Long Term Drug Rehab Explained

If someone is struggling with diabetes, cancer or any other serious chronic condition or disease, we don’t place time limits on recovery and we don’t suggest that someone has to be cured within 30 days. Our approach is simple: the person is cured when the disease is reverted. However, when it comes to drugs or alcohol addiction, many programs do have a specific time limit. It is important to remember that drug rehabilitation is an ongoing, individual process. While some may move faster than others do, it is simply not possible to have a ‘standard time’ for the recovery process. Yet this is what we see from many of the traditional, 12 step recovery programs across the country.

That is why non 12 step addiction treatment does not adhere to a simple limit; oftentimes these programs start with 90 day recovery and go from there. If someone asks you the question: “what does a successful rehabilitation program mean for you?”, would you answer A) 30 days spent in a treatment facility or B) when the individual feels confident in his or her own ability to live a sober life?

Why is Short-Term the Most Popular?

Unfortunately, many programs use the short-term programs that non 12 step drug rehab is moving away from. The reason behind a shorter program is not that they are more successful (because statistics show that they are not) but rather because of set-standards and limitations set by insurance companies.

The majority of individuals will struggle paying for rehab without insurance coverage and instead, might have to rely on state-sponsored programs. Therefore, when an insurance company refuses to support anything longer than 30 days, it puts the programs and clients in difficult positions. Programs either choose not to accept insurance, eliminating a large number of prospective patients, or offer a treatment program they know won’t be successful long-term with the idea that any help is better than no help. Neither option is good for patients seeking quality help.

Long Term Drug Rehab

While it may be frustrating to hear that there is no set time for rehabilitation, the statistics show that 90-day non 12-step rehab or longer offers the best possible success rate. There are several reasons the longer non 12-step treatment options provide a better chance at maintaining long-term sobriety, including :

• More time – 90-day treatment or more means more days spent on treatment. This sounds simple, but it gives addicts in long-term recovery a chance to get to the underlying causes of what fuels their impulse to use. It is important to consider that when a person first enters into one of the long-term non 12-step treatment centers, they first have to undergo physical detoxification. Depending on the drug of choice, this may lead to feeling moody and lethargic, or it may be pretty painful and distracting. After physical detox, it is also important that they feel comfortable in the facility. This entire process may take anywhere between a week to two and a half weeks on average. If you have a short-term program, this means that the person may spend more than 50 percent of his or her time getting ready to receive help. With less than half of the time available to get to the underlying root cause of addiction, it isn’t surprising that lasting change is virtually impossible with these short-term options.
• No distractions – When entering into a long-term, residential non 12-step recovery, it helps people break the cycle of dependence. Many managed to stay sober on their own for 30 days. However, they often relapse because they have not spent extended periods without drug or alcohol consumption. By eliminating distractions and outside interference for longer, it puts the individual in a better position to recover.
• Nothing new – Addiction is not an incidental problem for most long-term users and most did not become dependent overnight. The 90-day non 12-step programs allow staff members to identify the destructive patterns in place that cause them to turn to drugs and alcohol. This is about more than living a sober life. It is about understanding what triggers these issues and providing assistance on how to deal with them in the future.
• Physically healthy – If you remember the methamphetamine PSAs that show the physical transformation of long-term meth users you know that wasn’t Photoshop. Remember that drug abuse takes a tremendous physical toll on the body and the brain. These prolonged periods of sobriety can help the individual’s body begin to heal. They sleep more and better than before and feel better without craving their substance of choice. A longer enforced period of sobriety means that the body can start to heal itself.

Taking the Time to Adjust

Contrary to what people in NA and AA say, it IS possible to overcome addiction – that does not mean it is easy to do so. Many people who decide on 90-day programs have tried shorter programs before. These longer programs allow the person to change the way they think about handling stress and other challenges in life and helps them adjust expectations about living a sober life. Remember that you cannot and must not think of recovery in terms of days or weeks. This is a long-term battle.

Make the Right Choice

As mentioned earlier, many people do not opt for the 90-day or longer options right away. Many want to know if they can use a shortcut to get what they want. The fact is there is no secret formula to living a sober life; it resolves around a lengthy period of therapy and support which is key to staying sober after treatment ends.  If you want to know more about how these programs can help you or someone close to you make a lasting change, call our professional counselors and take back control of your life.

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