How Long Will You Stay in Rehab Facility?

One of the first questions addicts ask when considering a stay in rehab is “How long is this going to take?” While most rehab treatment programs do have an intended length of time at the outset, it is not always possible to determine the exact length of treatment when it begins.

Factors That Influence Length of Treatment

Most inpatient or combined inpatient/outpatient addiction treatment programs last 30 to 90 days, but a number of factors can determine the length of treatment, including the severity of the addiction, co-occurring disorders and difficulties, and the progress you make as treatment progresses.

Trained staff will use a number of techniques to evaluate the severity of your addiction and addictive behaviors when you enter treatment and will determine how many days will be planned for at the outset. Counselors and other staff will also conduct evaluations to determine how treatment is progressing and may shorten or lengthen your stay in rehab based on those evaluations.

It is important to be honest about your level of use and your progress in order to get the best benefits from rehab. Your chances of relapse will be much higher if you are not fully invested in your treatment program. Being fully invested in your treatment program involves honesty and transparency on your part.

_{Beating addiction is possible with the right treatment.}

Steps Through Rehab

Your stay in a Colorado drug rehab facility will follow a definite progression from the initial detox, which could take from three days to a week or more, to therapy and training that give you the skills you need to stay clean once rehab is over. Treatment plans follow a general planned structure, but are individualized to meet each person’s needs.

Your needs are slightly different from anyone else’s, so while some of the same material and topics are covered for everyone, other things will be specific to you. Group sessions may focus on ways of avoiding relapse or talking about the things that can trigger use, while individual therapy may be centered on past traumas that have contributed to your addiction or other mental health challenges.

While some rehab centers offer treatment plans that span fewer than 30 days, studies have shown that relapse rates are lower for longer treatment stays because new behaviors have a longer period of time to become routines and habits that you will stick with after leaving rehab.

One study of cocaine users conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) showed that relapse rates for those in rehab 90 days or longer were half the rate of those whose rehab was under 90 days.

After inpatient rehab ends, follow-up treatment will usually continue for months or even years in order to help you cope with life outside a structured environment and remain clean and sober. Some addicts relapse and require another, or several more, stays in rehab before they have the skills they need for long-term recovery.

If you or a loved one needs help overcoming an addiction, contact Recovery Village at Palmer Lake to learn about all our programs.