Are There Different Types of Long-Term Rehabs?

A long-term rehab is a drug rehab program which typically takes anywhere from 90-120 days, and even longer in some cases. Individuals with extensive histories of substance abuse or who have failed to find success with short term programs can highly benefit from a long term drug rehab program. Short term programs are centered on providing quick solutions to acute symptoms of addiction, such as the physical symptoms of withdrawal. There is brief intervention otherwise, in terms of therapy and other treatment solutions applied to the situation in hopes that the individual will be able to remain abstinent once they leave a short term rehab. Because such brief intervention for the problem of addiction is often not up to par in terms of meeting the needs of highly dependent and addicted clients, many relapse or wind up right back in treatment.

Long-term rehabs are not in the frame of mind that substance abuse can be resolved quickly, as there are no proven quick fixes for addiction to drugs or alcohol. Rather, long-term rehabs are prepared to help the treatment client as long as needed to ensure they not only become well physically but are also emotionally and psychologically stable; the key to rehabilitation. So in the long run, spending a few months of ones time in a long-term rehab will be worth it in the end so that the problem isn't brushed over but fully resolved.

Just like there are different types of short term and outpatient drug rehab programs, there are also different types of long-term rehabs. Many individuals have probably heard of the 12-steps, and many individuals have in fact been through some sort of a 12-step program. 12-step isn't only AA meetings anymore, and over the years many drug rehab programs have incorporated these steps into their treatment plan as a staple and guiding light. While there are long term rehabs which adhere to these steps, these types of programs can leave an individual disheartened because of the fact that they are indoctrinated to believe and profess that they will always be an addict. Time has shown that this is not always the case, and fortunately there are many alternative long-term rehabs available which don't apply the 12-step method to treat addiction.

There are holistic long-term rehabs available which help the individual heal from addiction using treatment techniques to address them, the person, as a whole. Meaning, the physical manifestations of their dependence and addiction are addressed as are their psychological and emotional triggers and attachments to their substance or substances of choice. There are long-term rehabs which use behavioral therapy to help individuals improve the quality of their choices, by positively enhancing their decision making process. There are a number of other types of long-term rehabs, and individuals should not be confined to once choice just because it is the old standby. There are always new developments in the field of addiction, and it can be cured, a fact which has been proven time and time again at alternative long-term drug rehabs across the country.