How is long rehab for drugs and alcohol? The individual and a number of personal factors can influence how long someone is in treatment, including:
- The severity of drug or alcohol abuse
- The presence of co-occurring mental health disorders (dual diagnosis)
- Motivation to get better
- Outside support system
Most people who receive treatment for alcohol or drug addiction need to participate in some form of therapy for at least a few months.
The length of time spent in treatment also varies depending on the type of treatment you choose. For example, in an outpatient treatment program, you’ll typically attend therapy sessions for several hours each week, but you won’t live at the treatment facility. On the other hand, people who attend an inpatient treatment program usually stay at the treatment facility for 30 days or more.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question, “How long is rehab?” Structured addiction treatment provided by a drug rehab center on an inpatient or outpatient basis can last several months. It’s also important to know that addiction recovery is something you’ll work on your entire life. Even after you leave structured addiction treatment, you’ll need to take part in activities that help prevent relapse. These may include:
- Individual therapy
- Alumni programs at the treatment center
- Support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
How Long Is Medical Detox?
For some people, the first step in addiction treatment is medical detox. Drug or alcohol detox is different for everyone. Detox from drugs and alcohol depends on factors like:
- How long you’ve been drinking or using drugs
- How much drugs you’ve been taking or how much alcohol you’ve been drinking
- If you’re using more than one substance
- Your physical and mental health
Detox can range anywhere from 2 to 10 days, depending on the severity of your addiction and the substance. In some cases, you may experience withdrawal symptoms for several months as your brain and body rebalance themselves. These can include:
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Memory issues
How Long Is Inpatient Treatment?
Addiction affects all areas of life. It is a chronic, relapsing disease that requires intensive treatment and monitoring. Inpatient rehab (or residential treatment) provides 24-hour care and supervision. This is vital for people in early recovery. Inpatient treatment also allows you to focus only on your recovery, without the distractions and temptations of daily life.
An inpatient treatment program for addiction typically lasts 30 days or more. Often, residential treatment at a recovery center is offered in increments of 30-, 60-, and 90-day programs. After completing inpatient treatment, most people transition to some form of outpatient treatment. This helps you gradually reintegrate into society and begin rebuilding your life.
Outpatient treatment typically lasts for several months, although the exact length of time varies depending on the level of outpatient care you’re in and your specific needs.
How Long Is a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)?
A partial hospitalization program (PHP) is a type of outpatient treatment that provides intensive, structured care. Treatment length for PHPs is several weeks or months, although the exact length of time depends on your needs. PHPs are often used as a step-down from inpatient treatment or as an alternative to residential treatment for people who can’t or don’t want to live at a treatment facility.
PHPs typically involve attending addiction treatment for several hours each day, five to seven days per week. These sessions are led by a team of addiction counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists. PHPs include group therapy, which can provide support and accountability as you recover from addiction. You may also participate in individual therapy sessions and other activities, like meditation or yoga.
The goal of partial hospitalization programs is to help you learn the relapse prevention skills needed to stay sober and live a healthy, happy life in addiction recovery.
How Long Is an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)?
An intensive outpatient program (IOP) meets for fewer hours per week than a residential or PHP program but more than a regular outpatient program. IOPs typically last for several weeks or months, although the exact length of time depends on your needs.
IOPs typically involve attending therapy sessions for several hours each day on three to five days each week. These sessions are led by a team of addiction counselors, psychologists, and recovery support staff. Intensive outpatient programs are mainly comprised of group therapy, which provides support and accountability in recovery. You may also take part in individual therapy sessions and other activities, such as meditation or yoga.
The goal of an IOP is to help you build on the relapse-prevention skills learned in a residential or partial hospitalization program while gradually getting back to your everyday life.
How Long Is an Outpatient Program (OP)?
An outpatient program (OP) is addiction treatment that provides less intensive outpatient care than an IOP or PHP. OPs last for several weeks or months, although the exact length of time varies depending on your individual recovery journey and the type of support you need to navigate early sobriety.
Outpatient programs typically involve attending therapy sessions for one to two hours per week. These often take the form of group therapy, though some treatment programs will offer individual therapy as well.
The goal of an outpatient program is to provide you a “home base” as you fully re-integrate into everyday life. As you encounter triggers and challenges at work, school, or in relationships, outpatient rehab provides a regular time each week to get support and strengthen your recovery with the help of professionals and peers.
How Long Is Aftercare?
Aftercare provides continued support for people in recovery from substance use disorders. Aftercare can last for months, or as long as you need it. Before you leave a structured addiction treatment program, a case manager or therapist will help you plan for life after rehab. An aftercare plan helps prevent relapse because it makes sure you have supports in place to maintain sobriety.
Aftercare may include:
- Individual therapy appointments
- 12-step groups or alternatives to 12-step groups
- A sober living residence
- Specialized trauma and addiction treatments like EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing)
- Psychiatry appointments for medication management
- Nutrition counseling
- Treatment center alumni meetings
Does Insurance Cover Drug Rehab?
Substance abuse treatment is considered an essential health benefit under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which means insurance plans must provide coverage for addiction treatment. There is still a lot of variation in how alcohol and drug rehab programs are covered by different insurance plans.
Some insurance plans cover all or most of the costs of substance abuse treatment, while others only cover a portion of the costs. It’s important to check with your insurance provider to find out what is covered under your particular plan.
In some cases, substance abuse treatment may not be covered by insurance. If this is the case, there are still options for financing treatment. Many substance abuse treatment facilities offer financing options.
If you’d like help determining if your insurance pays for drug rehab at Footprints to Recovery, contact us. Our admissions specialists will work directly with your insurance company to determine your addiction treatment benefits.
Looking for Help?
If you are ready for rehab for substance abuse, there are many different treatment options available. Treatment facilities like Footprints to Recovery offer a variety of programs, such as inpatient, outpatient, and intensive outpatient programs. There are also many different types of therapies available, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), group therapy, and individual therapy. The most important thing is to find treatment and a treatment program that’s right for you. To be effective, treatment needs to be tailored to your specific needs. If you have any questions or need help finding a rehab facility, please call us. Footprints to Recovery offers a full continuum of care that includes inpatient and outpatient treatment, as well as sober living homes and dual diagnosis treatment. Call for a free, confidential consultation today.
