For those who are gearing up for residential addiction treatment or those who are gathering information for their loved ones, there’s an important question that may surface in your research: “How long is rehab for drugs and alcohol?” The complicated answer to the question is this: each individual progresses through the stages of drug addiction treatment at different rates. There is no predetermined length of treatment that is right for everyone.
Like anything in life, not having the answers for how the treatment journey will pan out can be scary. Having a better idea of how this process works and knowing what to expect from the different phases of treatment can help you or your loved one feel more confident in your decision to enter residential addiction treatment.
How Is the Length of Rehab for Drugs and Alcohol Determined?
There are a number of factors that typically determine someone’s length of stay during rehab for drugs and alcohol, although often, your finances and the agreement you have with your insurance agency becomes the primary determinant for how long you will have in each level of care (residential, intensive outpatient, etc.). Of course, the goal is that your needs will align with the scope of the insurance policy; however, many people find themselves petitioning for more time. Research demonstrates that positive outcomes greatly increase when individuals participate in rehab for drugs and alcohol for an adequate length of time, which claims three-months or 90-days of combined services as the minimum recommended time for addiction treatment, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
At our Promises Behavioral Health facilities, the length of stay depends on the program and the person, but generally, inpatient is between 30 to 60 days. After completion of residential treatment, many move on to outpatient care. Continuing with our outpatient program options after residential treatment is an important part of the success that our alumni depend on as they transition back to their communities outside of the treatment bubble.
Other factors such as the presence of comorbid conditions, the substance(s) of abuse, type of specialized treatment needed and the supportiveness of the environment you’ll return to will also affect the length of treatment.
The Longer the Program, the Better the Outcome
Although much can be accomplished in the first 30 or 60 days in rehab for drugs and alcohol, the truth is that this is just the beginning of the recovery process. Engaging in outpatient treatment through our in-person or virtual intensive outpatient (VIOP) programs can mean the difference between relapse and a life of sustained recovery.
Avoiding treatment dropout and providing services for an adequate length of time for someone to get a handle on their substance use are other important focuses in helping someone create long-term recovery success.
The Promises Behavioral Health family of programs features caring and compassionate staff and peaceful surroundings where you can begin the meaningful work of recovery. We work with most private insurance plans and have reasonable rates for self-pay, which we are happy to discuss with you.
We welcome the opportunity to help you heal and give you the care you need to become your best self. Call us today at 888.648.1941.