Finding the Right Rehab for Treating Addiction

It is important that you 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 completely focus on recovery without distractions. 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 therapies 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. This is the process of slowly but methodically withdrawing from alcohol or drugs and overcoming physical dependence. Withdrawal symptoms can be moderate to severe – to the extent of being life-threatening.

A detox should be done in professional facilities under the supervision of medical professionals.

There are many similarities between the treatments used 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 rehabilitation and recovery. This phase consists of a combination of medical and psychological treatments with group support or peer support.

The majority of inpatient rehab centers 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.

Most rehabs in Asia operate holistic treatments that promote general health and well-being of the body, mind and soul. Holistic treatment programs include mindfulness meditation and therapies such as yoga to achieve health, contentment and sobriety, without any distractions from the outside world.

Some rehabs specialize in treating certain demographics such as the Resort 12 LGBT and Gay friendly rehab, female only treatment programs, or rehab for young men. They are designed to consider the various challenges faced by certain groups while recovering from addiction.

Religious or faith based rehab programs are common is the United States. Rehabs in Thailand and Bali tend to focus more on the spiritual side of treatment inspired by philosophies found in Buddhism and Hinduism.

Outpatient Rehab for Addiction

Outpatient addiction treatment programs 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 than others. Outpatient treatment may be the best option for those with family or work commitments which do not allow extended treatment episodes at a residential facility.

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 treatment programs may consist of group therapy, individual therapy, support groups and medication-based treatments.

Participants in outpatient treatment programs are monitored by facility staff members during treatment and may undergo frequent drug tests to make sure they remain clean and do not relapse back to their bad habits.

If the patient suffers from a severe or long-term addiction, or has 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 (residential rehab) should be preferred for those suffering from severe substance abuse issues.

Extended-Care and Sober Living

Extended-care and long-term sober living programs provide ongoing treatment and recovery support to those who have completed the primary phase of rehabilitation. Extended-care can be continued for months or even years after entering a treatment program.

Sober Houses in Asia allow patients to live on-site, undergo private therapy and attend self-help groups where they can benefit from peer support. The goal is to achieve lifelong sobriety.

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 the risk of relapsing is high.

Sober-living and sober houses are extended-care facilities that are not too strict or restrictive. Residents are encouraged to do something productive with their time, while attending group therapy sessions and getting used to a sober environment. This helps to ensure 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 addictions and co-occurring disorders, and have relapsed several times in the past.

These programs provide many different resources such as support groups, detox facilities and psychiatric counseling. They 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 addiction 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.

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

Rehabs Asia is 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”.