01 / 07
Length Is Not One Fixed Number
The optimal amount of time spent in treatment depends on an individual’s particular situation, including:
- Level of support available from family, friends, employers, and others
- Ability to continue treatment after initial residential or partial hospitalization stay
- Severity of drug addiction (i.e., the intensity, frequency, duration, etc.)
- Number and type of problems in addition to those related to alcohol use
- Whether other psychiatric or physical conditions need to be diagnosed and treated
- Amount of social support the person has available to them
In general, treatment programs of fewer than 90 days duration are not likely to meet an individual’s needs. However, most individuals require at least several months in treatment before they begin to fully recover.
Treatment may also include:
Education about the effects of alcohol.
Development of skills such as managing stress, avoiding high-risk situations, dealing with problems related to alcohol use, and avoiding relapse.
Linkage to community-based services for ongoing care and support.
Some people need very little treatment. For others, a lengthy stay in a residential setting may be appropriate to help them stop drinking completely, gain self-control, learn more about their addiction, and address other health issues such as mental health problems or physical health problems caused by heavy alcohol use. A person's progress can change over time, so ongoing reevaluation is important.
The amount of treatment needed depends on the type of problem (e.g., dependence versus nondependence) and the extent of alcohol-related harm. For example, a heavy drinker who doesn't experience significant problems related to his or her drinking may only need brief counseling, while someone with a severe addiction or other complicating factors such as medical, legal, or social issues may require extensive treatment.
02 / 07
How Long Detox Usually Runs
Moderate-to-severe alcohol withdrawal may need to be treated with medications. The length of your stay depends on how severe your symptoms are. Your healthcare provider will adjust your dose depending on the results of lab tests. They will also take into account how well you’re tolerating the medication.
The length of time a person stays in an alcohol detox program depends on several factors. The severity of withdrawal symptoms will dictate how long the detox process lasts. In addition, some individuals may need medical supervision while withdrawing from alcohol, which could result in an extended stay in rehab.
The duration of detox varies depending on several factors:
- The severity of your addiction: People with more severe addictions may need longer periods in detox than those who have been abusing substances for shorter amounts of time.
- Your medical history: If you have any underlying health conditions, such as liver disease or heart problems, they can affect how long it takes to get through detox.
03 / 07
Shorter Residential Stays
A shorter stay is usually an option for people who are motivated to address their alcohol use issues and whose addictions aren't too serious. Short-term stays can provide significant help for people with less severe addictions, but many with serious addictions will likely need longer residential stays in order to get the treatment they need.
Ohio ASAM 3.1 residential programs offer at least five hours per week of low-intensity treatment for substance use disorders.
Residential treatment can be helpful when you need the support of others during your recovery. In a residential program, you stay at a specialized facility and receive around-the-clock care from addiction specialists for a set amount of time.
Outpatient treatment provides services on an as-needed basis, usually without overnight stays. Outpatient rehab is often used after an inpatient or residential stay to help people maintain their recovery as they re-enter the outside world.
04 / 07
Longer Residential Stays
Therapeutic community models plan stays of six months or longer in residential settings, generally in non-hospital facilities.
The therapeutic community (TC) is a specific approach to residential treatment that involves staying at a facility while participating in group therapy. TCs are very strict environments aimed at helping residents root out the underlying causes of their addictions. While the exact program varies depending on the facility, some typical components of a therapeutic community include group sessions, individual counseling, a 12-step or similar self-improvement program, educational opportunities, family counseling, and physical activities.
The goal of long-term treatment is to provide a stable, supportive environment for participants to develop and practice recovery skills.
Longer residential stays often follow short inpatient treatment stays. Longer residential stays allow a person to recover at their own pace without external pressures such as work, school, or family obligations. Longer stays may be helpful to those who struggle with co-occurring mental health disorders and are seeking therapy. These programs are typically for adults who need intensive treatment or who have difficulty overcoming their addiction when living in the outside world.
Many residential programs plan for the transition from their setting to other types of care before the patient's discharge. They may introduce patients to community resources or help them to plan for extended treatment at another facility.
05 / 07
Outpatient Timelines
Outpatient alcohol care can continue for as long as needed. The length of time varies depending on the person’s goals, symptoms, and other needs. It also depends on what types of treatment are recommended. Outpatient alcohol treatment may last several months or longer.
A treatment team will work with you to determine how long your outpatient treatment should last. This may be based on an assessment of your needs. In some cases, a referral to inpatient care may be needed if outpatient services don’t provide enough help. It’s also possible for someone to progress through different levels of care during the same episode of treatment.
Intensive outpatient and partial hospital schedules allow flexibility for both patients and providers.
Outpatient treatment for addiction can take place over a wide range of timelines. The specific duration of your treatment depends on several factors, including:
- The severity of your condition
- Your insurance coverage
- Your financial resources
- How frequently you’re able to attend therapy sessions
- Your willingness to commit to the program
In general, outpatient programs can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
In some cases, an individual may require an intense period of treatment before transitioning into outpatient care. In other cases, they may progress directly from detox or a low-level residential setting into an outpatient program.
06 / 07
What Shapes Length of Stay
Matching the level of care to changing needs in response to treatment progress helps ensure that the client remains engaged in services long enough to achieve an optimal outcome.
The level of service at which an individual engages and the length of time he or she remains are determined largely by how well his or her needs are matched with available services. For example, an outpatient with a less severe addiction may have different needs than someone who is homeless, unemployed, has had relapses in treatment before, and has co-occurring medical and mental health problems.
Individuals should be assessed and reassessed as their needs change and should be provided with more intensive levels of care when the risks associated with their drug use are high. When services match a client’s changing needs, there is a greater likelihood that they will remain engaged in treatment until they have achieved an optimal outcome.
The type and intensity of treatment and services provided will be influenced by several factors, including:
- Severity of the patient's alcohol or other drug problem
- Co-occurring medical conditions
- Level of functioning, including physical and mental health status
- Support from family and others
- Prior experience with recovery and its duration
- Criminal justice involvement (if any)
- Employment and financial resources
- Housing and other environmental circumstances
These factors are typically considered at the time a patient enters treatment; however, they can change over the course of treatment.
07 / 07
Why Completing the Planned Episode Matters
Remaining in the planned episode of care until completion is critical for achieving positive outcomes from treatment. It takes time to achieve the cognitive changes that support recovery, so it is important that patients stay in treatment for an adequate period of time.
Recovery from alcohol addiction is a long-term process. When treatment ends before recovery is complete, there’s a risk that someone will relapse back into drinking and have a negative outcome.
Treatment programs that end too soon may leave individuals with no plan to avoid relapsing or help them deal with triggers once they go home. Therefore, it’s important for people in addiction treatment to follow through with the program their counselor has set up for them.
After a residential stay, continued outpatient care reduces your risk of relapse.
While a residential treatment stay is planned for a specific number of days or weeks, this does not necessarily indicate how long the individual will be actively involved in substance abuse treatment.