There are many different options when it comes to drug rehab. Treatment programs can vary in their approach, their setting, as well as their duration. If your loved one is battling substance addiction, you may feel overwhelmed by the options available. Should you choose a short-term rehab that promises little disruption to their everyday life? Or should you choose a long-term rehab program, where your loved one will have access to round-the-clock care and support? This decision is deeply personal.
At the end of the day, you know your loved one best, including which environment they’re more likely to thrive in and how long they can commit to rehab. However, make it known: There is evidence supporting that longer lengths of rehab are more effective in treating substance addiction.
Let’s weigh the short-term vs. long-term rehab options, and see what’s recommended for individuals struggling with substance abuse.
Short-Term vs. Long-Term Drug Rehab: Key Takeaways:
Short-Term Rehab:
- Definition: A type of drug rehab program that focuses on stabilizing individuals with substance abuse issues and starting their sobriety journey.
- Duration: Typically a few weeks, lasting around 30 days, and sometimes up to three months.
- Goal: To become abstinent from drugs and alcohol, build a foundation for sobriety, and regain the function and strength needed to return to independent living.
- Best for: Individuals with mild or moderate substance abuse problems, or those who cannot commit to long-term programs due to other obligations.
Long-Term Rehab:
- Definition: A type of drug treatment program that provides structured, comprehensive care for individuals over an extended period of time.
- Duration: Several months, ranging from three months to one year or more.
- Goal: To help individuals recover mentally, physically, and emotionally, as well as develop the skills needed to maintain a healthy, substance-free life after treatment.
- Best for: Individuals with severe and chronic substance use disorders, for those who have relapsed after a short-term rehab program, or for those with co-occurring mental health disorders.
What is Short-Term Drug Rehab?
Short-term rehab is a type of drug treatment program that takes less than three months to complete. Sometimes, these programs are shorter, consisting of just a few weeks. Short-term rehab programs can be inpatient or outpatient, but typically involve clients living at the treatment facility for several weeks. There, they focus on getting sober and strong enough to reintegrate into everyday life. Clients can then return home and pursue extended, outpatient care and counseling.
The first short-term residential rehab program, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, consisted of a three-to-six-week model, where clients lived at the facility in which they were receiving care. After a matter of weeks, individuals then moved into an outpatient therapy program to continue their recovery journey.
Short-term rehab is a great option for those who have more mild symptoms of a substance use disorder (SUD), or less complex needs when it comes to their physical and mental health. Often, those who choose to pursue a short-term rehab program are those who also have critical obligations, like a family to care for, and therefore require a shorter commitment away from home.
However, while this type of rehab program is short, it does not mark the end of a person’s recovery journey. Drug addiction is a chronic condition that lasts a person’s lifetime. It must be managed on an ongoing basis. For anyone that pursues short-term drug rehab, extended care is always recommended afterwards. This is because recovery takes time; several weeks of treatment is not sufficient for overcoming the complex and chronic nature of addiction.
As explained by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Following stays in residential treatment programs, it is important for individuals to remain engaged in outpatient treatment programs and/or aftercare programs. These programs help to reduce the risk of relapse once a patient leaves the residential setting.”
What is Long-Term Drug Rehab?
Long-term drug rehab is a type of drug treatment that involves at least 90 days in a treatment setting – at minimum. Some rehab programs require (or encourage) longer durations of stay. Most long-term rehab programs are residential, as well, meaning clients stay at (or nearby) their treatment facility. These programs offer 24/7 support services and care to each resident, as well as a community of individuals walking similar paths. On top of this, long-term rehab programs focus on setting up clients for long-term success, giving them the coping mechanisms and life skills they need to future-proof their recovery.
Experts recommend long-term rehab for anyone battling a substance use disorder. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Research indicates that most addicted individuals need at least 3 months in treatment to significantly reduce or stop their drug use and that the best outcomes occur with longer durations of treatment.”
In addition, the NIDA states that young populations usually benefit from continuing care following all types of treatment, with recommendations around continual monitoring of drug use, follow-up visits at home, and ongoing participation in support groups.
At Turnbridge, we’ve seen similar results within our treatment community. As found in our recent Outcome Study, nine months of residential treatment was highly sufficient in treating substance use disorders. Specifically, among the Turnbridge graduates who completed at least 270 days of treatment, more than 95 percent remained sober after one year. The vast majority went on to complete two years of sobriety, as well.
The longer a person stays in treatment, the more benefits they are likely to experience. For example, those who spend nine to 12 months in drug rehab are more likely to see dramatic improvements in physical health, decision-making abilities, stress management skills, and overall self-sufficiency.
Of course, treatment needs vary by person. The minimum length of treatment will depend on the severity of a person’s addiction, as well as any underlying conditions that may exist. Many times, substance addiction co-occurs with another mental health disorder, like depression or anxiety. Due to their complexity, co-occurring disorders generally require specialized and longer-term care.
So, How Long Should Drug Rehab Be?
A common question we’re asked is, “How long does rehab take?” And unfortunately, the answer is not so straightforward. The best drug rehab programs are structured in a way that there is not one, single or set timeline. Individuals in addiction recovery should always have the opportunity to move at their own pace, and find healing on a timeline that works for them.
That said, what length of rehab is recommended for those struggling with drug addiction? At least 90 days. As stated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Generally, for residential or outpatient treatment, participation for less than 90 days is of limited effectiveness, and treatment lasting significantly longer is recommended for maintaining positive outcomes.”
Rehabilitation is not just an effort to get sober; it’s a necessary step in learning how to live sober. That said, a commitment of at least 90 days is essential. This commitment helps ensure meaningful progress—preparing individuals for a lifetime of recovery, long-term. While shorter-term rehab programs offer a great starting point, they can only begin to scratch the surface in addressing the complex psychological, neurological, and behavioral layers of substance addiction.
Why is Long-Term Drug Rehab Recommended?
Substance addiction is a chronic condition that – much like diabetes and other chronic illnesses – can be treated with ongoing care and management. As much as we want to defeat addiction overnight, this is not realistic. Drug addiction is complex and takes time to heal.
When a person uses drugs repeatedly, over a period of time, chemical changes take place within the brain. Eventually, the brain becomes reliant on the drugs to function every day. The good news is that this can be treated—however, it takes time for the brain’s neuropathways to reconstruct.
As our former Executive Director, John Palmer, BSW, explains in his article, “True recovery requires most of the body’s key functioning systems to get healthy again; this does not just happen spontaneously, and it is virtually impossible to achieve physical recovery as a result of a stay in a short-term treatment setting.”
In addition to the physical healing and re-wiring process, those in recovery must spend time developing new life skills. Once they leave treatment, they will need to know how to become self-sufficient. They will need to know how to cope with stress and emotions, without the use of drugs. They will need to know how to hold a job, develop relationships, and stay accountable for their health. And when cravings hit, they must know how to manage and overcome them. This cannot be learned overnight.
A long-term drug treatment program works hard to teach these skills. Clients develop a recovery toolkit that they can reach for during difficult times. They not only learn how to cope with difficult situations, but also how to replace their cravings with positive, healthy behaviors. In addition, they develop meaningful relationships with other peers in their treatment program, which usually turn into lifelong friendships after graduation day.
Long-term rehab programs are also more equipped to treat underlying co-occurring disorders, which affect millions of Americans and more than one-third of people in drug treatment. A residential dual diagnosis treatment program, like Turnbridge, gives clients the time, space, and care they need to restore their mental, physical, and emotional health.
Long-Term Rehab at Turnbridge
Turnbridge is a residential, long-term treatment center for young adults and adolescents battling substance addiction and mental health disorders. Despite our long-term and extended care programs, we encourage clients to take treatment day-by-day. At Turnbridge, it’s not a race to finish treatment—every client can move at their own pace, and progress as they are ready.
Turnbridge’s long-term rehab programs are broken into three phases of integration. As clients work through the recovery process and show positive skills development, they can advance to the next phase. There is no set timeline at Turnbridge. Clients progress and recover at their own speed, learning how to live a life without drugs, one day at a time. We give them the time their bodies need to heal physically, the space they need to open up and engage in therapy, the place in which they can practice healthy new skills, and the opportunity to unpack the underlying causes of their substance use.
It’s through these phases that they can work through the recovery process.
At Turnbridge, we believe that every addiction is unique. And, as a result, their treatment must be tailored to their needs. Not one single type of treatment will work for everyone, and not one set duration of treatment will bring long-term sobriety. Some individuals progress through treatment more quickly, or more slowly, than others – and that is okay. Recovery is a marathon, not a sprint, and everyone has the potential to reach the finish line.
To learn about our long-term substance abuse treatment approach, please do not hesitate to call 877-581-1793. You may also explore our programs online here.