Drug rehabilitation treatment will vary from program to program. This will factor in a lot of different things such as available resources in the community, the willingness of the addict to complete a treatment program, and the intensity of addiction. A detox program, which is the initial drug rehab treatment, can start with just a three day commitment. On the other hand, a more common option is a twelve-step program which requires a lifelong commitment to attend meetings in a group setting. If you are looking at it from a realistic perspective, drug rehab will take as long as it takes – which will be different from person to person. While one particular addict may only need the initial detox period to shake their habit, another may need to enter into a residential facility to get clean and sober.
The fastest that drug rehab can take is the amount of time it takes for the substance to leave the body completely. If the addict will be put into a medical type of facility, a physician can manage the rehabilitation and help to treat any withdrawal symptoms as the patient goes through the detoxification process. When alcohol is the problem, detox can take a few short days. When it comes to drugs, especially those such as methamphetamine or heroin, it can require at least a week. It is important to keep in mind however that the detox period is only the first step to a long term maintenance program to prevent relapse.
An in-patient residency drug rehab program will provide a patient with treatment for a certain number of days. It is usually a preset amount – which can vary largely based on what a person’s health insurance or personal budget can cover. In this situation, the addict will sign up to live in the facility from thirty to ninety days and at that time upon completion of their treatment they are discharged. The next step is follow-up or aftercare which can last for several months or even for a lifetime if the person feels as though they need it to remain clean and sober.
Sometimes when the treatment is completed, an addict can move into a long-term housing situation. These are called sober houses or halfway houses. It’s somewhat of a structured living arrangement that is a drug-free environment that can be a major help in keeping a newly treated addict from going back to their old habits. Sometimes people live in this type of setting for up to a year and it is a great option for any addict that has had a history of incarceration for drugs or for those who find it difficult to keep a job or even for any addicts who may have the chance of becoming homeless after treatment is over. This transitional housing does offer group therapy and is just one more step to a drug free life.
Overall, the amount of time that drug rehab lasts will depend on the individual and is not the same for everyone.
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