Inpatient treatment programs range from 28 days to 90 days or longer.
Here’s what you may be thinking: I’m determined. I will give every ounce of my energy and focus to making this work in four weeks. Then, I’ll get back to my job or family. I will not waste any more of my life on addiction.
That certainly sounds logical. The problem is that recovery isn’t just a question of your motivation, although that certainly is important.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, treatment programs are more successful when they are 90 days or more.
Let’s take a look at why that is.
Long Term Inpatient Drug Rehab
During the first week of rehab you may feel like you have a bad flu.
Then, once your physical symptoms have subsided, all of your motivation and determination take over. This is commonly referred to as the Honeymoon phase of rehab. You’ve got all the confidence in the world that you’re going to make it. It’s even kind of exciting. You’re making friends, doing some yoga and feeling strong.
If you only stay in rehab for a month, you’ll be leaving rehab right as your good feelings peak.
The problem is what comes next. This phase is known as The Wall. That’s because you’ll be clean, but you may also find yourself bored, disillusioned and tired. It seems like nothing will ever make you happy again.
Is that something you want to tackle on your own?
The Benefits of Long Term Drug Rehab
If you stay at rehab past the four-week mark, it will give you the opportunity to break through The Wall with a team of experts at your side.
Together, you’ll examine:
- Any other co-occurring conditions, such as depression or anxiety, you might have
- The root cause of your addiction and how you are going to address it
- How addiction has affected your mental and physical health and how will you address those changes
- What kind of activities you find fun and rewarding
- The most effective ways for you to cope with your addiction once you leave treatment
- Your relationships with family and friends, how they affect your sobriety and what to do about it
You’ll also be giving your mind and body the time they need to heal. Substance abuse wreaks havoc on the brain’s natural reward system. It simply takes time for everything to balance out again.
So what can be done in a month?
In that amount of time, it is possible to physically detox from drugs and alcohol, learn some coping skills and begin to examine what lead you to use and keep using in the first place.
But you probably won’t be able to really test out your new skills. That’ll most likely happen once you get back home and hit The Wall—which you’ll have to attempt to push past without access to a round-the-clock team of experts.
Let’s be real. Nobody loves the idea of going to rehab for three months or longer. But what you will love is the strength and knowledge you gain and how it will enable you to launch your new life.
Hope at The Raleigh House
The Raleigh House is a residential treatment center located in Denver. We offer a whole-person approach to recovery that addresses the mental, physical, social and emotional aspects of addiction. If you’re ready to make a change, we’re ready to support you in every possible way. Call us today or fill out this form for more information on The Raleigh House’s 90-day residential drug and alcohol treatment program.
