Long-Term Rehab: How Long Should You Stay?

Long-term drug rehab centers offer hope for people struggling with drug or alcohol addiction. However, the prospect of checking into a long-term drug rehab program can be intimidating for some. How long is long term rehab usually? What can you expect to happen there? Here, we’ll address some of those questions.

What Is Long-Term Rehab?

Long-term drug rehab treatment programs last at least 30 days, although some can be 3 to 6 months long. These programs offer the opportunity for a person to spend some time in a safe and supportive environment where they can get help for their drug addiction.

Attendees live in a residential treatment facility, where they’re given medical assistance to help with their withdrawal symptoms and mental health support through individual or group therapy. Facilities may also offer structured activities and educational sessions to help people develop new, healthy routines.

The Goals and Objectives of Long-Term Rehab

The goal of long-term inpatient treatment is to go beyond addressing the physical part of the addiction. Inpatient programs start with helping rid the body of drugs or alcohol and then address other issues that may have led to substance abuse in the first place. These more extended programs often produce better outcomes than short-term programs because participants have more time to learn coping skills to help them manage their addiction once they return to their normal lives.

Factors Affecting the Duration of Long-Term Rehab

Several issues may affect the time a person needs to spend in a rehab facility. These include the nature of their addiction, how long they’ve been living with it and whether they require assistance from medical professionals during the withdrawal process. Around 41% of people admitted to rehab attend for alcohol-related abuse, which requires a different approach than drug addiction. In addition, issues such as the person’s relationship with their family members and commitment to the recovery process are also considered.

Severity of Addiction

A person with severe substance use disorder may require more support than someone fortunate enough to recognize a pattern of harmful drug or alcohol use early. During our long-term treatment programs, we tailor the recovery process to each individual and offer partial hospitalization programs for those with severe addictions.

Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders

People with a dual diagnosis, such as PTSD or anxiety, in addition to substance use, may require long-term treatment. If the underlying mental health disorder isn’t treated, there’s a greater risk of relapse. We often recommend intensive outpatient programs to address mental health issues as a follow-up to our long-term inpatient rehab.

Personal and Family History

A person’s family history is something we’ll consider when a person joins our programs. If someone has relatives with a history of substance use disorder or their relationship with their family is problematic in other ways, this must be considered. When a person has the support of their family, relatives can play an important part in the recovery process.

Level of Commitment and Motivation

Substance abuse treatment can reduce the physical symptoms of addiction. However, to truly free themselves from addiction, a person must be motivated to succeed. If the commitment and desire aren’t there, it’s easy for people to fall back into old patterns once they check out of the rehab program and return to their usual activities.

Typical Duration of Long-Term Rehab Programs

The treatment program duration we recommend depends on the individual’s needs. In general, long-term programs last at least one month, with stays of 3 to 6 months available at our luxury beachfront treatment centers. Often, these treatment programs continue even after the individual checks out of the treatment center. Instead, they’ll go from inpatient services to ongoing follow-up visits at an outpatient facility.

Each residential program will follow a different schedule, depending on the type of addiction it’s intended to treat and whether the individuals participating in the program have any preexisting diagnoses.

30-, 60- and 90-Day Rehab Programs

At Changing Tides, we offer a range of 30-, 60- and 90-day rehab programs, including alcohol rehab and medically assisted drug abuse detox programs. This drug rehab program helps people get through the difficult early phases of withdrawal under supervision in a treatment community, setting them up for success when they leave.

120-Day Rehab Programs and Beyond

Those who require more support may wish to consider a long-term treatment program that lasts four months or more. In these programs, there’s more time to use cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, counseling and other treatment programs that can provide tools to resist addiction.

Make the Most of Your Time in Long-Term Rehab at Changing Tides

Long-term treatment programs are one of the most effective ways of beating substance use disorders, and many people don’t realize that many health insurance providers will cover a stay in such a program.

Everyone’s drug rehab journey is different. What matters is that they recover. At Changing Tides, the leading addiction treatment center in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, we understand that drug addiction is a growing issue that increasingly affects teens and young adults, the 26-49 age group, and beyond. Our facilities aim to offer support for all age groups and walks of life. We can assist families with navigating health insurance coverage and accessing the most suitable forms of behavioral therapy, medication management and ongoing care required to recover.

If you or someone you’re close to is struggling with substance abuse, and you think residential treatment could help, call the team at Changing Tides today at 252-715-3905. Our trained, compassionate counselors would be happy to discuss your needs and recommend the best long-term rehab program duration.