Seeking addiction treatment can be challenging because it often requires you to fully commit to recovery to the exclusion of everything else in your life. However, overcoming drug addiction requires total focus, which sometimes means resigning yourself to the idea that the recovery process may take time, and you may have to put other elements of your life on hold in the meantime. One of the common questions about substance abuse treatment is the length of time required for a program to be effective.
There are many types of drug rehabs, and the length of time required for each depends on the substance in question, the facility’s programming and the extent of your addiction.
Addiction Treatment Typically Starts With Detox
One of the first determinants of drug rehab length is the detoxification process. Detox is characterized by physically weaning you off whatever substances you’re addicted to. A desire to stop using is not enough; it can be dangerous to just cease using any substance without the oversight of a medical professional.
Detox is often painful and uncomfortable, and going through it under the care of a trained clinician can make it less so. Once you’ve completed detox, you can move forward with inpatient or outpatient drug rehab treatment.
Medical Detox
Medical detox helps with the physical withdrawal process in addiction recovery. It takes place in a supervised environment. Those who require medical detox are generally more likely to experience significant physical discomfort during withdrawal. Detox during drug addiction treatment may include mood swings, sweats, indiscriminate pain, uncontrollable urges, tremors, changes in sleep and more.
Medical detox providers can help ease the discomfort with addiction medications. These medications remove urges to use drugs or alcohol and may also help with recovery anxiety. Medical detox programs significantly increase the chance of success in addiction recovery. While recovery is a lifelong endeavor, detox is a shorter period to endure. It helps to remember this when anticipating the physical discomfort of this portion of the process.
After completing medical detox, you’ll decide which therapeutic approach is most likely to aid in your addiction recovery. In some instances, outpatient treatment is optimal if you thrive on less-structured support. Outpatient programs consist of attending community group meetings and regular sessions with a counselor. In other instances, residential treatment is necessary to beat an addiction. This personal choice comes down to determining which structure is more aligned with your behavioral patterns and communication preferences.
Opiate and Painkiller Detox
Opiate addiction is incredibly challenging because of the pharmaceutical component perpetuated by painkiller prescriptions handed out by unscrupulous medical professionals or pills sold on the street. According to the National Institute on Drug Use, one in 20 people seeking emergency room treatment because of an opiate overdose ends up dying from their addiction within a year, many within two days. Finding substance abuse treatment is an immediate need for those with opiate addiction.
Opiate addiction treatment should be multifaceted to set up recovering addicts for success. Such a program would typically include:
- Opiate support recovery groups
- Individual counseling sessions
- Drug education
- Sober living resources
- Behavioral modification professionals
Opiate detoxification is the start of this process, which can take several weeks depending on the patient and the extent of the addiction.
Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment Programs
Alcohol use disorder, also called alcoholism, is exemplified by a physical dependency so prominent that withdrawal symptoms begin shortly after the alcohol dissipates from your bloodstream. If you’ve been drinking daily for many years, it may seem exceptionally difficult to decide to quit because of the significant physical dependence on alcohol. Alcohol withdrawal is often painful and sometimes even embarrassing. Symptoms include tremors, seizures, nausea, insomnia, irritability and strong urges to continue drinking.
Alcohol detox can take between five days and two weeks, depending on the extent of addiction. More prolonged treatment in a treatment facility is sometimes necessary to stop drinking entirely. Behavioral Health Centers offers programming specific to those with alcohol use disorder. Our staff boasts a combination of professional credentials and personal experience, which can help you navigate physical and emotional withdrawal. It’s vital to undergo alcohol detox under the care of a trained clinician, as quitting alcohol can result in a medical emergency for someone with a significant level of dependency.
Length of Rehab for Crack and Cocaine Drug Abuse
Cocaine and its chemically altered counterpart, crack, still pose a major issue for many people. Cocaine can be a highly addictive substance that causes significant withdrawal symptoms, including mood swings, irritability, insomnia and more.
The detox process from crack and cocaine can take up to four weeks, depending on the extent of the addiction. In some instances, lingering withdrawal effects can take longer, even after residential treatment. Recovery through a high-quality behavioral health care addiction program can make the difference in successfully overcoming addiction to crack and cocaine.
Paying for Addiction Treatment Services
If you have a private insurance policy, the cost of a rehab center might not be problematic for you. Depending on the treatment center you choose, you might be eligible for financial assistance or a sliding fee scale if your insurance doesn’t cover the entire amount.
When seeking treatment, check with the specific rehab center you’re interested in ahead of time to verify coverage. Make sure the treatment facility’s approach aligns with your goals and needs in treatment practices. If you struggle with mental illness, make sure your chosen program deals with co-occurring disorders that combine addiction and mental illness. Mental health services administration is an essential aspect of supporting recovering addicts on their path to wellness.
Take the time to ask questions about the specifics of any rehab programs you research. When contending with alcohol abuse or drug addiction, recovery is an extensive process that requires enough resources to help you overcome the acute phase of rehabilitation and the longer-term elements. For instance, sober living should be a component of any rehab program you choose for recovery purposes.
The length of time necessary for addiction rehab depends on the treatment provider. While it may vary, it’s essential you gain the clarity, relapse prevention techniques and behavioral modifications necessary to live a healthier life. To learn more, reach out to Behavioral Health Centers today.