An addiction is a chronic condition that affects many people worldwide. In fact, in 2013, around 22.7 million Americans needed treatment for an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Only 2.9 million of those sought treatment, though. Unfortunately, simply discontinuing the use of alcohol or drugs cannot help you overcome your addiction. Instead, addicts benefit the most from professional treatment programs. If you have a chronic drug or alcohol addiction, a long-term addiction rehabilitation center is needed to provide structured and intensive treatments to help you sustain abstinence and reclaim your normal life.
An addiction to drugs or alcohol affects a person’s mental and physical health significantly. There is no magic pill offered by any addiction rehabilitation center. Instead, since every user is different, their treatment approach must be individualized. To increase the chances of long-term sobriety, it is best to seek help from an addiction rehabilitation center that offers a long-term treatment program.
Long-term rehab programs treat substance abuse in various stages. The first stage is detoxification, where medications are used to help a person overcome the side effects caused by withdrawal. The next step is rehabilitation therapy, then aftercare support. Addiction rehabilitation centers have different approaches to treatment that are offered to patients on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Typically, inpatient residential treatment centers are used for those needing long-term drug or alcohol support. Outpatient programs are typically short-term.
A residential treatment center, or long-term rehab, will typically begin the detoxification process for several days while closely monitoring the patient. This is followed by 3 to 4 months of intensive substance abuse therapy and long-term planning. This treatment is best for individuals with severe addictions and those who are also dealing with mental health issues. Residential treatment centers are also preferred when assisting adolescents with drug or alcohol addictions.
Long-term rehab programs, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, typically offer programs that last for 12 months. Long-term rehabilitation is a standard recommendation for anyone having challenges with other rehab programs, or those that have experienced repeated relapses. Long-term rehab programs are sometimes tailored to a specific demographic group, such as adolescents, pregnant women, and children.