Inpatient drug rehabilitation programs typically last between 28 and 365 days. During inpatient rehab, the addict is a resident and is expected to comply with all programs, rules, and consequences of the program. While programs all expect residency, they have differences. One inpatient drug rehab program may allow medication to be given to residents to block cravings and withdrawals, while another may require that residents remain free of drugs without medical intervention. Choosing the right program type for the addict can be essential to his or her recovery success.
An inpatient rehab is considered to be the best standard of care in the treatment of drug addiction. The premise of inpatient rehab is that by removing the addict from friends, family, and familiar places, he or she can focus exclusively on the business of getting sober. With the addict living on site, he or she has access to 24-hour rehabilitation treatment by way of group meetings, individual meetings, medical intervention, and supervision.
A medical intervention inpatient drug rehab provides medically supervised detoxification for the first few days the patient is there. The resident is provided medication to ease withdrawal symptoms. Through this medical monitoring, the medications are decreased at a regular rate until the medication is stopped and withdrawal is complete.
Another type of inpatient drug rehab requires the resident to come into the facility already medically detoxed or to go through detox at the facility without medical assistance. The premise of these rehabs is that an addict must learn to live a sober life, without any narcotic assistance. Some rehabs are structured to let the residents experience full withdrawal and all of the physical consequences to help them decide to stay off drugs once they get through it.
Once detoxification is complete, the resident begins group sessions, individual therapy, and other requirements regarding his or her sobriety. For example, he or she may be required to watch chosen videos regarding addiction. Many rehab centers require residents to attend a certain number of 12-step or other addiction support group meetings per week.
Inpatient drug rehab is designed to move the resident from complete dependence on the program to an independent, drug-free life. Twenty-eight day programs typically spend the month focusing on intensive group therapy and drug addiction education before the resident is released. Longer programs usually introduce employment and independent living as part of the residency experience.
The type of inpatient drug rehab that lasts several months to a year may start out with a strictly supervised residential facility, then after several months of success move the resident to a halfway house. Some drug rehabs have contracts with nearby employers in which the resident works a part- or full-time job and his or her paycheck is used to pay for residency and food at the center. In other instances, the resident is expected to budget and save for his or her own home after completing the program.
Addicts with a dual diagnosis, such as addiction and bipolar disorder, may benefit from a dual-diagnosis inpatient drug rehab. These rehabs are equipped with mental health officials trained to help the addict deal with his or her mental illness while going through detox and then during the program. Such situations typically allow mental health medications to be given to the resident.
