This question cannot be answered with absolute precision, because each person's journey to sobriety is unique. How long it takes them to find freedom from alcohol depends on things like how long they have suffered from alcohol addiction, how much and how frequently they drink, any mental health issues they may have, their physical condition, and so on. For any substance abuse treatment to have lasting effects, it must take into account all aspects of a person's life.
Rehab for alcohol is generally any time from one to six months. Follow-up or outpatient treatment can extend total treatment length to a year or so. The first part of the treatment process, at least, is usually residential treatment in a rehab facility. Sometimes a person will choose to move on to a halfway house or sober living facility to consolidate their recovery and help them maintain sobriety once they return to life in society.
With the above being said, the average length of stay for alcohol addiction treatment is thirty days. For some, this is only an initial length of stay, and how long rehab lasts will be determined by their progress over the first month. They can continue to attend their treatment facility for further therapy and support, but no longer live there. Thirty to Ninety days are deemed sufficient to address the main aspects of alcohol abuse, and help a person on the road to recovery.
Thirty days allow a person to go through detox, and is enough for withdrawal symptoms to pass, except when their state of health requires a period of hospital residential treatment.
Once again, there is no one answer to this question. However, drugs often take longer to leave a person's system than alcohol, and the effect of substance abuse on brain chemistry may also take longer to wear off. It may be quite some time before a person has fully detoxed and regained satisfactory levels of physical health and mental balance.
Drug rehab is usually anything from six months to one year, and as with alcohol, the first part of drug treatment programs are residential. Treatment facilities often recommend an initial length of stay, which can be prolonged if both the treatment provider and the patient agree it is necessary.
With inpatient rehab for drug addiction treatment, most rehab centers recommend a minimum stay of three months. This is not to say shorter addiction treatment such as two or three months of rehab is not beneficial. However, treating substance abuse is a complex process - for better or for worse, there is no cutting of corners in addiction recovery. There is no miracle brief treatment or fast-track to freedom from drug abuse.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is of the opinion that "remaining in treatment for an adequate period of time is critical." The Institute further points out, "Research indicates that most addicted individuals need at least 3 months in treatment to significantly reduce or stop their drug use and that the best outcomes occur with longer durations of
treatment."
Furthermore, the initial stages of the recovery process are pivotal. Long-term sobriety depends on building a solid foundation in the early days of abstinence. Substance use disorders have multiple causes and affect all areas of a person's life. A stay in rehab needs to help addicted individuals gain a solid period of abstinence, as well as the skills to stay sober when they leave the rehab center.
The most common rehab programs are thirty, sixty, or ninety days in duration. Many stays in rehab lead to outpatient treatment to support the transition back to normal life. And yet, for better or for worse, it is a fact that not many people are able to spend a full ninety days in rehab, as recommended by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Relapse after rehab is not uncommon. This is why the quality of the rehab program you attend is paramount.
If you are contemplating addiction treatment in a rehab center, you can always seek professional medical advice from your treatment provider to determine which program would be best suited to your needs. Outpatient treatment options are also available if a person is not in a position to attend a residential treatment facility.
Behavioral health disorders such as addiction currently affect millions of Americans. They are frequently co-occurring with mental illness. This can require more prolonged rehab treatment. The Mental Health Services Administration has reported that substance abuse disorders and the general mental health of Americans worsened during the COVID pandemic. Many people fell into the habit of abusing an addictive substance during this difficult and challenging period. If you have been affected by this trend, finding the right treatment program for you could be the key to getting back on your feet.
Thirty days is usually the shortest program treatment centers offer for drug or alcohol addiction. Thirty-day programs are normally residential, inpatient treatment. They often begin with a week long medical detox, to set the treatment process in motion.
Thirty-day programs are intensive - there are many issues to address. But, they are less intimidating than programs offering more long-term treatment, which means a person has to spend longer away from home. Nevertheless, they require people to be fully committed in order to to reap the full benefits of their addiction treatment.
Thirty days is generally enough for a person to fully detox and get over withdrawal symptoms. They will have time to better understand their condition and learn basic relapse prevention techniques. The main priority is to help people acquire the tools for maintaining sobriety - establishing an aftercare plan and a support network are important aspects of this.
From a practical standpoint, one advantage of thirty-day programs is that insurance coverage is generally easy to secure for this duration. The average insurance provider will cover all or part of the cost of rehab, just as they would medical treatment for other diseases.
Thirty-day programs are a great way to start recovery. In some cases, the licensed medical professionals in the treatment facility will suggest a person stay longer, if they feel this would benefit them.
A sixty-day rehab program allows people to build on their first month of addiction treatment. For people with severe addictions, it gives their body and mind more time to recuperate from the abuse they have subjected them to.
Treatment still focuses on addiction recovery and abstinence, but moves on to the lifestyle changes and positive habits that will support long-term freedom from substance abuse too. The treatment center may introduce group therapy and individual therapy sessions. Overcoming a substance use disorder is no easy task, and the longer a person is able to pursue treatment in the safe environment of a rehab center, the more they put chances of success on their side.
Full insurance coverage may not extend to a sixty-day rehab program, but most treatment facilities allow payment in smaller monthly installments.
Ninety days is the length of rehab trained professionals in the field of addiction recommend whenever possible. A full ninety days of inpatient treatment can be a life-saver for people with severe addictions or who have been struggling for many years. Anyone with a mental health disorder that could be aggravating their addiction or behavioral health issues, will benefit from these longer programs.
Of the three treatment options listed above, a ninety-day program is the one with the highest success rates. People have time not only to look at their addiction in-depth, but also benefit from regular and sustained counseling and therapy. Not to mention learning new life skills.
When someone's addiction is serious enough to warrant a three month stay in rehab, they may benefit from outpatient treatment when they move on. This enables the treatment process to taper off, as it were. Outpatient programs are designed to give a person continued support as they transition back to life outside the secure environment of a treatment facility.
At Cirque Lodge, we specialize in treating any and all kinds of addiction. Our treatment programs are among the most holistic, comprehensive, and advanced in the country. Our mission is to help you recover. Whatever stage you're at on your recovery journey, our professional staff have the experience and expertise to empower and support you on the path to freedom from addiction.
