30-day. Short-term residential treatment is an intensive way for people to get care away from their daily environment. These programs are generally based on a twelve-step approach that has been tailored to the time patients are in the facility. Patients are encouraged to participate in aftercare programs when they’ve completed their treatment.
Extended care. Extended care treatment programs last at least 60 days and some may work with patients for over a year. In addition to addressing the physical aspects of addiction, these programs also deal with the social and psychological issues that may have precipitated it. Extended care programs heavily focus on destructive behavior patterns, taking responsibility for actions, and improving self-concept.
State-run. State-run rehab facilities are available to patients who do not have insurance and cannot afford to stay in private facilities. As a result, treatment may be free of charge, or patients may be required to make a small payment. These programs often have long waiting lists.
Private. Patients who go to private rehab centers pay for their treatment out of pocket or through their insurance policies. They have shorter waiting lists than state-run facilities and may have more services and amenities available.
Full-service/luxury. These treatment centers are more expensive than most private facilities, so patients often get access to innovative practices not available in other rehabs. In addition, there tends to be a higher staff-to-patient ratio, which allows people getting treatment to receive highly-individualized attention.
Outpatient facilities are an alternative for those who cannot receive in-patient care, or people who have completed a residential program and want to continue their treatment. The amount of daily time patients devote to outpatient programs depends on their individual needs: In some cases, people may spend eight hours a day getting treatment, while other programs only require two hours a day. Services offered may include medication-assisted treatment, life skills classes, group and individual therapy, and support groups. Patients may be required to take random drug tests to ensure they’re maintaining their sobriety.
Juvenile/Adolescent Centers. Since younger people’s brains are not fully developed yet, alcohol and drug abuse affects them in different ways than it does adults. This coupled with the emotional, physical, and social changes these patients go through make specialized treatment particularly important to help them handle the pressure of getting and remaining sober. These programs help young patients cope with the school, family, peer, and developmental issues that often contribute to relapse.
Veterans Programs. Rehab centers that cater to veterans are designed to meet the specific needs of patients who have been psychologically, physically, and emotionally scarred by combat and are dealing with the stress of acclimating back into the civilian world. These facilities offer group counseling, so patients can connect with people who understand what they’ve been through.
Treatment for Inmates. Treatment programs for incarcerated patients are designed to not only help them overcome their substance abuse, but also reduce criminal behavior and the likelihood of recidivism. These programs go a long way toward contributing to reintegration so patients can turn their lives around when they’re released.
Programs for LGBTQ Communities. People in the LGBT community face unique stresses—such as coping with their sexuality, dealing with coming out to friends and family, and discrimination—that can cause them to turn to drugs and alcohol to cope. These issues can also make sobriety difficult to maintain, so a rehab program that helps them accept their sexual identity and bond with a supportive community can help prevent relapses.
Rehab Centers for Seniors. Like adolescents, seniors benefit from age-specific treatment programs that address their physical and psychological health, as well as their lifestyle changes. These programs can focus on patients’ mental and physical acuity, finances, and family structure.