If you are considering an inpatient or residential rehab program, the first question you might ask is: how long is inpatient rehab? Other people ask: how long are inpatient rehab programs, and what is the maximum I can stay?
It is easy to want to live at a rehab facility long-term because of the structured and safe environment. But inpatient rehab is designed to be short-term for a reason: it is merely a stepping stone along your recovery journey.
What is the Length of Rehab Treatment?
The length of rehab depends on your circumstances. It can range between one month or a few months. When you meet with a rehab center, a professional will sit down with you to go over your history, mental health, physical health, and current addiction. This evaluation serves an important role: determining how long they recommend you remain at the facility based on your personal needs.
How Long is Inpatient Rehab?
How long are inpatient rehab programs for people with moderate addiction to one substance? Comparatively, how long are people in rehab if they have a mental health condition? Or, how long is inpatient rehab if you have an addiction to more than one drug?
For the most part, the more substances or co-existing disorders you have, the longer you might be encouraged to stay in an inpatient rehab program. This is because treating multiple addictions or addictions with an underlying mental health problem takes longer than treating someone who only struggles with moderate alcoholism and has a safe, supportive home environment.
So how long is inpatient rehab in general?
It is divided into monthly programs. So, you can choose:
- 30-day programs
- 60-day programs
- 90-day programs
Recovery is divided into segments: inpatient and outpatient, and aftercare. Your goal with inpatient rehab isn’t to take up full-time residency for years at a time but rather to be there long enough to get clean and start your recovery. While you should always begin your recovery with inpatient care for severe drug addiction, the program you undergo should provide you with skills and support that can help you flow into outpatient programs within a couple of months. Outpatient programs can last much longer than inpatient because they contain many of the same therapies and lifestyle skills, but you presumably don’t need medical supervision for detox and can be trusted to return to a safe home environment.
What Length of Treatment is Best?
The best length of treatment is really contingent on what you need most. For example:
- If you have a supportive home environment and a job that allows you to take time off, you might be able to stay at an inpatient rehab program that’s only 30 days in length. Assuming you only struggle with addiction to one substance and have only been addicted for a short amount of time, a 30-day program might be the best option.
- If you have no employment or school requirements that inhibit your schedule, you might be able to afford a longer length. A longer option like a 60-day or 90-day program could be better suited for people who have struggled with addiction for many years, people who have already tried rehab and failed to complete it in the past, or people who are struggling with addiction to multiple substances.
- If you have underlying mental health conditions that you want to address at the same time as your drug or alcohol addiction, you might choose a longer treatment program, assuming you can afford the time off and the cost. Longer treatment programs allow you access to ongoing therapy during your stay that might include medication management, where you get the appropriate prescription medications to manage symptoms like bipolar disorder or severe anxiety.
- Longer stays at an inpatient facility can give you more time to learn and practice things like coping skills for stressful situations or social skills. You can also network with other individuals staying at the same rehab center so that when you eventually leave the facility, you have a group of sober friends with whom you can maintain contact.
How to Find Inpatient Addiction Treatment Programs to Fit Your Needs
With our residential rehab program, you can get treatment plans that fit your needs. We work with you to provide customized rehab plans with lengths appropriate to your situation.
When you reach out to an inpatient addiction rehab center, they can talk with you about your situation and circumstances, help you work out what level of coverage you get with your insurance plan, and how you can go about taking a more significant amount of time off of work. This will help you decide what plan is best for you and your schedule.
Contact Laguna View Detox for comprehensive addiction rehab in Southern California.