What Is a Drug Rehab Center? How Does Drug Rehab Work?

A drug rehab center is a place that provides treatment for substance addiction. Treatment may be inpatient or outpatient and short-term or long-term. It generally consists of a personalized blend of therapies for addiction recovery.

Woman speaking to health counselor

A drug rehab center is a facility devoted to treating the disease of addiction. There are many types of drug rehab centers that offer different environments, levels of care, and treatment methods.

What Is An Inpatient Drug Rehab Center?

An inpatient drug rehab center provides a place for someone to live while receiving addiction treatment on-site. Inpatient care is the best option for most people because it removes them from triggers in everyday life.

Inpatient facilities range from a residential environment at a luxury rehab center to the sterile setting of a hospital. Many of them fall somewhere in between, providing a home-like feel so recovering individuals feel comfortable during their stay.

The major benefit of inpatient addiction treatment is that it immerses someone in the healing process. Everything they do is related to recovery. Through daily therapy and sober free time, they learn to replace substance abuse with healthier habits.

What Is An Outpatient Drug Rehab Center?

An outpatient drug rehab center provides addiction treatment but not housing. There are several levels of outpatient care, including:

Each level requires less of a time commitment. Generally, outpatient addiction treatment takes place several days a week for a few hours each day. The time frames may be flexible, allowing the recovering individual to continue working or going to school while in treatment.

Some individuals struggle with outpatient care. Living at home keeps them near people or places that support substance abuse.

Outpatient programs tend to be most effective as part of a continuum of care that begins with inpatient rehab. An inpatient facility may offer outpatient care as a transition phase.

How Does Drug Rehab Work?

The goal of drug rehab is to help someone overcome addiction. It should heal the mind and body from the effects of addiction as well as teach the individual how to live without substance abuse.

The best drug rehab programs begin with a comprehensive assessment that is used to make a personalized treatment plan. Everyone has a different experience with addiction and unique needs in recovery.

Drug rehab may begin with detox, especially for individuals who have a physical dependence on drugs or alcohol. Detox rids the body of addictive substances but does not treat addiction (which is a mental health issue).

During addiction treatment, a person undergoes various therapies. Therapy helps them work through issues that cause substance abuse and learn a healthier way of life. By replacing drug or alcohol use with positive alternatives, an individual is equipped to resist relapse after treatment.

Therapies used in drug rehab may include:

Some drug rehab centers offer dual diagnosis treatment, which provides care for people who suffer from other mental disorders along with addiction.

Mental issues often lead to substance abuse and are made worse by addiction. Dealing with both issues at once is essential to preventing relapse.

Does Drug Rehab Work?

Whether or not drug rehab works depends on several factors. A person must be willing to fully participate and allow the program to change their way of life. The rehab program that they choose must fit their needs and provide adequate time for them to heal.

Under these circumstances, many people are successful in completing a drug rehab program and go on to live a substance-free life.

However, some people experience relapse despite drug rehab. They may drop out of the program early, or they may find that returning to “normal” life is too difficult without drugs or alcohol.

Recovery is a lifelong process that requires one to be mindful of their thoughts and actions. Many people need continued care to maintain sobriety.

Substance abuse counseling or support groups remind people of the coping skills they learned in treatment and how addiction negatively affected them.

Drug rehab programs can range from a few weeks to more than a year. A standard short-term program is 28 to 30 days. Long-term programs maybe 60 days, 90 days, six months, or more.

Long-term rehab programs that last three months or longer have the highest success rates, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Addiction can take over a person’s life, and it takes time for someone to repair the damage and change the way they live.

Choosing A Drug Rehab Center

What Is A Typical Day In A Drug Rehab Center Like?

Reputable drug rehab centers are run by trained professionals who specialize in substance abuse and addiction. Some offer one-size-fits-all treatment programs, which don’t work for most people.

For the best chance of recovery success, a person should look for a drug rehab center with:

  • personalized treatment programs
  • a variety of therapy options
  • treatment types that fit their needs
  • a comfortable environment
  • a continuum of care, including aftercare

It may seem sensible to choose a drug rehab center based on cost or location. While these are important factors, they should not be the only things that make the decision.

A poorly run facility with standardized treatment is unlikely to help someone beat addiction for good. If they relapse, they’ll have wasted money and they’ll need to choose a different treatment center anyway.

At our service, we provide individualized care that nurtures the mind, body, and spirit. To learn about our programs and see if they are a good fit for you or your loved one, speak with one of our treatment specialists today.