What Can I Expect in a Residential Drug Rehab?

In a residential drug rehab, individuals in recovery for substance abuse can take a step back from the worries of their everyday life and concentrate on getting physically, emotionally and mentally well. In an outpatient rehab, clients unfortunately don't have this opportunity and so may not stick to the program. Studies have shown that many individuals begin abusing drugs and alcohol because of environmental factors, so this alone explains why clients find more success in a residential rehab as opposed to an outpatient program. There is very little to distract them from their recovery process, and their time is spent being involved in activities which will only help this process along so they can get back to their life and families.

In a residential drug rehab, treatment will initially start off with detox unless this has already been completed in a separate detox facility. Some individuals need to be kept under a close eye while detoxing, such as individuals with alcoholism. A residential rehab may not have the necessary staff on hand to carry out a safe detox on an alcoholic, so this would be done prior to the individuals arrival in residential rehab. Otherwise, a large percent of detoxes are safely completed in-house with a very short amount of time. A standard detox in a residential drug rehab doesn't require anything more than proper rest, nutrition, and supplements to help an individual through this difficult time. Light exercise and even meditation or yoga is encouraged in some residential rehabs, and this can help individuals overcome some of the physical and mental challenges they are experiencing while detoxing.

Detox is only the initial phase of treatment and most residential drug rehabs will keep an individual in resident for either 30 day if it is a short term program, or 90-120 days if it is a long term program. Most residential drug rehabs are long term, as studies have shown that the more extensive programs result in the most beneficial results in almost every instance. A short term rehab is for people with very little history of substance abuse, and has proven to be an unworkable treatment option for others who have developed dependence to drugs and alcohol and have extensive histories of abuse.

The time in a residential drug rehab can be spent in many different ways, and this all depends on which residential drug rehab the individual has chosen to take part in. If it is a 12-step rehab, individuals will do a significant amount of group counseling and some individual counseling. Their recovery process will often continue for years after rehab is complete, as this is encouraged as part of the 12-step process. In an alternative residential drug rehab which doesn't apply the traditional 12-step method, individuals are involved in many different types of activities on a daily basis which can help empower them and work to fully resolve their addiction while they are in treatment. Treatment counselors can achieve this in a number of ways including behavioral therapy, education, and many types of therapy which can help resolve the issues which prompted their substance abuse in the first place.