How Long Does Drug and Alcohol Treatment Last?

Struggling with an alcohol or drug addiction can throw your entire life for a loop. You might come to realize that your problem is so strong that you cannot function unless you take the substance. However, once you have made that realization, you are one step closer to taking back your life. It means you may be ready to finally get the help you need to overcome your substance use disorder.

One of the first questions that might spring to your mind is: How long does drug and alcohol treatment last? If this would be your first time seeking drug or alcohol treatment, it’s a fair question to ask. It’s important to know that every individual person is different, which means that what works for one person might not work for the next. Your treatment is tailored to your specific needs and situation.

How Long Can Your Drug or Alcohol Treatment Take?

Regardless of whether you are battling a substance use disorder involving drugs or alcohol, there are varying lengths of treatment you can expect. While there is no one size fits all approach to treatment, your treatment program will be tailored to suit you based on the substance you’ve abused, your overall health and the severity and length of your addiction.

There are varying lengths of time for drug or alcohol treatment programs. These include 30-day programs, 60-day programs, 90-day programs and extended programs that involve additional, continuous rehabilitation in the form of halfway houses or sober living facilities.

While it might be tempting to choose the shortest treatment option, especially if you have not yet fully acknowledged that you have a problem, that’s not advised. As a general rule, the longer your treatment program, the more likely you are to succeed. At the same time, even a 30-day program can be effective at helping you as long as it’s comprehensive.

However, the best option for most people struggling with drug or alcohol addiction is to undergo treatment for at least three months. After the initial treatment, a continued recovery plan is advised so that you can continue on the right path to regain your sobriety and reclaim your life.

What to Expect with the Detox Process

You might benefit from undergoing the detoxification process as part of your drug or alcohol treatment. This is something that often helps to curb your craving for the substance you’ve abused. Detox involves removing all traces of the drugs or alcohol from your body. It’s a cleansing of sorts that often utilizes medications to safely help you during the withdrawal process. For example, if you have abused opioids, withdrawal can be severe. You cannot safely quit taking the substance cold turkey, so instead, you need to be weaned off it little by little. Certain medications can help ease you off the drug.

The length of time your detox might take depends on the same factors as the length of your treatment as a whole. Those factors include the substance you’ve abused, the length of time you have used it, the severity of your addiction, your overall health and whether you have any mental health conditions and your age.

Detox can result in unpleasant withdrawal symptoms even if you are taking medications to manage those symptoms. A medical professional should be available around the clock to assist you if you need help. Some of the most common side effects from detox include the following:

 • Anxiety

 • Depression

 • Difficulty concentrating

 • Fatigue

 • Headaches

 • Increased heart rate

 • Insomnia

 • Irritability

 • Mood swings

 • Muscle aches

 • Nausea

 • Stomach upset

 • Sweating

 • Tremors or shaking

 • Vomiting

Some people choose to undergo rapid detox. However, that is also not advised due to the serious effects they can give you. Some people who have rapid detox have poor results that might include death.

How Long Does Rehab Last?

After you have completed detox and your alcohol or drug treatment program, you can move on to rehab. This is most often done in either an inpatient or outpatient facility. Inpatient rehab offers 30, 60 and 90 day options and allow you to undergo detox if you haven’t already completed it elsewhere. Even if you choose 30 day rehab, inpatient treatment is highly comprehensive and requires you to stay at the facility 24/7. You are able to get the help you need right when you need it and have access to counseling sessions.

Outpatient rehab requires you to come in for several hours per week while you live at home. They last longer due to the few hours you’re required to commit to your treatment. You might attend outpatient rehab for several months or even for a full year or longer. You get to go to work or school and care for family at home in your downtime. Outpatient rehab is often the preferred option due to its longer length of time. You also get to meet with therapists and therapy groups as needed.

You might also want to consider staying in a sober living home or halfway house once you complete your rehab. It’s a good segue to returning to your normal daily life that can keep you grounded and committed to your sobriety.

Ready to get started? Call us now for help at 855-334-6120