FAQ Series: What’s the timeline of a drug treatment center?

How a drug addiction program works
While each drug treatment center varies in the specifics, a typical drug addiction program lasts about a month. There are also detox programs recommended for some patients that last from a few days to a week. Detox programs occur at the drug treatment center either before or during the first part of a drug addiction program.

Some alcohol and drug treatment centers adhere to strict time schedules, enforcing move-out days for each patient, while others are more lenient on the time requirements/limits of their inpatient drug addiction programs. After the month at a drug treatment center, patients go home or enroll in various aftercare programs—including sober living homes—to help with their recovery.

Detox programs: a sensitive undertaking
Detox programs must be under the supervision of medical professionals because the body can react violently to drug and alcohol withdrawals. Having a doctor on hand for detox programs ensures that the patients’ safety is monitored while their bodies cleanse themselves of addictive chemicals.

Detox programs can be traditional—lasting about a week—or they can be rapid, which involves doctor-administered medications to lessen the severity and symptoms of withdrawal. Some people choose to feel the symptoms of withdrawal because they feel it will be a helpful deterrent against future substance abuse. Others, especially people in outpatient drug addiction programs, choose rapid detox so they can return to work or family as soon as possible.

Inpatient and outpatient drug addiction programs
Some drug treatment centers have the staff and resources available to also offer outpatient drug addiction programs in addition to their inpatient, residential drug addiction program. This is an especially popular choice amongst executives, professionals, and homemakers, or anyone else who can’t responsibly take a month away from their professional lives or family. Think of an outpatient program like a night school, where you attend a rigorous schedule of counseling and therapy sessions to help you understand and defeat your addiction.