Long-Term Drug and Alcohol Rehab Treatment Centers Near Me

Long-term rehab treatments present a perfect option for addiction sufferers who need a more comprehensive treatment for their substance use disorder. Patients attending this form of treatment are usually stationed at a rehab facility for a relatively long duration, ranging between 6 months to 2 years. They mostly spend their time at the facility, taking part in different counseling and therapy sessions that are designed to address the complexities of their addiction disorders.¹

The latest estimates show that around 2,500 long-term rehab centers operate across the U.S. This number presents only a fifth of all rehab centers, the majority of which offer only outpatient rehab programs.² Regardless of these stats, addiction sufferers increasingly consider going to long-term facilities. Studies have shown that attending long-term addiction treatment possesses significant benefits in terms of relapse prevention. While different studies show relapse rates ranging from 20 to 80 percent, the majority of them confirm the higher effectiveness of long-term rehabs.^{3, 4}

Elements of Long-Term Residential Inpatient Treatment

Several vital elements constitute every long-term addiction treatment conducted on an inpatient basis. Each treatment, be it short-term or long-term, starts with a medical detox. This procedure involves swift administration of treatment that is aimed at stabilizing the patient’s overall situation. During the course of several days, a panel of medical experts helps patients get through dangerous withdrawal symptoms, most commonly aided by certain medications. A desirable result of the detox phase involves toxic substance removal from the patient’s body.⁵

Once a patient’s body is cleared of addictive substances, long-term rehab facilities usually employ counseling to address the psychological aspects of the concrete issues faced by patients. To get to the underlying issues that drive addictive behavior, rehab professionals commonly employ various forms of psychotherapy.⁶ Focusing on the interconnection between patients’ thoughts, emotions, and behavior, psychotherapy aims to provide a long-lasting solution to addiction-related issues. Some of the most commonly practiced forms of psychotherapy include:^{7, 8}

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) combines rational strategies of negative thought coping with behavioral exercises aimed at overcoming irrational beliefs.
•  Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) helps patients develop a set of skills (such as distress tolerance, emotional regulation, mindfulness, and assertive behavior) that are believed to help in controlling negative emotions.
• Motivational interviewing is a counseling approach that attempts to help patients achieve their life goals by finding ways to elicit a positive change of behavior.
• Contingency management incorporates a reward system designed to direct a patient’s behavior in a desirable direction.

These approaches have shown effectiveness in addiction rehab. As such, they present the core of any long-term substance abuse treatment. Further elements of rehab treatments, such as support groups and aftercare, are, however, vital for successful and long-lasting recovery. Support groups are commonly organized in a way that fosters communication between people suffering from similar issues. This crucial form of social support enables addiction sufferers to stay on the right course despite potential setbacks. Aftercare activities also involve social interaction and are designed for similar purposes of helping patients achieve lifelong recovery.⁹

What Does A Typical Day In A Long-Term Inpatient Drug Rehab Look Like?

After they arrive at a long-term rehab facility, patients are usually expected to follow a carefully scheduled daily regimen. They should commonly wake up early in the morning to eat a healthy breakfast. Next comes the first therapy session which commonly involves a group discussion of issues that trouble each of the participants.¹⁰

The individual sessions are usually organized after lunch. Based on principles of major therapy strands (such as CBT), these sessions address the core issues of each patient. At times, these personalized sessions are replaced by other forms, ranging from group therapies to alternative forms of therapy. A typical day at a long-term rehab center is concluded with dinner. When time permits, rehab program participants are allowed to participate in free time activities (including swimming, basketball, or soccer).¹⁰

What Happens After a Long-Term Rehab Program?

What steps a recovering patient takes after their rehab program is over can have a tremendous impact on their recovery. To lessen the chance of relapse, former addiction sufferers are encouraged to find an aftercare program that suits their sensibilities. Some options to consider include:^{9, 11}

• Outpatient program. Most patients would significantly benefit from coming to treatments that are regularly conducted on an outpatient basis.
• Sober living arrangement. Sharing a community with people who had similar troubles might provide mutual understanding and monitoring against any signs of relapse.
• Follow-up counseling. Former addiction sufferers can schedule occasional appointments with their counselors.
• Alumni or support groups. By organizing meetings where they would discuss relevant issues, people can join forces in overcoming the issues of their post-addiction lives.

Even though none of them can guarantee relapse prevention, participation in these aftercare programs can make it much more likely for recovering addiction sufferers to achieve long-lasting sobriety.¹¹

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Long-Term Residential Treatment Programs?

Like most things in life, attending a long-term rehab center has both its pros and cons. The main advantage has to do with the approach, which usually addresses the underlying issues of addiction. Instead of merely focusing on easily detectable symptoms of addiction, such an approach attempts to uncover the deeper motivations behind addictive behavior. What is commonly found this way are debilitating co-occurring mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression. These are commonly identified as primary addiction drivers, so treating them effectively is crucial for long-term recovery.¹²

Long-term mental health facilities also employ treatments with varying levels of care. Patients with relatively mild symptoms would thus do well enough with a Level 1 outpatient treatment, while those with more severe forms of the disorder may require Level 4 intensive inpatient rehab treatment. Regardless of the severity of a patient’s disorder, long-term rehab centers are usually capable of providing extensive social support networks. These are known to be vital for successful outcomes.¹³ Various amenities at a rehab center (e.g., swimming pools, massage centers, etc.) may also have a positive effect on recovery, which is why their role should not be underestimated.¹⁴

Getting into a long-term rehab program does not come without costs. The main ones are financial. Primarily due to their duration, long-term treatments have much higher prices than their shorter alternatives. This issue is particularly pronounced if patients do not possess health insurance.^{15, 16}

Closely associated are the opportunity costs of missing life and work. Instead of earning money and spending time with their loved ones, long-term rehab attendees are confined to a center where treatment is their main preoccupation. Finally, attending a rehab commonly comes with a negative perception of others. This social stigma may particularly affect patients’ life opportunities after they come out of treatment.¹⁷

Who Should Utilize Long-Term Inpatient Rehab?

People who consume excessive amounts of toxic substances are often unaware of whether they should seek treatment. A list of warning signs, such as the following one, can provide them with some guidelines:¹⁸

• Degradation of physical health. If one notices a diminished ability to perform everyday tasks or experiences disruptive physical symptoms, they should get checked by a doctor.
• Mental health issues. Struggling to concentrate is a worrying sign that one’s mental health is being damaged by addiction.
• Disruptions in professional life. A sudden drop in work performance or substance-influenced behavior at the workplace are red flags that point to some form of addiction.
• Personal life struggles. If a person starts getting into fights more easily or puts themself in dangerous situations, they may be struggling with addiction. In such cases, a person may even become dangerous to their family members, which is why the prompt reaction is required.

All of these indicators cannot form a diagnosis themselves. Only a careful inspection by a medical expert can reveal whether a person suffers from addiction and what type of treatment is recommended.¹⁸

How Much Does A Long-Term Alcohol and Drug Rehab Cost?

How much one would need to pay for a long-term rehab program varies significantly. According to the National Drug Helpline, residential treatment may cost somewhere between $5,000 and $80,000. It generally holds that the more the treatment lasts, the higher its price. Other factors that determine the treatment price include rehab program intensity, its location, and amenities included in the package.¹⁶

Even though these figures may appear alarmingly high, the costs of untreated addiction are shown to be much higher. A study conducted at the Institute of Medicine found that residential treatment for cocaine costs around $12,500 on average. On the other hand, the costs of untreated cocaine addiction exceeded $43,200. Most of these additional costs have to do with the incarceration of addiction sufferers.¹⁵

Is Long-Term Residential Treatment Covered by Insurance?

Purchasing an insurance scheme may significantly help in dealing with the high costs of long-term rehab. Some of the insurance providers that cover the majority of rehab treatment options include:¹⁶

• Aetna
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Cigna
• Humana
• Kaiser
• United Healthcare

American Addiction Centers has established a network of reliable insurance carriers and treatment centers.  You call our fully anonymous helpline or use our user-friendly online search tool 24/7/365. Our navigators can help you obtain evidence-based treatment and address any doubts you may have about how to pay for the treatment.

How to Find a Long-Term Alcohol and Drug Rehab Program Near Me?

Prospective rehab program participants who are unsure how to find the right long-term residential treatment in their proximity are advised to contact their insurance providers for more information. If they find it easier, they can also search for an insurance provider via our online tool. Our tool will provide them with information on nearby treatment options available for the selected provider. We also encourage prospective rehab attendees to call our helpline, as that is the easiest way our navigators can provide them with complete information on what they can do with their insurance.

Frequently Asked Questions