matter how long drug detox takes, and how long does rehab last, your willingness to go through the treatment is the biggest factor affecting recovery.

The duration of your stay inside the rehab facility will depend on different factors, such as the severity of addiction, financial constraints, the co-occurrence of mental or medical issues that also need to be addressed, and many more. Nonetheless, treatments can assure success regardless of the length and how long drug rehab is required. In fact, considering and accepting treatment for their addiction is already a big step towards recovery. More so, an addiction specialist will determine the duration of your treatment, which of course will depend on your will to recover.

Struggling with addiction can be hard. More often, the effects of addiction are what users mostly long for, such as the feeling of pleasure or an increase in their confidence. However, we all know how drug and alcohol abuse can ruin a person’s life. This is what rehab treatments intend to correct – that you don’t need these harmful substances to be satisfied with your life.

Types of Rehab Programs

As mentioned, there are different rehabilitation programs that can suit an individual’s needs, wants, and timeframe. Among the common treatments used by rehab facilities are the following:

Long-Term Residential Treatment Programs

This type of treatment offers 24-hour care for patients, mostly in a residential setting rather than a hospital-like facility.

So, how long is inpatient drug rehab? Residential treatment programs typically last for how long?

Among common residential treatment models used is the therapeutic community (TC) which aims for patients to stay around 6 to 12 months. These kinds of facilities also intend for patients to engage in “resocialization” by using other residents and staff as a major contributor to their recovery.

Aside from promoting socialization with people that can relate to an individual’s struggle, the long-term residential treatment also aims to develop patients’ sense of responsibility and accountability. More so, this kind of treatment can also help the patients to eliminate negative and destructive beliefs and behavior and adopt more positive ways of interacting with other people.

TCs can also be tailored to suit individuals with special needs such as adolescents, people suffering from severe mental health issues, and ex-convicts. More so, TCs also offer support services and even employment training as part of the recovery process.

Short-term Residential Treatment

This type of program offers a brief, yet intense treatment which is mainly based on the 12-step approach. The 12-step approach, originally created and conceptualized by Alcoholics Anonymous founders, is now being used to treat different types of addictions and substance use disorder.

The said approach or program originally involved a 3 to 6-week in-patient treatment in a hospital-based setting. It will then be followed by outpatient therapy and participation with support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous. However, it is more important to be consistent in undergoing outpatient treatment in order to reduce the risk of a relapse.

Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient treatment is more affordable than entering residential or inpatient treatment facilities. It allows the patient to go home after receiving treatment, as long as the facilities’ rules and regulations are followed.

Moreover, this type of treatment is more appropriate for those with full-time jobs and with extensive social support. Nonetheless, outpatient treatment provides the same level of treatment as that of inpatient or residential treatments. One major component of many outpatient programs include group counseling, as well as treating mental health issues apart from substance addiction.

One-on-one Counseling

With one-on-one counseling, patients can be more focused on setting free from addiction. More than that, this type of treatment also helps the patient address his or her other personal issues that contribute to substance use disorder. These may include personal or social relationships, employment status, or even other health issues.

Individualized counseling also helps patients develop ways to cope and abstain from substance use disorder and maintain sobriety. Normally, the addiction specialist would encourage the patient to undergo 12-step

Group Counseling

Rehab centers also offer group counseling as one way to promote socialization and open discussion among other patients. Likewise, this type of program also helps encourage each other in steering away from their old routines. However, group counseling can also be offered in line with one-on-one counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and other treatments.

What Occurs During Rehab Treatment?

A lot of people dread about what occurs during rehab treatment. Most of these misconceptions are often due to the media’s portrayal of people struggling with addiction and rehab facilities. However, what you see in the movies is much different from real life.

So, what occurs in a typical day in rehab? First of all, it is important to know that all rehab facilities and treatment centers follow a structured framework of activities and therapies.

These frameworks depend on the facility’s setting and other amenities. Unlike in movies, real-life treatment centers offer an accommodating and safe environment for a patients’ journey to recovery.

• Morning: Normally, the day will start early in the morning, where patients will have a healthy and nutritious breakfast and some morning exercises, such as yoga or meditation. These routines help patients to develop healthier habits that they can bring with them during recovery. After the healthy breakfast and an invigorating morning exercise, a group session usually follows. The session is led by a therapist, specialist, or counselor and will discuss topics related to the treatment program, their struggle with addiction, and recovery. The daily group session enables patients to recognize triggers that lead to their addiction and how to control or manage them.
• Afternoon:After a filling lunch, therapy sessions usually ensue. Among common therapies used for treatment are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), group sharing, specialized therapy sessions, and family therapy. Some rehab facilities invite key speakers who also underwent therapy to treat their previous addictions. Some may talk more about issues that can affect their careers, or simply provide motivational notes to inspire the patients. Such motivating talks provide a sense of hope for the patients and encourage faster recovery. After the day’s highlights, patients are given free time to do what patients prefer to do. These include different types of activities like basketball, soccer, swimming, or ping-pong, whichever is available in the facility. On the other hand, some people prefer to spend their free time reading books, writing about their journey, or praying and meditating.
• Evening: After dinner, another group session will follow, albeit shorter. Normally, the 12-step program is done at this time of the day. After the session, patients/residents are encouraged to have a reasonable bedtime. This healthy routine can be useful once they are outside the facility and about to live a renewed life that is addiction-free.

How Long does In-patient Rehab last?

As mentioned earlier, the duration of a patient’s stay inside a rehab facility depends on the person himself. Rehab facilities can only provide treatment methods that can help an individual deal with his addiction struggle. At the end of the day, recovery from addiction mostly relies on the person’s determination to cut ties from his or her addiction.

Nonetheless, there are facilities that offer short and long-term stays. For the former, it can range from 5 to 7 days with detox and other treatments. On the other hand, the latter can range from 60 to 90 days, depending on the severity of the addiction. On average, addiction specialists recommend staying inside the rehab facility for about 28 days.

How long does Out-Patient Rehab Last?

There is also an option of out-patient rehab if you have budget constraints or prefer going home rather than staying inside a facility. On average, out-patient treatment may last from 3 months, up to a year or more. The treatment duration will depend on the results of their evaluation.

Out-patient rehab programs often offer a specific duration. Likewise, it is also important to know the flexibility of the treatment program. More importantly, the patient should attend the entire program and follow the facility’s rules and regulations to ensure recovery.

How Long Does Drug Detox Take?

In reality, there’s no such thing as “fast-tracking” your recovery. Rather, recovery can take some time and requires effort for the treatment to be successful. Furthermore, the recovery period may vary from person to person – some may take months, while some may take even years to fully recover from the struggles of addiction. The recovery period may also depend on the substance used because it has varying effects among its users.

How Long Does Alcohol Rehab Last?

The entire treatment process involves detoxification, which can take around 7 to 10 days. As for the rest of the treatment, it can take around 30 to 90 days or more. Again, the duration depends on

the severity of the addiction, as well as the presence of other medical or mental issues, and the patient’s holistic needs (physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual needs).

How Long Does It Take to Get Rid of An Addiction?

In general, habits can be hard to break because it has been part of a person’s usual routine or everyday activity. This also applies to addiction – the more you make it a habit, the more it can be hard to break off from your system.

The truth is that there’s no definite duration or period as to how long you can get rid of a certain addiction.

Recovery from Addiction Lies in You

Regardless of the duration, every person is unique in terms of how fast his or her recovery from addiction is. The most important thing is to take that big step in altering your life from a struggling addict to a fully-recovered individual with a more meaningful life to live.

As they say, don’t focus on how long your treatment will be. Rather, focus on your recovery itself and everything else will follow. If you find yourself asking more questions about addiction rehab when it comes to the cost of rehab, can you smoke cigarettes in rehab, can you bring your cellphone to rehab or some of the most frequently asked questions about rehab we’re here to help!