How Long is Drug Rehab?

Starting drug rehab can be very intimidating, especially if you don’t know what to expect or how long your program will last. The good news is, you have control over how long you choose to participate in your program to some degree. Each level of care is typically offered at a set length of time, but you can choose to add to that time where necessary and, in certain situations, add multiple levels of care in order to bolster your drug rehab plan. 

How Long is Drug Rehab for Detox?

All drug rehab starts with detox, the process where you are able to filter out any remaining toxins left behind by drug and alcohol abuse.

The timeline for this will vary from one person to the next but, in general, takes an average of one week, depending on the substances you use and your history of drug abuse. This process takes place in a hospital, a detox center, or a residential treatment center as part of your ongoing care. 

How Long is Drug Rehab for Detox? Typically, between five and ten days.

How Long is Drug Rehab for Inpatient Care?

Inpatient treatment is the highest level of care and provides the most supervision and support. This is generally recommended for anyone who is struggling with taking care of themselves on a daily basis, is at risk for harm to themselves or others, or someone who wants to step away entirely from their daily lives and focus on recovery.

This level of care is very flexible but is typically offered in 30-day increments, which means you can stay at an inpatient facility for 30 days, 60 days, or 90 days.

How Long is Drug Rehab for Inpatient Care? Typically, between thirty and sixty days. 

How Long is Drug Rehab for Outpatient Care?

If you have completed inpatient rehab you can transition to an outpatient level of care. Alternatively you can participate in an outpatient level of care instead of an inpatient program. 

Outpatient programs come in several forms, and the length varies depending on which one you choose.

IOP

Intensive outpatient programs are a viable alternative to a residential program where you participate in a part-time program a few days per week over the span of several weeks, usually three.

PHP

A partial hospitalization program is another alternative to an inpatient or residential program, something that requires full-time participation every day of the week, usually for two weeks.

After an intensive outpatient program or partial hospitalization program, you can step down to being a traditional outpatient.

Outpatient

Traditional outpatient is the lowest level of care, the one that offers the least supervision but is also the least demanding. Traditional outpatient is often comprised of support groups that meet once or twice per week.

These rehab programs often last several months, sometimes several years, as the level of participation is more limited, but they still give you regular support as you transition back to your daily life and find new purpose and meaning in sobriety.

How Long is Drug Rehab for Outpatient Care? Typically, it is between two weeks and several months. 

Finding the Right Length for Your Drug Rehab

So, how do you know which length is right?

This is entirely based on your needs. There is no right or wrong option. Inpatient is not necessarily better than outpatient. However, studies indicate that longer programs are more likely to have a sustainable impact and as such, participating in a program over the span of a month or two will give you better results compared to a program that only lasts two weeks. 

Getting Drug Rehab with American Detox

At American Detox, our team is here to help you with your drug rehab, starting with finding the right level of care based on your situation.

When you reach out to our admissions team, we will gather information about your circumstances, your history with drug addiction, your mental health, and other vital information to help determine whether you have any co-occurring mental health disorders and what type of care is best.

During the course of your program, we regularly monitor your progress. If, for example, you are participating in a short program and you realize that it is not giving you the outcome or the support you need, we can always help you find a more extensive program and vice versa. 

Call our team today to learn more about the lengths of our drug rehab programs.