How Long Does Drug Rehab Last?

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How Long Does Drug Rehab Typically Last?

The scientific study of drug dependency and medical treatment has spawned evidence-based practices that help former addicts successfully transition into productive members of society. Drug rehab allows clients to undo the destructive effects of addiction on their mental health and behaviors and take back their lives. But just how much treatment does a person need to successfully get sober? 

Studies with follow-up periods of up to two years consistently link longer treatment durations and participation in a structured program to positive results. This is why addiction experts so readily recommend long-term treatment, especially to clients with severe and ongoing substance misuse. However, their recommendations don’t take away from the fact that short-term treatment can be just as effective for some clients.

When assessing how long drug rehab lasts, it’s important to consider the factors that influence your length of stay and what to expect. This will give you a good idea of how much longer long-term drug rehab will take compared to its shorter alternatives. 

What Determines How Long You Stay in Drug Rehab?

Several factors influence how long you need drug treatment before being successfully released or transitioned into a different program or setting. Some of these factors include the following:

  • Drug rehab is expensive: Health insurance frequently has an impact on how long a client stays in treatment, with more comprehensive plans allowing for longer stays.
  • Required intensity of treatment: Depending on whether you need medically supervised detox, a residential inpatient program, or a less intensive outpatient program, the duration of your treatment may change.
  • Personal factors: The availability of child care and your ability to step away from work will likely influence how long you can stay in drug rehab.

What to Expect During Drug Rehab

Knowing what to expect during drug rehab will help you understand how long your treatment will last.

  • Detoxing: Detoxification is the first part of any drug treatment plan. Detox eliminates the drugs in your system and is a necessary first step in healing, although it may be challenging and unpleasant.
  • Taking part in therapy sessions: Therapy is an important element of the healing process because it helps you learn more about your addiction and how to handle cravings and triggers. Therapy for drug addiction often involves both individual counseling and group sessions.
  • Joining support groups: Building a community of people to lean on for encouragement and understanding is an invaluable part of drug rehab. During treatment, you’ll connect with a variety of people to include in your community. 
  • Making adjustments to your lifestyle: You’ll learn how to replace negative lifestyle habits with positive changes, such as eating healthier, exercising, and avoiding triggers.

How Long Are Different Drug Rehab Programs?

You can complete all parts of drug rehab in as little as 10 to 15 days. Longer treatment programs, however, put greater focus on each aspect, allowing you to receive more extensive treatment during each phase. Speaking with a certified drug counselor can help you determine how long your stay in drug rehab needs to be.

Medical Detox

Although the terms “detox” and “rehab” are sometimes used interchangeably, it’s important not to confuse the two. Rehab refers to a more comprehensive set of services designed to help a person overcome their addiction to drugs, both physically and mentally. Many rehab programs provide detox services on-site.

On the other hand, the goal of detox clinics is to stabilize clients medically, lessen the severity of withdrawal symptoms, avoid any negative outcomes associated with withdrawal, and ease the client into a rehabilitation program for drug misuse or other continuing treatment. Most detox programs last three to 10 days, with the majority lasting seven, and require clients to undergo 24/7 supervision.

During detox, you can expect to go through three crucial phases:

  • Evaluation
  • Stabilization
  • Transition to an actual drug rehab program

Although these are common features and objectives of detoxification, each client’s detoxification process, goals, and time spent in treatment are unique. Some detox programs prescribe medications to clients to ease their withdrawal symptoms while still providing them with a supervised environment in which to treat their addiction.

Short-Term Drug Rehab

The design of short-term treatment helps people overcome their addiction in a very short period of time, but there is no universally accepted definition of what “short-term” really implies. Short-term rehabilitation typically lasts fewer than 30 days; however, some residential treatment facilities offer short-term drug rehab lasting up to 90 days. 

Many short-term rehab programs last 28 to 30 days. Clients who spend a short amount of time in drug rehab often benefit from continuing their therapy in an outpatient environment. Some even transition from short-term outpatient programs to long-term residential centers to receive more extensive therapy.

30-Day Drug Rehab

Some treatment centers offer 30-day rehab programs while others offer multiple 30-day programs, allowing clients to extend their treatment as needed. While the specific methods used to treat substance use disorders and the length of rehabilitation programs can vary, it’s not uncommon for 30-day programs to combine behavioral therapy with mental health services, such as medication-assisted treatment for some disorders. Individuals with drug use disorders can benefit from a month-long program that combines 12-step meetings with other therapy modalities to provide a more holistic approach to care.

Some short-term centers provide everything you need, allowing you to reside on-site during treatment. These rehabilitation centers have set visiting hours so loved ones can check in on you as your healing progresses.

Thirty-day rehab programs offer a variety of treatment services, including:

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy
  • Contingency management
  • Motivational-enhancement therapy
  • Group counseling
  • Individual sessions
  • Family therapy
  • Medications

If you’re wondering whether you need a 30-day drug rehab program, you should consult with a certified drug counselor to receive treatment advice. You can also ask yourself if any of the following applies to you to help you determine whether 30-day treatment is right for you:

  • Refusing to stop drug usage while knowing that doing so would likely result in or exacerbate negative effects on your life
  • Using drugs while knowing that you are putting strain on your personal connections
  • Due to drug or alcohol usage, you have reduced or given up on vital interests or activities
  • Using when there is a risk of bodily harm, such as when driving or operating heavy equipment
  • Having negative effects from drug usage, such as blacking out or getting in difficulty with the law
  • Experiencing problems regulating your usage (either in terms of quantity or duration)
  • Negative effects of drug usage on one’s ability to handle job, school, or household duties
  • Inability to control one’s substance use despite wanting to or making attempts to do so
  • Experiencing withdrawal symptoms after quitting alcohol or drug use

Whether or not a person is compliant with the aftercare planning recommendations, the state of their physical and mental health, and the quality of their support network all contribute to the 30-day rehab program’s success rate.

Most people who complete drug rehab develop the ability to reduce or eliminate their criminal behavior as well as enhance their mental health, productivity at work, and relationships with friends and family. Between 40 and 60% of treatment graduates maintain abstinence.

60-Day Drug Rehab

To complete a 60-day drug recovery program, you are likely to reside at the facility for around two months. The treatment facility will usually offer meals, and family and friends are welcome to visit at certain times. It’s also possible that you’ll end up spending more time than the standard 60-day limit allows as many 60-day programs offer 90-day and 180-day programs.

Long-term rehabilitation and sustained abstinence from drug misuse need equally nuanced treatment approaches. While many drug rehabilitation programs are 60 days long, not all of them employ the same treatment approaches.

Different treatment facilities utilize different approaches throughout the course of a 60-day stay in drug rehab. Medication, individual treatment, counseling for families, and social therapy are often used in conjunction with one another while the precise mix depends on the unique circumstances and requirements of each client. Twelve-step programs are an alternative treatment option that is often available in certain 60-day drug rehab programs.

When you first enter a 60-day treatment program, you’ll go through an intake process that collects information about your lifestyle, health, and drug use. It’s extremely important that you be completely honest as this assessment will influence your treatment plan. During your stay, you’ll likely receive some or all of the following treatment services:

  • Detox
  • Medication-assisted treatment
  • Individual therapy
  • Group therapy
  • Family therapy
  • Aftercare planning

A variety of variables influences how effective a 60-day drug rehabilitation program is for a given individual. Among them are some of the following:

  • Participation and one’s openness to changing
  • The effectiveness of the selected treatment facility’s procedures and the quality of care it provides clients
  • How solid that person’s circle of friends and family is
  • The existence of either mental or physical health problems
  • Compliance with the instructions outlined in the aftercare plan
  • The amount of sobriety that the person has

Experts have studied the success rate of various treatment programs. Some findings from these investigations include:

  • At the one-year point, abstinence rates for around one-third of those who completed residential rehab for alcohol consumption were high.
  • Large reductions in cocaine consumption were seen 12 months following therapy.

No matter the 60-day treatment program that you choose, it should follow these principles:

  • Everyone is different. Substance addiction treatment needs to follow the same principle.
  • Substance addiction treatment plans should include the whole person rather than just their drug usage.
  • Treatment for drug addiction should include both individual and family therapy as well as group sessions.
  • Medication should be available in addition to psychotherapy for substance misuse treatment.
  • It is important to regularly assess and adjust an individual’s treatment and service plans to account for their development and changing requirements.

90-Day Drug Rehab

Inpatient programs, outpatient programs, and hybrid programs that combine the two are the most common formats for 90-day drug rehabilitation. You will spend every night of your 90-day inpatient recovery program at the facility. The center should supply you with meals, and there should be set visiting hours so you may see loved ones.

Some outpatient facilities offer you the ability to reside at home or live in a sober living facility throughout 90 days of outpatient therapy. While this may provide some leeway, it also emphasizes the need to have a support system in place to keep you on track and accountable for your choices. This is because relapses may occur even when people are receiving therapy, especially when they don’t reside in a facility. Having someone to report to on your recovery progress can serve as a great motivator when you’re struggling to resist drinking or drug use.

Ninety-day programs often provide the following types of treatment:

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy
  • Motivational-enhancement therapy
  • Contingency management interventions
  • Individual and group counseling
  • Family therapy

Long-Term Drug Rehab

Although most inpatient programs are only three to four weeks long, many clients find that having access to round-the-clock care and support is invaluable. Residential programs are a common component of long-term treatment plans and require clients to live at the institution for the length of their care.

Staff members at these programs work around-the-clock to provide continuous care for their clients. There is a wide variety of possible treatment durations, ranging from 90 days to six months to a year to even two years and longer.

Since a person’s treatment requirements might change as they proceed through rehabilitation, long-term facilities often provide a spectrum of care. These programs usually offer:

  • Family counseling
  • Medication management
  • Medical and psychological care
  • Career services
  • Community support
  • Legal support

Call the National Rehab Hotline

One of the easiest ways to figure out how long you need to stay in drug rehab is to contact the National Rehab Hotline. We offer free and confidential 24/7 assistance. Call our crisis hotline and speak with a trained professional who can help you choose the best course of action. The help we provide may take the form of advice on how to proceed with treatment, assistance in a time of crisis, or referrals to local organizations.