Addiction to drugs or alcohol can be both devastating and terrifying. Seeking treatment may be equally intimidating. You know it’s the “right” choice, but fear of the unknown takes over and suddenly you find yourself questioning every aspect of the call for help—will it hurt? How long will rehab take? How will I pay for rehab? What if it doesn’t work?

Maybe you didn’t really think about how long inpatient rehab will take, but a friend or family member has asked you and now you’re questioning whether you have made the right decision in seeking help. No matter what the reason for your question, whether it’s out of fear, apprehension or pure curiosity, the answer is very much the same:

There is no set amount of time, or one-size-fits-all treatment formula because EVERY case of addiction is different and EVERY case of recovery is different.

It’s important to recognize that inpatient rehab may take a very short time for you or a very long time depending on needs that are unique to YOU. Several treatment options are available to support you in recovery.

These include programs that are:

  • 28-30-days long
  • 60-days long
  • 90-days long
  • 120 or more days long

When you choose an inpatient rehab center, your focus should NOT be on how long you will be in treatment, but on how important it is for you to receive adequate care in order to fully recover from this disease of addiction. As a general rule of thumb, most addicts require at least 90 days of residential rehab in order to get sober and have a strong foundation for recovery that minimizes the risk of relapse.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “good outcomes are contingent on adequate treatment length.” Most residential and outpatient rehab centers provide limited effectiveness if they are less than 90 days long. For individuals struggling with addiction to drugs or alcohol that includes a hard to beat period of withdrawal, additional time is needed for detox before adequate healing can begin in treatment. As such, if you’re struggling with Xanax addiction, methadone addiction, alcoholism or certain other prescription drug addictions, you should plan for at least two weeks in detox PRIOR to the full 90 days or more in a treatment program.

Getting Treatment

It’s important that you remain realistic with your expectations of recovery. You didn’t become addicted to drugs or alcohol overnight, and you likely won’t make a full, lasting recovery overnight—it’s just that simple. For help finding an inpatient rehab center that can assist you in the healing process, call 1-888-605-7779 and we will immediately connect you with a treatment specialist that can help.

During the course of your addiction, your brain has essentially been rewired and is now dependent on a substance in order to feel comfortable or “good.” Treatment will rewire your brain back to a health state in which it no longer seeks substances in order to feel good but this process can take time. If you can be patient with yourself and just keep working on the healing practices that are taught to you in drug rehab you will feel better and more in control of your recovery over time.

Why Choose a 30 Day Inpatient Rehab Program?

For most, 30 day residential rehab programs are the ideal first step in the healing process. At this early stage of recovery you probably don’t know exactly how long you will remain in treatment or what your needs are as they pertain to drug or alcohol rehab, but a 30 days stay in a residential program can help you and your treatment provider to define these needs. If, after 30 days, your treatment provider or YOU feel like you are not quite stabilized enough to handle outpatient rehab, longer-term care can be sought at that time.

During the first 30 days in inpatient rehab you will fully overcome physical withdrawal symptoms and begin to establish a solid foundation of coping mechanisms that will prevent you from relapsing. However, as previously stated, 30 days is NOT sufficient treatment for total recovery. NIDA recommends at least 90 days of treatment which can be made up of 30 days in residential rehab followed by an additional 60 days or more of outpatient counseling and support. Likewise, you may require 45 days or 60 days in residential rehab followed by 30-60-90 days or more of outpatient care. Each case is different.

Why Choose a 60 Day Inpatient Rehab Program?

Much like 30 days in residential rehab can provide you a solid foundation upon which you can grow in recovery as long as you seek outpatient care immediately after, 60 day rehab programs have this benefit but stronger. 60 Days in inpatient drug and alcohol rehab allows you plenty of time to detox from the substance of choice and heal physically before you begin working on the psychological and emotional problems associated with your addiction.

During 60 days of inpatient rehab you will:

  • Receive around-the-clock care in an environment that does not allow access to drugs or alcohol.
  • Receive medical care and support to ensure your safety.
  • Learn healthy habits that will help you to maintain long-term sobriety.
  • Focus on both your physical and psychological well-being.
  • Define, with the help of your treatment provider, an aftercare program that’s right for long-term recovery and healing.

Unfortunately, insurance generally covers 30 days or less of inpatient rehab so if you choose a program that’s 60 days or longer you will likely be required to pay for at least 30 days of the care that you receive out of pocket. Don’t let this prevent you from seeking the right amount of help for your needs though. Many programs exist to help you pay for inpatient rehab including financing programs and sliding scale programs.

Why Choose a 90 Day Inpatient Rehab Program?

Living in a residential rehab center for three months may seem impossible or nearly impossible at first, but for those with the most difficult to beat addictions, specifically addiction to alcohol or certain prescription medications, this length of time only touches the tip of the iceberg when it comes to receiving adequate care. While insurance will most likely NOT cover the full 90 days in an inpatient rehab, there are many payment options to choose from that can help you to offset the additional 60 days of residential rehab that insurance will not cover.

90 days inpatient rehab programs have the highest success rate of any treatment option available to you. WHY? Because they remove you from the drug or alcohol use situation placing you in a clean, safe, controlled environment for the full 90 days that it takes to change a behavior.

This means that you spend 90 days learning:

  • How to cope with triggers without the use of drugs or alcohol.
  • What you can do to say “NO” more often and not give in to temptation.
  • How you can stay sober long-term despite struggles or other situations that may otherwise lead to relapse.
  • What you can do to adjust to live without drugs or alcohol.
  • What skills you need to clearly identify triggers and the situations that led to your addiction.
  • How you can embrace recovery and make it a lifestyle that you WANT to live.

What About Long-Term Inpatient Rehab Options?

In addition to the standard rehab programs that are available to you, many long-term rehab options also exist to provide extended care to those who want or need additional support. Most long-term programs are found in the form of sober housing in which the patient transfers to this sober living environment following 30-90 days in inpatient rehab.

The sober housing is drug and alcohol free and shared with others in recovery. Here you work with your peers to continue to adjust to recovery and life without drugs or alcohol outside of the typical treatment setting. You can get a job, go to school, or otherwise have a little more freedom than you had during inpatient rehab while still receiving the support and guidance that you have become accustomed to in treatment.

Long term care options provide an additional step in the healing process for those who aren’t quite ready to tackle the world yet. For help finding and choosing the best inpatient rehab for yourself or a loved one, call 1-888-605-7779 and we’ll connect you with a rehab specialist.