Residential Drug Treatment

Residential drug treatment for drug abuse and addiction has existed for many years. Residential drug treatments are also known as therapeutic communities and are often located in residential settings. Residential drug treatment rehabs offer various programs to cure addiction and increase the addict's levels of personal and social responsibility. Residential drug treatment is different than other treatment methods in many ways. One of the many positive aspects of residential drug treatment is that individuals are able to leave their destructive environment and reside in a clean and sober atmosphere. Reminders of drugs such as the cabinet where they kept their alcohol or the drawer where they kept their drug stash and other paraphernalia are no longer there when an individual resides at the treatment center. Additionally, individuals are able to associate with others who share their same goal of addiction recovery 24 hours a day 7 days a week. This availability of individuals and staff at any hour is invaluable when a person is going through residential drug treatment.

The idea behind residential drug treatment is that the individual suffering from drug addiction is able to live in an environment which is drug free. They begin to see how to live life without drugs and alcohol through. Peer influence, mediated through a variety of group processes, is used in residential drug treatment to help individuals learn and apply social norms and develop more effective social skills. As time progresses they are able to handle more and more responsibility within the residential drug treatment facility and are expected to be part of the community in which they live. This means helping those who are just coming into the residential drug treatment program as well as those around them. The Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Study (DATOS) is the most recent long-term study of drug treatment outcomes. This DATOS study indicates that those who successfully completed long term residential treatment had lower levels of substance abuse, criminal behavior, and unemployment than with any other type of drug treatment.

Generally, residential drug treatment centers can offer up to two different kinds of residential treatment lengths - short term residential drug treatment and long term residential drug treatment. It is important to know the difference between the lengths of time in both treatment programs and what that can mean for an addict or alcoholic looking for recovery from addiction. Comparing the different time frames and methods of treatment can help an individual determine which drug treatment program would be best for them, depending on the length and severity of their addiction.

Short Term Residential Drug Treatment

Short term residential drug treatment is an average of 28-30 days, depending on the rehab center. For many years, this has been the most common length of stay in a short term residential treatment center. However, just because short term residential treatment is the most commonly known form of drug treatment, does not mean it is best for every kind of addict suffering from every kind of addiction. In the big picture of addiction, many times 30 days is just long enough to dry out and get the drugs or alcohol out of the addict's system. Short term residential drug treatment only allows the rehab staff to scratch the surface in terms of helping the addict to master the tools needed to live without addictive substances and behaviors. Short term residential drug centers may work for those who have been addicted to drugs or alcohol for a very brief period of time or for those who have been through drug rehab before and relapsed and just need to review previous learned material. Although short term residential drug rehab centers do hold promise for a select few, recent studies consistently report that the longer the drug or alcohol treatment, the greater the rate of success.

Long Term Residential Drug Treatment

Long term drug treatment is typically 60 days or more. Long term residential drug treatment, is generally the most effective, according to long term research by the National Institute for Drug Abuse (NIDA). It stands to reason that the longer time that is spent in a residential drug treatment center, being sober from drugs and alcohol, the better. In long term drug treatment, after an addict completes the withdrawal process, there is plenty of time for the addict to gain the tools necessary for learning to live without drugs or alcohol. When contemplating long term residential drug treatment, several factors should be considered including the severity of the addiction and the length of time that the addict has abused chemical substances. �Long term drug treatment is especially recommended for addicts who have more severe cases of drug addiction and alcoholism, but can also be highly beneficial to anyone suffering from substance abuse issues.

The length of the residential drug treatment program is usually determined by a person's individual needs. One of the primary benefits of long term rehab is simply the time of enforced sobriety; time enough to really grow accustomed to sobriety, and to enjoy the honest relationships and real enjoyment of a life free from substance abuse. Time enough to benefit from the offered therapy, and to learn to work with others, as well as under others, gaining readiness for a better participation in society upon completion of the treatment program. If a person has a high risk for relapse, a longer stay at the residential drug treatment program may be necessary .To put it simply, statistics prove that the longer a drug or alcohol addicted person spends in a residential treatment program, the better their long term prognosis. As such, the benefits of a long term drug rehab program cannot be understated.

To find the right residential drug treatment center for you or your loved one, the most important thing to do is check out the success rate at the drug treatment center. �Finding a drug rehab center with a proven track record is the most positive step you can take in obtaining long term drug treatment for you or your loved one with an addiction.