How Long is Drug and Alcohol Rehab?
Drug addiction treatment programs aren’t one-size-fits-all. Rehab treatment lengths vary from person to person and are as unique as the individuals attending. Most substance abuse treatment centers offer 30-, 60-, and 90-day treatment programs. Other treatment facilities offer extended programs, such as transitions into sober living homes after inpatient treatment and outpatient programs.
When considering a lifestyle change, treatment results and lasting sobriety are what matter most.
Recovery is a journey with many steps, none of which have concrete timelines. Zinnia Health believes everyone can heal with the time, space, and guidance to do so. If you or a loved one is struggling, call us at (855) 430-9439 to speak with an understanding specialist and learn how our compassionate professionals can help you heal for good.
Average Drug and Alcohol Rehab Program Lengths
For people who struggle with addiction, also known as substance use disorder (SUD), admitting they need help is the first — and often hardest, most intimidating — step in the recovery process. It means admitting to friends and loved ones that they have a substance misuse issue or a severe addiction.
Then, with thoughts of treatment costs and program lengths flooding their mind, treatment seems unattainable, and recovery becomes the ultimate insurmountable journey. However, substance abuse treatment specialists understand how experiences can shape people.
By sharing your unique history of drug use through individual and group therapy sessions, your treatment team gets to know the real you. Together, you draw a map highlighting where you are in life right now, where you want to be, and the best routes and steps along the way.
Your treatment team will tailor your treatment process according to your unique needs and incorporate basic treatment types and typical program lengths.
Types of treatment available:
- Detoxification (when/if necessary)
- Inpatient treatment
- Inpatient intensive
- Outpatient treatment
- Outpatient intensive
- Residential treatment
- Sober living transitional
- Aftercare treatment
Typical substance abuse treatment program lengths of stay:
- 30-day programs
- 60-day programs
- 90-day programs
- Long-term residential or transitional
Sober living transitional housing programs offer extended treatment for individuals who’ve completed their inpatient program but have nowhere to go upon release.
For those who have a home, some may need additional support because of their living arrangement:
- It’s not conducive to recovery (e.g., roommates use substances)
- It’s shared with family members who might not know how to be supportive
- It means living alone
A sober living program offers a built-in support system to help a person in recovery avoid falling back into old ways.
When considering program types and levels of care, it’s only natural to wonder how long treatment takes. You could be leaving friends and family for an extended period of time. However, your primary focus should be: Which program will give me the greatest potential for success?
Successful Completion of Drug and Alcohol Rehab
Many people who’ve been through a recovery program discover that 90-day programs are long enough so they can:
- Detox and get used to living sober
- Create a plan for aftercare
- Build the foundation for long-lasting sobriety
In fact, studies show a correlation between better recovery outcomes and long-term treatment programs.
Now, let’s look at the types of rehab programs and how long they take.
How Long Does Alcohol Rehab Take?
Alcohol rehab can last from 30 to 180 days. Treatment may begin with detox followed by a residential inpatient program that transitions into a sober living home.
An aftercare program can extend an alcohol treatment program up to a year from initial admission to the person’s last formal appointment. You can continue with support groups, group therapy, or individual therapy sessions on your own for as long as you need them.
How Long Is Drug Rehab?
A drug treatment program generally lasts from 180 days to one full year. Like alcohol treatment programs, the first half of an individual’s treatment plan is residential inpatient. The treatment team typically recommends the length of stay upon admission, but this initial assessment can be updated as treatment progresses. When both the individual and the treatment team agree, they can extend the treatment.
Substance abuse treatment for drugs can be a little more intensive than alcohol treatment depending on the type of substance, how long the person has abused the substance, and the dosage. Additionally, substance abuse can alter brain chemistry, and these changes take time to heal.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) acknowledges that regaining physical and mental health after severe substance abuse can take time, and an adequate stay in rehab is the most important factor.
Achieving long-term sobriety is like building a house — you need to build a strong foundation. Everything that follows is built on that foundation and relies on its stability and structural support. Then, as you find your balance, you notice you’re actively designing your new “living quarters.” You’re building a new home for your new, sober life — one brick at a time.
If you or someone you love is ready to end substance use and build a new life free from the chains of addiction, Zinnia Health can help. Call to speak with one of our caring, knowledgeable treatment specialists at (855) 430-9439 and learn just how promising a sober future can be.
How Long Does Rehab Last Typically?
| Common Substance Abuse Treatment Schedules |
| The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) recommends individuals remain in a treatment program for at least three months to experience the full therapeutic benefits that rehab offers. |
Although inpatient rehab might be ideal, responsibilities such as work, school, and family can make it almost impossible. However, some people can recover from alcohol addiction, drug addiction, and co-occurring disorders by participating in outpatient programs and support groups.
Does Rehab Length Matter?
While the recommended 90 days of rehab may not be feasible, individuals should consider at least some length of treatment — intensive outpatient, for instance — to learn coping methods for triggers, cravings, and mental health issues, as well as sobriety strategies not typically found outside of treatment.
Plus, many addiction treatment programs and rehab facilities incorporate peer recovery coaches and peer recovery specialists. Imagine a single parent paired with a peer recovery coach who knows firsthand the struggles of addiction as a single mom or dad. The camaraderie, understanding, and shared experience is priceless.
So, what are some other advantages of these typical program lengths?
Advantages of a 30-Day Treatment Program
Many individuals begin with a 30-day treatment program. Because your treatment team continuously evaluates your progress, your treatment plan may start here but remain open-ended as your team determines if a longer program would be beneficial. The advantages of this program length include:
- It’s a safe, comforting atmosphere to detox and get through one of the hardest parts of addiction recovery: withdrawal symptoms.
- The treatment team learns who you are and what you need to create the best plan for treatment and aftercare.
- Specialists help you learn coping skills to prevent future relapse.
- Commitment is easier since it’s shorter.
- Program costs are lower.
- Insurance usually covers 30-day plans.
Advantages of a 60-Day Treatment Program
Sixty-day treatment program advantages include:
- All the benefits of a 30-day program
- More time to take advantage of the treatment program, learn more sophisticated relapse prevention strategies, and work on your after-treatment foundation of sobriety support
- More opportunities to review your experiences, stabilize your moods, learn coping skills, and uncover your addiction’s root causes
Advantages of a 90-Day Treatment Program
Ninety-day substance abuse programs are intimidating at first, but 90 days in a treatment program gives you more time to heal.
Benefits of 90-day treatment plans include:
- All the benefits of 30-day and 60-day programs
- More time to adjust to sobriety and life without substances
- Improved insight into your own personal triggers
- The greatest opportunity for long-term success
Individuals don’t always seek a 90-day program the first time, but those who complete a 30-day program and relapse often wish they had.
Healing Addiction for Good With Zinnia Health
Making the decision to seek treatment for substance use takes incredible bravery. But rehab is a place where your courage is rewarded with tools and strategies that bolster and amplify your desire to get sober and fuel the fire of your resolve.
Are you ready to heal from addiction? Trusting our drug rehab centers with your recovery roadmap is the first step. Call (855) 430-9439 for more information about our locations and treatment options. At Zinnia Health, you can reclaim your life and heal—for good.