According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, among people aged 12 or older in 2019, 1.5% received any substance use treatment in the past year. In 2019, approximately 2.1 million people aged 12 or older accessed a self-help group, while one million people attended an inpatient treatment center. Short-term drug rehabilitation is one of the most common treatment approaches used to help people struggling with addiction. Per the National Institute on Drug Abuse, short-term residential programs provide intensive but relatively brief treatment based on a modified 12-step approach.
Short-term drug rehab programs usually last between 28 and 30 days and is a good choice for someone overcoming addiction. Most addicts agree to short-term treatment because the programs are not as long when compared to long-term treatment. Patients go through an initial assessment and may receive a medically managed detox or conventional detox. Short-term programs offer group and individual counseling and therapy and help the patient for life after treatment. Overall, short-term drug rehab provides a safe and supportive environment giving enough time to manage the addiction and plan for a healthier future.
However, a three to six week might not be the best option for every person to completely overcome addiction. Typically, an addiction assessment would ensure that a short-term drug rehab program would benefit the addict. It is also recommended for families to research the different short-term treatment options and programs. Every addiction is different, and one form of therapy does not work for every addict. Short-term drug rehab programs generally provide enough services to ensure an addict is completely detoxed from all the addictive drugs and alcohol while providing enough therapy to address the underlying issues.
Levels of Service Intensity for Residential Drug Treatment Programs
According to a research article, Residential Treatment for Individuals with Substance Use Disorders: Assessing the Evidence, there are different levels of service intensity for residential treatment. Low-intensity services provide 24 hours of supportive care in a structured environment. The purpose is to minimize a person's risk of relapse or continued substance use. Therapy may include group living skills training, individuals and group therapy, and intensive outpatient treatment. Medium intensity services are also 24-hour care and treat a person with co-occurring disorders. The level of care includes services that are slow-paced and repetitive. Primarily, services are focussed on preventing relapse, continued problems, or continued substance use.
Overall, the purpose of all rehabilitation is to reintegrate the person into the community once treatment is complete. Hight intensity residential services also provide 24-hour care and treatment. Typically, this level of care is for someone struggling with chronic relapse, criminal activity, and who has been through multiple forms of treatment. Services reduce the risk of relapse, reinforce prosocial behaviors, assist with healthy reintegration into