The length of rehab varies from one treatment facility to the next. However, rather than focusing on how long rehab will take, it’s more important to focus on your improvement during treatment and your own sobriety. Since long-term recovery is the goal of most treatment programs, the length of your rehab stay will likely depend on your progress in treatment.

If you or a loved one are getting ready to go to rehab, you probably have a lot of questions about how the addiction treatment process works. Two primary concerns of people seeking treatment are the cost of rehab and how long rehab lasts. The problem is that there is no straightforward answer to either of these questions. Just like there are many options for paying for rehab, there are also different program lengths.

The most common addiction treatment program lengths are:

• 28-30 days
• 60 days
• 90 days
• Extended-care programs that offer long-term support, such as sober living homes

It’s understandable if you want to go to rehab, get everything over with, and move on with your life. However, it’s important to note that longer treatment programs are associated with better treatment outcomes. In general, most people can benefit from at least 90 days in a drug and alcohol rehab program.

Understanding the Different Addiction Treatment Program Lengths

The different treatment programs available are meant to serve various degrees of severity of a person’s addiction. For example, someone with a mild substance use disorder may only require a 30-day program, while someone who has been struggling with addiction all of their lives may benefit more from an extended-care program. In the end, the more patient you are and willing to complete the treatment process, the more effective rehab will be.

30-Day Drug and Alcohol Rehab Programs

If you’re unsure of how long you should go to rehab for, a 30-day program is a great place to start. These programs offer standard medical detox services along with intensive counseling and group therapy.

Being the shortest option available, 30-day programs give you just enough time to learn about your addiction, develop relapse prevention techniques, and decide whether or not you require long-term care. In addition, being such a short program, many insurance companies are willing to cover many of the costs associated with 30-day programs, making them appealing for those of whom cost is an issue.

60-Day Addiction Treatment Programs

60-day programs offer everything 30-day programs do, except they have twice as much time for therapy and peer support. After individuals finish detoxing, they will begin participating in group and individual therapy sessions. 60-day programs may also include family therapy, life-skills training, and more.

Being a longer program, this type of rehab gives you more time to develop healthy habits, practice coping skills, and develop a foundation for long term recovery. Since the length of this rehab program is a little longer, insurance companies may not cover the full 60 days. However, most facilities will offer payment plans to help you cover the costs.

90-Day Drug and Alcohol Treatment

The thought of going to rehab for a full 90-days is overwhelming for many people, but remember, longer treatment programs have better treatment outcomes. This means 90-day programs may be able to help you have a better chance of staying sober after treatment. 90-day rehab programs consist of detox, counseling, self-help groups, and aftercare planning.

This duration of treatment is recommended for people with severe addictions or those with co-occurring disorders. 90-day addiction treatment programs give patients plenty of time to understand the causes of their addiction and learn to live sober.

Extended-Care for Substance Abuse Treatment

Sometimes, people need long-term care that exceeds the 90-day rehab stay. If you’re concerned that rehab won’t last long enough or that the length of a rehab program is too short, you should look into extended-care options. These include additional support programs such as sober living homes, alumni groups, and outpatient treatment.

By participating in extended-care, patients receive long-term and intensive care. This way, they can solidify their new habits, make new friends, develop a healthy support system, and learn to live sober while in a supervised and healthy environment. Extended-care programs can be combined with 30, 60, or 90-day rehab programs to provide the extra support needed to stay sober.

Find Help for Addiction Today

Everyone is unique and has different treatment needs, so rather than focusing on the length of a rehab program or how long rehab will last, focus on taking care of yourself and getting the help you need. While in treatment, you should be focusing on therapy and self-growth, not worrying about your release date. Rather than letting the uncertainty of how long you should go to rehab worry you, let us help. Contact one of our dedicated addiction treatment providers today to get connected with an addiction treatment center near you.