How Long Should I Stay at Rehab?
Even though most people seeking drug and alcohol treatment are lucky to get 28 days, that’s not the ideal length of stay regardless of the severity of your addiction or your drug of choice. Short-term rehab is more often than not, completely insufficient for true drug and alcohol recovery.
Because of the intensity of drug addiction and the vast amount of the brain that is involved, it’s important to give yourself the best chance of staying clean and sober by remaining in a treatment rehab center as long as possible.
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Do at Least 90 Days
Studies show that with a minimum stay of at least 90 days in drug and alcohol treatment, your chances of success significantly increase and that there’s a direct correlation between the length an individual stays in treatment and his or her ability to stay clean.
By committing to 90 days of rehab, you allow your brain and your body to fully recover and begin the process of healing. Because addiction is a physical illness that happens in your brain, you need to allow time for your brain to heal and begin to address your psychological addiction, build effective coping skills, and come to terms with the root cause of your addiction. If you’re addicted and in need of treatment, call 888-646-0635Who Answers? to talk to someone who can help.
The Issues of Funding
Many people can’t afford to stay in rehab for the amount of time necessary to benefit from treatment.
Because the cost of drug and alcohol inpatient treatment is so high, many cannot afford the optimal 90 day length of care. Those who are state funded through Medicare or Medicaid consider themselves lucky if they’re able to stay at a rehab center for 28 days, as many are being pushed down to 14 day caps. This is ineffective at best, barely allowing an addict to get over withdrawal symptoms, let alone develop a good recovery and relapse plan.
Level of Care
If you’re an avid drug addict, but can’t get funded for long-term inpatient care, there are other, more affordable options. After completing detox or inpatient, consider these.
- Halfway House: Monitored by a “house parent,” halfway houses give you the opportunity to start fresh while still having constant support and monitoring.
- Sober Living: Like a halfway house without the monitoring, sober living facilities are self-run by those in recovery and offer individuals a safe and sober alternative to returning to unhealthy environments.
- Partial Hospitalization Program: These programs are similar to inpatient rehab, but allow you to go home during the evenings and nights. Typically run four to five days a week for around six hours, partial programs give you the structure to keep you sober while transitioning back to “real life.”
- Intensive Outpatient Treatment: Often referred to as IOP, intensive outpatient is the next level of care down from partial programs, giving you more freedom, but still keeping your recovery a priority. These programs typically run three days a week for four to six hours and are a combination of group and individual therapy.
- Outpatient: The lowest level of care in drug and alcohol treatment, outpatient is for those who have embraced recovery, but are still working through root causes, dealing with the damage they’ve created, or working on building healthy coping skills. It ranges from once a week individual sessions to once a month sessions.
Do You Need a Drug and Alcohol Rehab Center?
If you’re ready to begin treatment, but don’t know how to start, call us today at 888-646-0635Who Answers?. We’re here to help you get the treatment you need.
