Which Type of Addiction Treatment Program is Right For You?

When it comes time to enroll in a drug and alcohol treatment program, one decision you’ll have to make is which type of program is best suited to help you successfully stop using substances and start your recovery journey. Picking the right rehab program is essential for long-term recovery. Although treatment doesn’t cure addiction, it can help you address the underlying reasons for your addiction and teach you how to make lifestyle changes that are conducive to sobriety.

There are many different types of treatment programs out there. Becoming familiar with the most common types of rehab programs can help you make an informed decision about your or a loved one’s care. Let’s take a look at some of the different treatment approaches and who they are intended for to help you understand which one is right for you.

Inpatient Rehab

Inpatient rehab programs are also known as residential treatment. They require you to live at the treatment facility or associated housing while you are in their care. Inpatient programs offer 24/7 supervision, on-site medical care, and aftercare planning.

Being the highest level of care and the most intensive option for treatment, inpatient is best for those with severe substance use disorders, a history of relapse, and/or a co-occurring health condition.

Outpatient Rehab

Outpatient rehab programs provide the same therapeutic services as inpatient rehabs, however, they allow you to live at home or in sober living. Rather than living at the treatment facility, you are expected to travel back and forth from your home to the clinical building for therapy. These programs meet 2-5 times a week and involve anywhere between 5 and 20 hours of counseling each week.

Outpatient rehab is often used to help people who have completed inpatient rehab transition out of intensive care. However, it is also a great option for people who cannot take away time from work, school, or their family to get rehab. Outpatient may also be beneficial for people with mild substance use disorders and a supportive home environment.

Short-Term Rehab

Short-term rehab programs may be residential or outpatient, however, they only last an average of 12 days. 12-day drug and alcohol rehab centers are difficult to come by, but they do exist. And, they can be a perfect option for someone who has just experienced a brief relapse.

Relapse is often a part of recovery. In fact, the National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that between 40-60% of people in recovery will relapse at one point or another. Relapse isn’t a failure, though, and it doesn’t mean you have to start back at square one. You won’t forget everything you learned in your recovery - you may just need a refresher.

Short-term rehab programs provide you enough time to go through detox, get back on your feet, and figure out how you can prevent a relapse in the future.

Extended-Care Programs

Most inpatient and outpatient programs last 30, 60, or 90 days, but some people need more treatment than that! Extended care programs employ the same therapies as other treatment programs, just for a longer amount of time.

Extended-care programs are great for people with co-occurring disorders and those who are at high risk for relapse. Sometimes, 90 days isn’t enough to make you feel secure enough to leave a rehab center. If you’ve been abusing drugs for several years or know that a shorter rehab program simply doesn’t work for you, an extended-care program may be a good option.

Faith-Based Addiction Treatment

Spirituality, religion, and faith are all a huge part of recovery for many people. In fact, the 12-Step model of recovery that Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and all other 12-Step groups use revolves around the idea of asking a Higher Power to help you stay sober.

If your faith or religion is important to you or if you want to try a spiritual route to healing, faith-based addiction treatment may be right for how. However, it’s important that you are still receiving evidence-based therapies at the same time, so it’s best to find a faith-based rehab that incorporates faith into traditional addiction treatment therapies.

Dual Diagnosis Addiction Treatment

Nearly 50% of people who go to treatment for substance abuse also meet the criteria for a co-occurring mental health condition. Whether it be anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or borderline personality disorder, co-occurring disorders require integrative treatment. This specific kind of care can be found at a dual diagnosis treatment center.

If you have previously been diagnosed with a mental health condition or if you even suspect a mental illness may be at play, it is a good idea to speak with a dual diagnosis treatment program for an assessment to see if it is a good fit.

Gender-Specific Addiction Treatment

Men and women experience addiction differently, socially, emotionally, and biologically. For example, women are known to get addicted faster and are also more likely to be victims of sexual violence. Men, on the other hand, may feel uncomfortable discussing certain issues around women or struggle with getting distracted by members of the opposite gender.

If you are someone who knows you won’t feel safe discussing some of your most personal and private information with someone of the opposite gender, you may consider a gender-specific program. These are also great for women who are pregnant, mothers, or those who have a history of getting in toxic relationships in early recovery.

By understanding the different types of addiction treatment programs, you can be prepared to do your research and find the right rehab program for you. But, wherever you go, remember that you can recover and you are worthy of sobriety.