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If are struggling with drug addiction, going through treatment may seem overwhelming, but knowing what to expect can ease your mind. The reward of a better, healthier, longer life makes the time spent in treatment well worth your while. It’s not a decision that you’ll regret.
What Is Drug Rehab?
Drug rehab is designed to free you from your addiction, which has taken over your life and become out of your control. It’s a long-term process, consisting of both inpatient and outpatient treatment, followed by a lifelong journey in recovery. It’s not a one size fits all process, so it will start with an assessment of your needs to determine the right course for you.
In rehab, you’ll learn about the nature of addiction and how it has affected the way your brain works. You’ll also learn more about yourself, and the reasons behind your behavior. You’ll also learn better ways to cope with life’s challenges without using drugs or alcohol.
How Long Is Drug Rehab?
The length of rehab for you will be determined after your initial assessment by professionals. It will depend on your mental health, physical health, and the length and severity of your addiction. Typically, treatment will start with an inpatient stay that may last 30, 60, or 90 days. This inpatient treatment includes a period of detox, in which your withdrawal symptoms are managed. For severe addictions, there are even longer inpatient rehab programs lasting up to one year.
After your inpatient stay, you may continue on to a partial hospitalization program (PHP), where you attend treatment for four to six hours a day, five days per week, for a period of six to ten weeks. This allows you to continue treatment while being introduced back into the “real world”.
Next, you might go into an intensive outpatient program (IOP), which is two to three hours of treatment a day, three to four days per week. These treatments may be scheduled in the evenings, so that you can get back to work or school during the day.
During PHP, IOP, and even beyond, some people benefit from staying at a sober living facility where they can still receive support in a drug free environment.
In any case, after the full treatment program, most people find it helpful to their recovery to attend support group meetings and/or to continue individual therapy.
What Happens in Drug Rehab?
Inpatient rehab starts with a period of medically supervised detox, which may include medication to ease your withdrawal symptoms, depending on your drug of choice. You’ll also be monitored to ensure your safety.
During this time, you’ll also begin therapy. The most common type of individual therapy used in rehab is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
In CBT, you will learn to recognize your irrational thoughts and negative emotions, and to challenge them with more realistic thinking. For example, you might think that you can control your drug use if you can just detox for a while. You’ll learn to recognize this thought as irrational and challenge it with a more reasonable conclusion like “History has shown that I can’t control my drug use and it’s ruining my life. Treatment will help me to get healthy and live a better life.”
Group therapy is also a critical part of the inpatient treatment process, giving you the opportunity to learn about the nature of addiction, and to interact with people who are going through similar experiences. You and your peers will be able to share your stories, challenges, and emotions, and learn healthy coping mechanisms.
In the subsequent PHP and IOP programs, these therapies will continue.
Do I Need Inpatient Treatment?
If you want to stop using drugs, but don’t seem to be able to on your own, treatment is likely your only option, and a period of inpatient treatment gives you the best odds of success. If you are not sure, there are 11 criteria that medical professionals use to determine if you have a substance use disorder. If you meet two or more of these criteria, you have a substance use disorder. If you have six or more, you have a severe substance use disorder.
- Taking drugs in larger quantities or for longer than you intended
- Wanting to reduce the amount you’re taking or to stop using altogether, and not being able to
- Spending a lot of time trying to get drugs, take drugs, or recover from using
- Cravings for drugs
- Not living up to responsibilities at school, work, or home
- Continuing to use drugs in spite of negative consequences in relationships
- Giving up normal activities to use drugs
- Continuing to use even when it puts you in danger
- Needing more and more drugs to get the same effects
- Withdrawal symptoms when not using
Benefits of a Full Treatment Program
A full treatment program that consists of inpatient treatment, PHP, and IOP is proven to be more effective than any one of those treatment options alone. Such a program offers several important benefits.
1. Healing
Including inpatient treatment gives you a chance to safely withdraw from drugs, and for your body to heal. In outpatient treatment, you’ll still be in the hands of professionals who can support you in continuing to heal.
2. More Time to Address Co-Occurring Disorders
Many people have other mental health disorders in addition to their substance use disorder, such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. Spending more time in treatment allows more time to address those issues both with therapy and sometimes medication.
3. Building Healthy Habits
In treatment, you learn how to develop healthy habits to replace bad habits. Habits take time to develop, and longer treatment programs give you that time before you have to try to do it on your own.
4. Learning Coping Mechanisms
Treatment focuses heavily on learning healthy coping mechanisms. Longer treatment programs give you more time to practice your coping skills so that they become second nature.
5. Relationship Development
In many programs, you’ll be with some of the same peers throughout all stages of treatment. The relationships that you’ll form with these people can be invaluable because you’ll be able to connect with them in a unique way because of your shared experiences. These relationships can last a lifetime.
In Closing
If you’re struggling with a drug addiction, don’t let the length of rehab scare you away. It’s still a short period compared to the rest of your life, and that life will be richer because you’ll be healthy and sober. Bridges of Hope is here to help with comprehensive and compassionate care that is individualized to meet your needs. Give us a call today to take the first step.