Long-term rehab is a form of inpatient therapy designed for patients with severe chemical addictions or recurring addictions. Facilities that offer long-term treatment will usually include classes, counseling and support groups for patients committed to a drug-free lifestyle. Success rates are generally high for patients who undergo long-term treatment because the regimens are demanding and thorough.

Treatment can last anywhere from a month to a year or more, depending on the needs of a given patient. While most facilities advertise set timeframes for treatment, the programs are usually flexible enough to move with the pace of each admitted individual. Long-term drug rehab facilities provide the structure of treatment needed for patients with lengthy histories of drug usage and relapse.

How Addiction Correlates to Other Conditions

In a chart concerning relapse percentages by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 60 percent of drug patients are revealed to relapse post-treatment. Tellingly, the chart compares this figure with three other relapsing conditions from a totally different category of disease. The whole point of the NIDA chart is to show how drug addiction needs to be addressed in a similar manner to conditions like diabetes and hypertension. Of those last two conditions, the former is incurable but treatable and the latter needs constant attention. Likewise, drug addiction can be treated, but not cured, and therefore needs to be checked upon in a constant, ongoing manner.

Addictions That Need Long-Term Treatment

Hardcore drug abusers inevitably need lengthier and more intensive forms of treatment than people who only take occasional hits. Even when rehab stints are lengthy, however, certain drugs can have farther reaching relapse potential. One of the most notorious drugs in this category is methamphetamine, which some users fall back upon after a year or more of clean living. Addictions to cocaine and heroin will typically cause a user to relapse much sooner after an initial round of detox, all of which illuminates the necessity for long-term treatment.

Recovering alcoholics face even greater difficulties when stepping out into the world post-treatment. “Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic” is an adage that must be faced by anyone committed to sobriety, yet it’s hard to be a teetotaler in situations marked by social drinking. Support is needed.

Repeat Admissions Among Drug Users

Figures gathered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reveal the common patterns of relapse amongst previously treated users. The stack-up between first-time and repeat admissions amongst users in the 18-to-25 age bracket stands at the following rates:

• Opioids addicts: 12 percent treated and 27 percent retreated
• Cocaine addicts: 8 percent treated and 9 percent retreated
• Alcoholics: 35 percent treated and 26 percent retreated
• Marijuana smokers: 28 percent treated and 22 percent retreated

Retreatment figures like this point to the strong need for lengthier and more thorough forms of first-time treatment.

Finding Treatment Programs With Ideal Durations

Depending on the length and depth of your own chemical dependency, you might need to undergo a conventional or more specialized form of anti-drug therapy. When you call us here at Axis, our committed staff can help you determine the best course of action for breaking free from substance abuse. Call us today to learn about the most powerful programs for ending the cycle of addiction.