Finding the Right Rehab for Treating Addiction

It is important that you should learn as much as possible about different addiction treatment centers before deciding to join one. First, what type of addiction rehab should you join? You can choose from two main choices – inpatient and outpatient rehabs.

Inpatient addiction treatment refers to residential facilities that provide a more immersive treatment for addiction. The patients at these centers live at the facility for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for the length of the treatment. This allows them to focus single-mindedly on the recovery at the exclusion of everything else. Inpatient treatment is considered to be highly effective, as long as the patient stays in the facility for the at least 30 days.

Outpatient treatment facilities are preferred by those who would rather stay at home while going to regular counseling or taking part in various types of therapy at a nearby rehab clinic.

Let’s discuss both inpatient and outpatient rehab in detail.

Inpatient Rehab for Addiction

Inpatient rehab begins with detoxification or detox. During this phase the patient is slowly but methodically drawn away from the substance that they are addicted to. This can result in the patient experiencing many withdrawal symptoms, which can vary from moderate to severe to very serious, to the extent of being life-threatening. That’s why a lot of thought is given to any detox done in professional facilities, and a most comfortable setting is provided for the recovery to take place, under strict medical supervision.

There are many commonalities between the treatments performed for those suffering from various addictions, such as alcohol or drug addiction, as well as for those with behavioral addictions such as sex addition or gambling addiction. But the difference is that the treatment for behavioral addictions does not involve a detoxification as is the case for substance abuse issues such as drug or alcohol addiction.

Usually, the treatment for psychological addiction to substances such as drugs and alcohol, or for addictive behaviors, is the second stage of the inpatient rehab process. This phase consists of a combination of medical and psychological treatments with group support or peer support.

A majority of inpatient rehab programs provide treatment based on the specific needs of patients and adjust the treatment based on the current requirement of the patient at various points during the recovery. They consist of group therapy, personalized counseling sessions, and also teach patients important life skills or job skills that could help them stand on their own feet.

There are many different types of residential addiction treatment rehabs out there, ranging from traditional facilities that make use of evidence-based treatment, to those that are based on group counseling and individual counseling. Most rehab centers provide psychiatric counseling as well.

There are many rehabs that make use of a holistic program that promote general health and well-being of the body, mind and soul. These programs consist of a number of natural therapies and help the patient achieve health, contentment and sobriety, without any distractions of any sort from the outside world.

There are adolescent rehab programs that are targeted at teens or young adults; which are designed to consider the various challenges faced by young people while recovering from addiction.

Religious or faith based rehab programs are also very popular. These programs consist of treatment models that are based on various religious philosophies.

If you are looking for an inpatient addiction treatment program, either for yourself or for someone close to you, please contact our rehab placement team. We are happy to answer any questions related to addiction treatment and can help you find rehabs based on your individual circumstances.

Outpatient Rehab for Addiction

Outpatient addiction treatment facilities allow patients to travel to-and-from home to the rehab center. There are many types of outpatient addiction rehab facilities. Some are more intense and consist of a counselor who assesses the patient’s condition before the start of the program.

Among the things considered are the type and severity of the addiction, and the duration. The physical and psychological health of the individual is kept in mind as well. Outpatient programs can be of different durations depending on the needs of the patient. Some programs run for 8 hours a day, while others are no longer than 1 or 2 hours a day.

Outpatient rehab programs use of the same treatment methods as those followed in inpatient centers. Specifically, they make use of group therapy, individual therapy, support groups and medication-based treatments. They impart valuable life skills to participants, which can be useful to them while looking for a job after recovering from the addiction.

All participants in outpatient programs are monitored strictly by the staff and have to undergo weekly drug tests, to make sure that they remain clean and do not relapse back to their bad habits.

However, if the patient suffers from a severe or long-term addiction that is affecting their livelihood and personal relationships, or have been diagnosed with serious mental health issues related to their addiction, then outpatient care may not be the right answer. In that case, inpatient rehab treatment should be preferred for those suffering from substance abuse.

Extended Care and Long-Term Addiction Rehab

Extended care and long-term addiction rehab are an ongoing treatment which is continued for months or even years after the patient has completed the primary phase of rehabilitation. These programs are conducted in various settings such as extended-care rehab facilities. The patients live in these facilities, undergo private therapy and attend various self-help groups where they find much needed support. The goal is to achieve lifelong sobriety through these programs.

Extended-care rehab facilities are recommended for patients that need additional support before heading home to lead an independent life. Patients are asked to stay at an extended-care rehab center after spending time at a regular inpatient rehab facility if there is a feeling that they are not ready for living on their own as yet, and when the risk of relapsing is high.

Sober-living homes are extended-care facilities are not too strict or restrictive. Patients are encouraged to do something productive with their time, and do most of their daily chores such as cooking, cleaning or laundry themselves, while attending group therapy sessions and getting used to a sober environment. This ensures that the chances of a relapse are minimized.

Long-term rehabs consist of a longer stay at the facility which ranges from six to eighteen months. They are recommended to those who are suffering from a very serious long-term addiction and have relapsed several times in the past. These programs provide many different resources such as support groups, detox facilities, psychiatric counseling and teach patients valuable life skills so that they can lead a productive life once they complete rehabilitation.

The duration of the program will depend on the progress of the patient. This can be anything from one month to a year, or more if needed. The best rehab centers make use of a specific timeframe as a guideline to judge the progress made by the patient. The patient has to achieve a set of goals before moving on to the next stage of the recovery process.

Most long-term rehab centers are located in modern and homely environments, not in a hospital-like setting. The goal is to make the patient comfortable and feel completely at home, while being monitored at every stage by well trained addiction treatment specialists. Care is taken to ensure that the patient shakes off their dependency to alcohol or drugs permanently. A number of treatment options are tried; a comprehensive approach to counseling, which includes both individualized therapy and group therapy is used.

Also important are 12-step programs and peer support groups, which provide the patient with the right kind of ongoing support for many years till the recovery is complete and absolute and there is no risk whatsoever of a relapse. The goal of such long-term addiction treatments is to provide patients with mentors and sponsors, who they can reach out to for help, support and guidance.

Other long-term addiction rehab programs involve daily meditation classes and routine self-help meetings. The goal is to determine what works best for the patient and to provide them with a clear and systematic aftercare plan, so that they never succumb to temptation or resort to substance abuse ever again.

Choosing the Most Suitable Addiction Treatment Program

At Rehabs.asia, we are committed to helping you find the best treatment for addiction. We can give you help and guidance on the best options available for your circumstances and offer support every step of the way. You might want to begin by talking with a mental health professional or physician to determine what kind of treatment might be best for you before contacting us to make arrangements for you to enter a treatment center.

Polcin, DL; Korcha, R; Bond, J; Galloway, G (2010). “What Did We Learn from Our Study on Sober Living Houses and Where Do We Go from Here?”. J Psychoactive Drugs.

Grohol, John M. (May 2004). “What to Look for in Quality Online Support Groups”.