As an independent addiction and recovery referral service, we often field questions about how long drug rehab treatment takes. People want to know about the time commitment and how long they will have to stay at a drug rehab clinic, so they can make decisions accordingly. Unfortunately, there is no straight answer for every situation.

The time it takes to complete a successful rehab programme depends on number of important factors like:

the seriousness of the addiction

how long the addiction has existed

the substance or behaviour involved

the commitment of the addict

the type of treatment sought after.

We'll attempt to give you some guidelines here relating to the amount of time you can expect. However, please understand that time isn't the issue. Helping an individual overcome addiction, once and for all, is all that matters.

Seriousness of the Addiction

There is a very fine line between abuse and addiction. If a person is abusing drugs or alcohol, for example, they may have yet to reach the place where he/she cannot exist outside of it. When that transition is over, the addiction may be new enough that the individual can overcome through a combination of detox and outpatient counselling at one of the many drug rehabilitation centres in their area.

In such cases, it is possible to rehab completely in under a month. Detox itself only takes about seven days; the outpatient counselling that follows can be over in two or three weeks.

As for the chronic, long-term addict, the prognosis is not so favourable. Chronic addicts typically require inpatient treatment that takes much longer. Inpatient treatment involves living in a residential facility or drug rehab centre for a predetermined amount of time, followed by extensive aftercare.

Residential inpatient programmes vary in length depending on the facility and the treatments they employ. As a general rule, you can expect a programme to last no less than about three weeks. Most programmes run between 6 and 12 weeks under normal circumstances. It is possible to exceed 12 weeks if a case is especially difficult.

Following a residential treatment programme is something known as aftercare. This third phase could last anywhere between 3 and 12 months. It consists of continued counselling and group support.

Different Substances

Another important factor in the length of time recovery takes to do with the various substances people abuse. Some substances have a larger impact on physical dependence while others lean more to psychological dependence.

A prime example is the differences between marijuana and cocaine. Although marijuana or cannabis does have some very measurable physical effects, they are not nearly as devastating as the physical damage done by long-term cocaine use. It means the cannabis addict will be able to complete rehab more quickly than a cocaine addict will.

The worst-case scenario is the addict who is using multiple substances; substances like alcohol, cannabis, and heroin. Cheap prices on all three make this co-dependent addiction more common than most of us know. This triple addiction is one of the most difficult and time-consuming to conquer.

The Commitment Factor

It has been said that nothing influences the outcome of rehab more than the commitment of the addict. That sounds reasonable, does it not? If an addict truly doesn’t want to be helped, no amount of treatment will likely change that.

If you are currently struggling with abuse or addiction problems, consider the following as they relate to your commitment:

• Seeking Help – No one can really help you recover until you want to be helped. The first thing you need to do is commit to seeking treatment of some sort, whether it be inpatient or outpatient.

• Attendance – More than one addict has enrolled in a treatment programme and never shown up. Then there is the group that shows up sporadically, always influenced by the weather or other circumstances that might make attending inconvenient. You cannot be helped if you do not attend.

• Attitude – An often overlooked aspect of commitment is attitude. In other words, how you approach rehabilitation goes a long way toward determining your overall success. If you are reluctant or begrudging, you will find rehab more difficult. However, if you are willing and enthusiastic, you’ll do just fine.

• Openness – A willingness to be open about one’s problems is another part of commitment. Are you willing to honestly admit the state of your life if that’s what it takes? Are you willing to face potential embarrassment, discomfort, and confrontation in order to come clean? Openness and willingness make rehab a lot easier.

Different Types of Treatments

If you’ve done any research into drug or alcohol rehab, you know there are plenty of options to choose from. Between counselling, group support, outpatient programmes, and residential treatment, it all may seem a bit overwhelming. Allow us to break it down for you:

• Counselling – Counselling can be offered as a standalone treatment or part of a more comprehensive programme. Counselling helps the addict uncover deep-rooted issues while also developing strategies to withstand future temptations.

• Group Support – A support group setting enables the addict to participate in recovery in a less intimidating environment. It involves a group of individuals all working through the same addiction issues. Group support often involves counselling, group accountability, and shared recreational activities.

• Outpatient Programmes – Facilities offering outpatient programmes may provide any combination of detox, counselling, maintenance medications, and group support. Outpatient programmes are offered by the NHS and specific charities.

• Inpatient Programmes – An inpatient programme offers the most comprehensive treatment at a residential facility operated by a private entity. Inpatient programmes enjoy the greatest success rates because of their thoroughness.

Completing a drug or alcohol rehabilitation treatment programme can take anywhere from a week to a year. However, compared to the toll addiction takes on its victims, is the length of time very important? Probably not.

If you are willing to do whatever it takes to help yourself or someone you love once and for all, you already have the beginnings of the right attitude and motivation. Now it's time to look into treatment options. When you call us, we will walk you through each of the options before making our recommendations. We can even help make admission arrangements if you want us to.

The road to successful rehab begins right now. Call us or send an e-mail; one of our fully trained and compassionate representatives is waiting to hear from you. Rest assured we would immediately get working on your case.

 

Addiction Danger for Teenagers

It does not take long for people to become addicted to alcohol or drugs. Teenagers can be particularly at risk from this type of condition, and they can suffer more from it as a result. This behaviour can completely destroy the life of the young person before it has even started. It is, therefore, vital that such individuals can get the help they need to break away from this behaviour as soon as possible. Addiction is a life-threatening condition, and it does need to be taken seriously.

What Causes Teen Drug Abuse?

Young people will fall into drug abuse for many different reasons but some of the most common ones will include:

• The number one reason for why young people will first begin to experiment with these substances will be peer pressure. It can be very hard for young people to avoid these behaviours when their friends are involved with them. It is so important for teenagers to feel accepted by their peers, and they may engage in risky behaviours because of this pressure to fit in.
• It is common for young people to feel curious about these substances. They want to see what all the fuss is about, but they do not realise that such experimentations could lead them right into addiction.
• Some of these people will have grown up in homes where alcohol and drug abuse is considered normal behaviour. The individual may be almost oblivious to the risks involved with the use of these mind-altering chemicals.
• The media tends to glamorise substance abuse. The young person will hear news stories involving celebrities, and it makes them want to copy this behaviour.
• Some young people may be dealing with an undiagnosed mental health problem such as depression. They can find that using alcohol or drugs seems to make them feel better. They do not realise that what they are doing is self-medicating, and that this is actually exacerbating their condition.
• Teenagers can be faced with a great deal of stress in their life, and they can turn to these substances for relief.
• Young people can see this behaviour as a form of rebellion.

The Danger of Teen Drug Abuse

Drug abuse among teenagers is particularly risky for a number of reasons including:

• The young person will be going through a vital developmental stage, and alcohol and drugs will interfere with this. This means that the individual will fail to meet their developmental milestones.
• Teenagers are less able to handle the toxic effects of these substances. This means that they are far more likely to suffer physical and mental damage from them. Young people will also be more at risk of overdose.
• There is a strong link between teenage suicide and drug abuse. These substances make people act more impulsively, and it interferes with their ability to make good decisions.
• It encourages the individual to engage in high risk activities.
• The young person will be unable to perform well in school. This means that it will prevent them from getting good qualifications, and this will affect the rest of their life.
• The younger the person is when they become involved in substance abuse, the more likely they are to become addicted.
• It leads to criminal behaviour. The teenager may find it hard to obtain the money to finance their habit, so they turn to illegal activities for this.
• The young person will be missing out on what could be a real enjoyable period of their life.
• They will be harming their reputation. This may affect them for the rest of their life.
• The young person will be causing a great deal of concern for their loved ones. It may even lead to them becoming estranged from their family.

 

Addiction Treatment Options for Young People

Young people will often need a good deal of help in order for them to break away from addiction. There are many treatment options available but probably the most effective will be rehab. There are fewer rehabs that deal with young people than deal with adults, but there are plenty of these facilities available in the UK as well as elsewhere in the world. The reasons why a stay at one of our drug rehab centres in Reading could be the right option in these cases include:

• It means that the individual will be able to get to the root of their problem.
• The young person will be supported through withdrawals.
• It means that they can pick up tools that will make it easier for them to deal with the challenges that come their way in life.
• These facilities will usually be geared towards young people. This means that the person will be around people of their own age. They will meet powerful role models who will show them that sober living is something worth having.
• These programmes can provide the individual with new meaning and purpose. It can also provide them with a programme for living.
• These treatment programmes are not just about helping the individual break away from addiction but more about teaching them how to find a fulfilling life.
• If you would like to know about the resources available in your area, then contact the drug rehabilitation centres in your area. We will be happy to discuss your options with you. There is a solution to addiction and it can be found in drug rehab. UK experts often say though that if there is a problem then it needs to be treated as soon as possible, before it destroys the young person’s future.