Why Do People Choose Long-term Treatment in a Rehab Center?
Both long-term and short-term treatment options exist for nearly every type of rehab facility, and individuals in need of recovery help are asked to choose the program that is best for them. But why would anyone choose long-term treatment if they can go through a shorter program and recover more quickly?
Long-term Treatment for Long-term Recovery
Recovery is often a lifelong journey, making long-term care a necessity for some people.
For most individuals, long-term treatment is actually more appropriate than short-term because their recovery itself will be a very long journey. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Most patients require long-term or repeated episodes of care to achieve the ultimate goal of sustained abstinence and recovery of their lives,” and it can be much more beneficial to start out with a long-term treatment program than to believe that one is “cured” after just a few weeks in rehab.
Recovery isn’t something that is achieved like a cure, and many individuals spend the rest of their lives recovering from their addictions, especially when they are severe. Therefore, it is not conducive to one’s overall convalescence to believe that one, short-term treatment program will rid a person of their addiction. Some people can do well with a three-to-six week long residential program, but these usually must be followed up by an “extended outpatient therapy and participation in a self-help group, such as AA” to ensure that the individual is transitioning back to life outside the facility well and avoiding relapse (NIDA).
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Intensified Care and Long-term Goals
Those who stay in a residential center or attend an outpatient program for six months to a year or longer often do so because they are in need of more intensified care options. Whether you are an opioid addict with a severe dependence on painkillers in need of methadone maintenance or a meth addict dealing with symptoms of psychosis, severe addiction and its consequences can require that you attend long-term care so you can have the time and attention you will need at this stage to safely enter the next stage of recovery.
Not all individuals who need long-term care need inpatient or residential rehab, but most who require this sort of lengthy treatment process require stability and intensified care. Even though it may seem desirable to go through a shorter rehab program, you will likely need another type of care afterward, and cutting your treatment short when you shouldn’t can be extremely detrimental to your recovery.
In addition, these programs that provide patients with extended treatment lengths often help them shape their goals for recovery and feel more prepared when they enter into their next phase of treatment. As previously stated, recovery takes a long time, and it can be much more beneficial to have people helping you along the way instead of attempting to rush to the point where you are on your own.
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Is Long-term Rehab Right for Me?
Different types of care are better for different people, but if you are struggling with a severe addiction and/or mental or physical issues associated with it, long-term care may be the right choice. Call 800-481-6320 today to find rehab programs in your area.
