How Long Is Rehab?

You may think you don’t have time for alcohol or drug addiction treatment. But the days, weeks, and years of your life you lose to addiction are much longer than any type of substance abuse treatment program. A month, a few months, or even six months in addiction rehab is a small period of time compared to the years or decades addiction will rob you of. Being productive and present in your own life so you are actually living it and experiencing all parts of it is well worth carving out space in your life for alcohol or drug rehab.

If you’re wondering, “How long is rehab?”, consider these factors:

• The severity of your drug or alcohol addiction
• Whether you have a dual diagnosis (co-occurring mental health disorders)
• Your desire to get better
• Your support network
• The level of care you need (inpatient rehab or outpatient rehab)

If you are addicted to drugs or alcohol, you will likely need at least a few months of intensive addiction treatment. This can take place in an inpatient treatment center, in outpatient rehab, or both. Outpatient programs require that you attend several hours of therapy each week, but you won’t live at the facility. In contrast, if you’re enrolled in an inpatient—or residential—treatment program, you usually stay at the facility for 30 days or more.

There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all answer to addiction treatment length. Addiction recovery is a long-term process. Even after you leave structured addiction therapy, you’ll need to work on your recovery. This means participating in activities that support your sobriety. People strengthen their relapse prevention skills by doing things like:

• Individual therapy
• Alumni networks at the treatment center
• Support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous

How Long Is Medical Detox?

Depending on the type of substance abuse and severity of addiction, medical detox might be the first step in your treatment. Drug or alcohol detox is different for everyone. The approaches used in substance abuse detox and the length of detox depend on factors such as:

• Your physical and psychological health
• If you’re abusing more than one substance
• How long you’ve been abusing drugs or alcohol
• How much alcohol or drugs you’re using

The worst alcohol and drug withdrawal symptoms typically subside within a week. Lingering withdrawal symptoms like depression, insomnia, and memory problems may last for several months as the brain and body readjust.

How Long Is Inpatient Drug Rehab?

All aspects of your life are vulnerable to addiction. It’s a chronic, recurring disease that requires intensive therapy and relapse-prevention support. Residential treatment is also known as inpatient rehabilitation. This type of treatment provides 24-hour care and supervision at an addiction treatment facility. This is critical for people in early recovery. Inpatient treatment also allows you to concentrate on your healing without the distractions and triggers of everyday living.

Inpatient treatment for addiction can last anywhere from 30 days to several months. Residential treatment at a drug rehabilitation center is frequently provided in intervals of 30-, 60-, and 90-day stays. After completing an inpatient rehab program, most individuals move on to some form of outpatient therapy. Outpatient treatment generally lasts for many months, although the length of time will differ based on your specific clinical needs and life situation.

How Long Are Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs)?

Partial hospitalization is a form of outpatient rehab. Typically, PHP programs last between five and seven days each week, for several hours each day. They are led by a team of addiction professionals and recovery support staff. Group therapy is included in PHPs, which can provide support and accountability during recovery. You will likely participate in individual counseling sessions as well as other activities like meditation or yoga.

Partial hospitalization programs provide intensive therapy during the day while you live at home or in a sober living residence. The length of PHP treatment is generally several weeks or months long, but the time depends on your recovery progress. PHPs are frequently a step down from inpatient care or an alternative to residential treatment for people who can’t live at inpatient treatment centers due to family or work obligations.

How Long Are Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs)?

An IOP is a form of outpatient rehab. Intensive outpatient programs offer fewer hours per week than residential or PHP programs but more hours than standard outpatient therapy. IOPs are often several weeks or months long, although the duration depends on your situation.

The main difference between an outpatient program and inpatient rehabilitation is the amount of time of each. IOP usually entails attending therapy sessions for around three hours each day, three to five days per week. Group therapy is the main component of intensive outpatient programs, which provides encouragement and responsibility during recovery. You may also participate in one-on-one counseling sessions as well as alternative approaches like art therapy or music therapy.

The aim of an IOP is to reinforce the relapse-prevention techniques from residential or partial hospitalization programs while slowly returning to your normal routine.

How Long Are Outpatient Programs (OPs)?

OP addiction treatment is not as intense as IOP or PHP. The length of the program varies depending on your personal recovery journey and outside support system.

Outpatient programs typically involve attending therapy sessions for one to two hours per week. These may take the form of group meetings, though some treatment programs will offer individual therapy sessions as well.

Outpatient treatment provides a regular time each week to process triggers and get recovery support while you fully re-integrate into everyday life.

How Long Is Aftercare for Addiction?

Aftercare planning helps connect you with services that support your recovery. Aftercare might last for months or even years, if you need it. Before you leave a drug rehabilitation center, a case manager or therapist will help you make plans for your future. Because it ensures that you have resources in place to stay sober, aftercare can help prevent relapse.

Aftercare may include:

• Individual therapy appointments
• Sober living homes
• Nutrition support
• Alumni meetings at the treatment center
• Specialized trauma and addiction treatments, such as EMDR
• Psychiatry care for medication management
• 12-step groups or alternatives to the 12 Steps like SMART Recovery

Does Insurance Cover Drug Rehab?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires substance abuse treatment to the same level of coverage as any other health service. Most insurance plans must cover addiction treatment. However, there is still a lot of disparity in how insurance companies cover alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs.

Always check with your insurance company about how much of the treatment costs they will cover. In some instances, substance abuse treatments may not be included in an insurance policy. If that’s the case, there are other options for financing treatment. Many substance abuse facilities have different payment plan options available.

Contact us if you’d like assistance determining whether your insurance covers drug treatment. Our admissions specialists will contact your insurance company to find out how your addiction treatment benefits can be applied.

Ready to Recover?

Drugs and alcohol rob you of the life you deserve. Don’t let the question of, “How long is rehab?” hold you back. If you want help with substance abuse, there are a variety of options available. Inpatient, outpatient, and intensive outpatient programs are the most common and effective.

It’s essential to find a treatment program that meets your individual needs for it to be successful. If you have questions about what kind of treatment would work best for you, please call us. At Vogue Recovery Center, we offer inpatient and outpatient programs, sober living options, and dual diagnosis treatment. We want to ensure that you get the help that you need, even if that means referring you to another facility. Contact us today for a free consultation.