Drug Rehab: Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know

When someone realizes they have a drug or alcohol addiction, they are typically sent to a drug treatment center. The realization that they have a problem usually occurs because they have tried to stop on their own and found they cannot or because someone has staged an intervention and confronted them with the consequences of their use. Regardless of how they end up at drug rehab, individuals who want to get sober and are willing to do the necessary work can truly benefit from the program.

A common question for both drug and alcohol users and their families is, “How do I know if this is really an addiction?” There are several formal assessment tools created by addiction specialists that have been designed to answer this question, but a good rule of thumb is to ask how much the drug use is affecting function. If the use has had negative consequences in the person’s health, relationships, or professional performance, there is a good chance they have a drug or alcohol problem that would benefit from rehab. Unfortunately, denial is a frequent feature of drug addiction and by the time enough negative consequences have accumulated that the individual can no longer deny they have a problem, it is often impossible for them to stop on their own. In these cases, rehab is almost always necessary for full recovery. Depending on the substance being used, there may be more or less grey area between use and addiction. For example, many individuals are able to use alcohol occasionally without developing an addiction to it; however there are very few individuals who can maintain a happy and healthy lifestyle while using intravenous methamphetamine. It is important to note that in addition to drug and alcohol addiction, there are addictions to behaviors such as sex addiction, gambling addiction, and food addiction. These behavioral addictions can be just as devastating as drug and alcohol addiction and often require treatment at a rehab center as well.

How Long Do They Stay? Traditionally, most residential rehab programs have lasted for 28 days. In the early days of addiction treatment, this number was chosen because it seemed like a reasonable amount of time for someone to recover and there was no research to make a more scientifically-based decision. Recent research, however, suggests that 28 days may not in fact be long enough for all addicts. As a result, many drug rehabs will reassess the patient at the end of 28 days and offer an extension if they think it is warranted. Unfortunately, most insurance companies still stick to the traditional 28 day model and often will not pay for more. The good news is that many individuals have done very well with 28 days, and there are many options for continuing care other than extending the stay at a residential facility.

What Do They Do There? Not very long ago, there were relatively few drug rehabs in North America and many alcoholics and drug addicts were held in psychiatric asylums. Fortunately, there have been tremendous advances in the treatment of addiction and there are now many options for individuals looking for a drug rehab. At most rehabs, there is some combination of individual and group therapy that involves addressing the issues behind the individual’s addiction and developing tools for remaining sober after discharge from the facility. Some programs will involve the families of the addict during a portion of the stay while others will not. Some rehabs are based entirely on the twelve steps that were developed by the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous while others are based on psychotherapeutic techniques. Most rehabs will combine both of these approaches. There are also drug rehabs that specialize in serving particular segments of the community such as Christians, Jews, women, individuals with psychiatric diagnoses, those in specific industries, and many other categories.

What Happens after They Leave? Many individuals will enroll in an outpatient program after leaving rehab. These programs typically offer the same type of group and individual counseling as in residential facilities but the individual lives elsewhere and comes to the sessions. Sessions are held between once a week and everyday depending on the needs of the recovering addict. Another option many individuals take after leaving rehab is to live in a sober living facility. These vary tremendously in price and quality but are usually a house or group of apartments that provide a drug free environment where recovering addicts can live after leaving rehab. Residents in a sober living facility must follow the rules of the establishment including, obviously, staying sober and possibly submitting to drug tests. Most recovering addicts will also regularly attend meetings of a twelve-step group. These meetings are free, unregulated, and based upon the twelve-steps originally developed by the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous. The steps have been modified to be applicable to most other addictions and now there is Narcotics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, Sex Addicts Anonymous, among many others. Many recovering addicts will continue attending these meetings for several years after leaving rehab.

How Much Does It Cost? There is a wide range in the cost of drug treatment facilities. A lot of the variation in price has to do with the location of the facility and the amenities that are offered. Some rehabs are oriented toward serving low-income individuals and may cost a few thousand dollars for 28 days and may offer a sliding scale depending upon income or other factors. Other rehabs provide every comfort and amenity imaginable and can cost up to $100,000 for 28 days. While for most people a successful recovery will not depend on being surrounded by luxury while in rehab, it is important that the recovering addict feel safe and comfortable and able to relate to the staff and other recovering addicts at the facility. Whether an individual’s health insurance will cover the cost of rehab also has a large effect on the out-of-pocket expense. Many insurance plans do cover drug rehab, although often not at 100%. There are also companies that specialize in financing drug recovery that may be able to help cover some or all of the cost. See also:

• 10 Questions for a Rehab Center
• 10 Signs of Relapse
• 11 Warning Signs of Alcoholism
• Al-Anon: Support for Loved Ones of Addicts
• Sending them to Treatment: What’s Next?
• Understanding the Rights of a Recovering Addict
• Withdrawal and Detox: Get the Facts