Chances are you know someone who has been to drug rehab. That's how extensive the problem of drug abuse has become in the U.S.
Drug rehab is slang and short for drug rehabilitation. And technically the term drug rehab 
can mean any of the number of types of treatment programs for drug abuse and addiction. Drug rehab has become synonymous with spending some period of time in a full time, custodial care type, residential treatment center for therapy and education addressing alcohol or drug addiction.
No one wants to go to drug rehab. More often than not an addict has reached the point of no return. They have suffered enough legally, physically or financially to finally say "uncle" and take this very positive step out of the nightmare. Usually, the reason an addict should go into a drug rehab is it is the best way to start the process of recovery.
Addicts have become lost in the dream world of using drugs regularly and thinking there is nothing wrong with it.
Most experts now believe the experience of using drugs changes the brain to the point of not being able to see clearly enough to stop using without considerable help and therapy.
There are a limited amount of drug rehabs in the United States offering treatment to men or women only. There are also treatment centers with specific programs and therapy for men or women only. Both of these remove the presence of the opposite sex which can be a distraction or deterrent.
Most drug rehab treatment centers treat adults, 18 years of age and older. There are a limited amount of treatment centers treating adolescents, under the age of 18. And there are a few set up to treat both adolescents and adults.
For those who want to incorporate Christianity into their rehabilitation, there are a very limited number of treatment centers offering a program which is Christian based. There are a few others who offer a specialized track which incorporates religion as an optional track.
There are several good alternative alcohol rehab programs that are not 12-step based. These use a more self-help, mind over matter model. These alternative models exist for those who have tried the 12-steps, unsuccessfully. They are good for those who resist the spiritual angle of the 12-steps.
Dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders are the term used for clients who have both an alcohol and or drug abuse problem and also have a psychological issue. The psychological issue can include depression, bi-polar, anxiety, ADHD and others.
The average length of stay in an alcohol treatment center is 30 days. For those who have attempted a 30 day program one or more time before there are programs of 60 and or 90 days. For these and many others, stepping down into a sober living community for an extended period of time is desirable.
Intensive Outpatient
Attending group and individual counseling sessions at a clinic, several times per week
Partial Hospitalization
Attending group and individual counseling sessions at a hospital based program, either all morning or all afternoon, 5 times per week.
Inpatient Residential
Full time participation, the client lives inside the facility. Room and board is provided. Inpatient treatment is technically detox.
Long Term, Extended Care
Full time, 24 hr attendance, the same as residential, the difference is in the length or term of the drug program. Long term programs can last anywhere from 90 days to a full year.
There are several things to keep in mind if you are trying to find the right drug program for yourself or someone else.
- go away versus staying close to home
- health insurance coverage
- determining the right level of care
- matching the program to the needs of the person
- gender specific programs might be a consideration
You only have to watch TV to see how often people fail at recovery after rehab. Everyone knows, people go to rehab all the time and come out of it and use drugs again, sometimes the same day or after some short period of abstinence. Some celebrities have been in and out of their favorite rehab like the proverbial swinging door. The process of rehab makes the addict take a good hard look at themselves and how they have been acting inappropriately.
Although the protocol and process of working a program of recovery works and has been successful with thousands of addicts and alcoholics, going to drug rehab is no guarantee of successful recovery and long term abstinence, far from it.
Drug rehab offers them the opportunity to quit using drugs and turn their life around. No easy task. The alternative to drug rehab and recovery is certain death or jail.
In general the longer someone stays inside drug rehab, the better. Gradually, as the fog clears, the addict begins to see how much better off they are without using drugs anymore.
Statistics confirm most people don't make it in recovery, especially the first time. That's due to the fact it takes a lot of hard work and change to turn it around. An addict literally has to change everything or they probably won't make it very long.
The number of persons who reported that the most recent drug rehab they received in the past year was for marijuana was 936,000.
The number of persons who reported that the most recent drug rehab they received in the past year was for cocaine was 809,000.
The number of persons who reported that the most recent drug rehab they received in the past year was for pain relievers was 558,000.
The number of persons who reported that the most recent drug rehab t they received in the past year was for heroin was 335,000.
The number of persons who reported that the most recent drug rehab they received in the past year was for stimulants was 311,000.
The number of persons who reported that the most recent drug rehab they received in the past year was for hallucinogens was 303,000.
The number of persons who received drug rehab at a self-help group was 2,173,000
The number of persons who received drug rehab at an outpatient rehabilitation facility was 1,705,000
The number of persons who received drug rehab at an inpatient rehabilitation facility was 1,044,000
The number of persons who received drug rehab at an outpatient mental health center was 889,000
The number of persons who received drug rehab at a hospital as an inpatient was 779,000
The number of persons who received drug rehab at a private doctor's office was 593,000
The number of persons who received drug rehab at an emergency room was 523,000
The number of persons who received drug rehab at a prison or jail was 302,000
