Deciding the right treatment center for drug or alcohol addiction can be tough. While there are a number of treatment options available for anyone in the country, long-term drug rehab facilities have been proven in recent studies to offer much more benefits that can’t be given through short term treatment. For some people, using the age old method of quitting drugs or alcohol “cold turkey” worked and they preach to family and friends to do the same because it worked for him. Everyone is different and needs a customized approach to rehab treatment that will provide sustainable results. With treatment that only lasts a few weeks to a month at most, patients have stated that they felt that they got no real physical or psychological support. In fact, some attest to rehab being an isolating experience if they received no support after leaving a program or treatment facility. With the help of learning recovery tactics and outpatient treatment, patients are provided elements of support that is consistent and relatable. They gain needed physical, mental and emotional support throughout the day to stay stable in the environments they return to after treatment. Let’s walk through the various benefits of long term drug rehab in comparison to shorter term programs!
Pros Vs. Cons
There’s a give and take for everything, so it would be fair to state the pros and cons of long term drug treatment. Important things to keep in mind about shorter and longer treatment programs include the following:
- Long term drug rehab requires clients to live at the treatment facility or at least stay within a supervised and structured schedule for several weeks. This is providing them a safe and stable environment to learn about their body, their mind, and revitalize before going out again in the real world. It also allows clients to return to environments with knowledge on navigating having easy access to illegal substances. Unless they are allowed to go home or stay with a friend nearby, being supervised at a treatment facility is a no brainer to get enough mental and physical support post-detox and addiction. The con that comes with this benefit is that someone will need to spend a good amount of time away from home and their core support system. They can still contact their loved ones online and through facetime, but they may not physically seem them until their treatment is over or unless they are allowed guests to visit.
- Long term drug rehab provides clients with a daily and even an hourly structure that is not available in other forms of shorter treatment. Many people tend to lack structure in their weeks which may enable substance abuse and other health issues to pop up. Someone who has either too much free time or no direction in their weekly schedule are the most prone to abusing drugs and alcohol when the right opportunity presents itself. In long term drug rehab, clients form a 90 day or more schedule filled with individual therapy, group therapy, exercise, and even nutrition sessions that designed to introduce healthy activities back into their life. It not only helps them abstain from drugs and alcohol but helps them understand what natural tools will strengthen their mind and body in the long run. The con to a structured day means that a client has less freedom to do what they want, but at the end of the day why else are their enrolling in a treatment program? Sometimes being forced to learn about a healthier perspective is the most effective thing to do!
- Long-term drug treatment programs allow clients to focus on themselves and their personal development instead of becoming distracted by the tasks and stress of everyday life. Some people will feel stressed living at home or with roommates while going through treatment so it’s easier to complete by themselves. They are given a break in treatment and don’t need to cater to everyone else’s needs as they spend time to learn more about themselves. Some people may argue that spending more time focusing internally could create problems of overanalzying situations and their experiences, but that is a problem we all face and can control. Mix up the day with activities with other peers in rehab, recreational activities outside, and music or art therapy and a person won’t feel so trapped inside their own head.
- Long term drug rehab helps clients form healthier relationships that focus on health, success, and sobriety. For many people, dealing with drugs and alcohol started from friends or family members who condoned it. Living in a party house or a group that smokes every day definitely does help one’s call to achieve long term sobriety. Living and working with peers in a sober environment provides the need emotional support for clients critical in their recovery journey. Some people may feel shy or don’ like their peers in rehab at first, but with time and enough opportunity connect they may realize that they are creating lifelong friendships. We all don’t expect who we become friends with so everyone deserves a chance, even in rehab!
Sustainable Treatment
For long term drug rehab to be effective, the addict has to commit to the program and trust that their counselors, group therapy peers, and supporting family members or friends all have their best interest in mind. No one wants to wake up early in the morning to talk about their deepest fears or do a new tiring workout, but being pushed to improve is what sets us up for amazing potential. Addicts have a much higher chance to achieve sustainable sobriety when they stay in treatment longer and receive outpatient support once they transition back into their daily life. Look up what long term drug rehab programs are in your city if you feel that it’s the best option for you or someone you know!
