In the majority of cases, residential drug addiction treatment runs 30 days, allowing patients to receive physical detoxification and therapeutic treatment during a month-long stay. However, in some cases, drug addiction treatment may involve extended durations, as patient needs require. From the desire to put newly forged sober living skills into practice to instances where treatment simply cannot be completed in a month-long run, patients often take advantage of long-term drug rehab programs to solidify sobriety.

Why Choose Long Term Drug Rehab?

Long-term drug rehab can be elected for a host of reasons. Here are just a few of the factors that may lead you or a loved one to consider long-term drug rehab as an option for drug addiction recovery.

Long-Term Clinical Therapy at Drug Rehab

Because recovery from drug addiction involves not only detoxification but deep therapeutic work, patients may find issues of past trauma, long-held negative beliefs or cognitions, and insight relating to addiction emerging that by nature requires extended therapy to resolve. Long-term drug rehab allows patients to build trust with clinical therapists, open up on a natural timeframe, and deeply delve into psychological and emotional issues that may lie at the root of their drug addictions.

Formation of Positive, Drug-Free Habits

Habits – positive or negative – can take practice in order to establish as second nature. Long-term drug rehab provides the opportunity for patients to learn how to incorporate positive habits into their daily routines, such as exercise, reflection and journaling, meditation, relaxation time, and regular eating and sleeping schedules.

Establishment of Strong Support Networks

Many individuals return from short-term drug rehab without strong social skills or support systems in place. Long-term drug rehab programs allow patients to socialize with their peers, participate in group therapy for positive social experiences, and join 12-step groups that they can follow on a local level when they return home. Patients can also take time during long-term drug rehab to analyze, heal and further relationships with family members, spouses and close friends to strengthen their home support systems through couples or family counseling sessions.

Drug Addiction Relapse Treatment and Prevention

Some individuals may be entering drug addiction treatment for the second or third time. When relapse has occurred, it often indicates that deeper or broader work needs to be accomplished in the interest of drug addiction recovery. Long-term drug addiction rehab provides the ability to not only address issues surrounding relapse (such as drug use triggers, psychological history, home environment and belief structures), but can also help prevent future relapses through careful and thorough preventative and transitional planning.

Dual Diagnosis Cases of Drug Addiction

Studies have shown that roughly half of those who use drugs suffer from at least one mental health condition that complicates addiction. Individuals who have been diagnosed with a secondary mental health concern – such as depression, a learning disability, eating disorders, mania or anxiety – may require extended time in drug addiction treatment in order to resolve psychological and addiction issues simultaneously. Long-term drug addiction treatment can provide the time necessary to ensure that both conditions receive adequate attention.