There are many different options when it comes to drug rehabilitation. If you’ve made the decision to pursue drug rehab for yourself or someone you love, choosing the best rehab can optimize the chances of success. Read on for an overview of contemporary drug rehab programs, along with a roundup of several different types of drug rehab treatment centers, as characterized by the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s (NIDA) “Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide.”
Not sure which direction to go when it comes to choosing a drug rehab treatment program? This guide can help.
About Today’s Drug Rehab Programs
Today’s drug rehab programs are not the same as they were 50, 2, or even 10 years ago. Asserts NIDA: “Treatment approaches and individual programs continue to evolve and diversify, and many programs today do not fit neatly into traditional drug addiction treatment classifications.”
While treatment options have changed and also differ depending on the type, most share several things in common, starting with detoxification. Defined by NIDA as “the process by which the body clears itself of drugs,” detoxification attempts to manage and mitigate the serious and potentially dangerous effects of stopping drug use on the body.
It’s important to highlight that this is only the first phase of the process and does not identify or deal with the underlying issues associated with addiction. As a result, it doesn’t produce lasting results. Rather, it can be viewed as a short-term treatment for acute symptoms to be followed by a formal assessment and subsequent long-term drug addiction treatment protocols aimed at addressing the psychological, social, and behavioral problems associated with substance abuse and addiction.
Because of the dangers associated with detox, the process is best managed under the direction of trained healthcare professionals in either an inpatient or outpatient setting. Additionally, medications are also used to facilitate withdrawal from certain substances, including alcohol, nicotine, opioids, benzos, and barbiturates.
Common Drug Rehab Treatment Options
- Long-Term Residential Treatment
The most well-known residential treatment model, long-term residential treatment consists of around-the-clock care in a non-hospital setting for a planned period ranging between six and 12 months. This highly structured treatment focuses on the “resocialization” of substance abusers and may also include additional services, such as employment training.
Says NIDA: “Addiction is viewed in the context of an individual’s social and psychological deficits, and treatment focuses on developing personal accountability and responsibility as well as socially productive lives.”
- Short-Term Residential Treatment
This treatment, which takes a modified, 12-step approach, may be (relatively) brief, but it’s intensive. Explains NIDA: “The original residential treatment model consisted of a 3- to 6-week hospital-based inpatient treatment phase followed by extended outpatient therapy and participation in a self-help group, such as AA.”
Treatment is not over after a stay in short-term residential treatment. Rather, individuals who remain engaged in outpatient and aftercare programs enjoy better outcomes and a reduced risk of relapse.
Group therapy can be a valuable part of both inpatient and outpatient substance abuse treatment programs.
- Outpatient Treatment Programs
According to NIDA, “outpatient treatment varies in the types and intensity of services offered. Such treatment costs less than residential or inpatient treatment and often is more suitable for people with jobs or extensive social supports.”
However, it’s important to note that while outpatient treatment programs may offer the best fit on the surface, you must delve deeper to determine what treatments and services are available. For example, while some outpatient treatment programs primarily offer drug education, others incorporate other elements, such as group counseling.
Says Psychology Today of outpatient treatment: “The outpatient level of care can be a starting point for many alcoholics or those questioning their drinking and if they find that they are still relapsing, then it is clear that they may need to utilize a higher level of care.”
Furthermore, there are intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) that deliver a higher level of care, including individual therapy, case management, and medication management, as well as partial hospitalization programs, AKA “day treatments,” which allow patients to attend treatments during the day while living at home.
Ultimately, there’s no single “best” type of drug rehab program. Rather, the choice is determined by one thing above all else: the unique needs of each individual.
We’re Here to Help
To learn more about which drug rehab programs may best suit your situation, contact us at Harris House today.
