Is Long Term Drug Treatment Always Necessary for Addictions

Published May 28, 2010

Statistics can be a really good tool to decide whether or not Long Term Treatment for drug abuse or alcohol addiction is necessary. It has been proven that spending from 3 months to 2 years working with a drug treatment center or for alcohol rehabilitation offers the best long term prognosis. Of course, these long term rehabs aren’t used very often as an initial try at helping someone with an addiction. Normally it’s suggested after the individual has experienced many years of addictive behavior.

Outpatient therapy is usually the first response toward drug or alcohol rehabilitation. Normally the duration is about a month although it can be longer or shorter depending on the person’s specific situation. If it proves that the shorter amount of time spent in rehab doesn’t help the patient then long term drug treatment is then very recommended. Generally speaking, a decision is made as to the length by identifying the severity of the addiction as well as the length the person has been dealing with the abusive behavior. Also the number of previous attempts to live a sober lifestyle is evaluated. Then and only then can a recommendation be made as to how long the person should work with the drug treatment center or alcohol rehabilitation center.

Studies show, interestingly enough, that even if a person doesn’t have a strong desire to get long term treatment, that it doesn’t affect there recovery. Even more studies show that whether a court appoints the person to a drug treatment center or for alcohol rehabilitation or they admit themselves, doesn’t matter. Both are equally effective toward a sober lifestyle. Because of this, long term rehab has become a greater possibility for court ordered treatment.

Long term treatment is very different than short term, and much more than just the amount of time a person uses the program. It is understood that it takes approximately 3 weeks to break a habit. Add that to the one week or more that it takes to detoxify someone and you can see that one month is barely acceptable.

Some long term stays can be up to two years. Although this seems to be a very long time, a person can understand that getting used to living a specific lifestyle around different people who are supportive can give great assurance for success.

For more resources regarding Drug Treatment Center or even about Long Term Drug Treatment and especially about Alcohol Rehabilitation please review these pages.

Is Long Term Drug Treatment Always Necessary for Addictions

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