Inpatient Rehab Centers for Drug and Alcohol Addiction

Drug and alcohol addiction is a prevalent issue across the U.S, with inpatient treatment often shown to be the most effective type of treatment for substance abuse.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in 2021, 46.3 million people aged 12 and older met the DSM-5 criteria for having a substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year.

There are countless kinds of alcohol and drug addiction treatment options, one of the most common being inpatient treatment. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about inpatient rehab.

Inpatient treatment is a kind of addiction rehab program that provides round-the-clock care in a designated facility that the patient does not leave.

During an inpatient program, you’ll be treated for addiction. Typically, this involves some sort of detoxification process, then different treatment services to help you recover and treat your SUD.

Inpatient treatment is sometimes interchangeably referred to as residential treatment. However, it’s important to note that there are differences between these two kinds of treatment.

Residential treatment can refer to any program in which a person is required to live in a designated environment for a length of time.

For example, sober living is considered residential treatment, but sober living does not involve addiction treatment.

On the other hand, inpatient treatment is any type of treatment plan in which someone is treated on an inpatient basis and doesn’t leave. However, they may not necessarily reside there. This could include inpatient detox programs or short-term programs that are only a couple of weeks or a month.

There are several kinds of inpatient drug and alcohol rehab programs. These typically include inpatient detoxification or detox, long-term inpatient programs, residential treatment, and work therapy – which is typically long-term (a year or more).

Based on your individual needs, you and your healthcare provider may decide one of these options is best suited for you. In many cases, people will receive a few of these services as they work through their journey to recovery.

Inpatient addiction programs vary in length.

Some common treatment program durations include:

• A couple of weeks
• 30 days
• 60 days
• 90 days
• Six months
• One year or more
• Flexible length tailored to your needs

Program length is dependent on the type of program you choose, how much time your insurance will cover, your individual medical and mental needs, what your clinician recommends, and even your progress.

All types of addictions are treated in inpatient rehab. Though some kinds of addiction are more common than others, you should be able to find inpatient treatment for any kind of addiction you have.

Severe addictions tend to necessitate inpatient treatment more than other kinds of addiction due to the nature of these substances.

Severe addictions may include:

• Alcohol
• Heroin
• Opioids
• Cocaine
• Meth

Other drug addictions may not need inpatient treatment, but often occur alongside more severe addictions like the ones listed above.

These substances can include:

• Nicotine
• Marijuana
• Inhalants
• Over-the-counter medications
• Sleeping medications

In this case, you can usually receive treatment for these addictions alongside treatment for your more severe addiction.

A multitude of treatment services are offered in inpatient rehab programs. They all have different advantages of course, and may be recommended for you based on your particular needs.

Detoxification or detox is a common substance abuse treatment service offered. It can be inpatient or outpatient.

In other words, it could be a part of the inpatient program you enroll in or it could occur at another facility from which the patient is then transferred to an inpatient program.

Detox is a service that helps your body rid itself of the addictive substance. This can be a difficult process due to dependency and other withdrawal symptoms associated with addiction.

This is why detox services are designed to not only monitor your vitals but to also help you manage any withdrawal effects like nausea and vomiting or seizures.

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is a kind of addiction treatment that uses U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medication alongside counseling to treat addiction.

MAT is used for opioid and alcohol addiction. MAT helps treat addiction by relieving withdrawal symptoms and psychological cravings.

MAT medications that may be used include:

• Buprenorphine
• Methadone
• Naltrexone

Addiction therapy is a very common service offered in inpatient treatment programs. Therapy can help with your behavioral health, mental health disorders, and coping mechanisms that worsen addiction.

Common addiction therapy types include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT is a goal-oriented talk therapy that helps you analyze your thoughts and emotions to understand how they affect your actions.
• Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT): Based on CBT, DBT helps you acknowledge realities in your life and behaviors and learn ways to change these patterns and behaviors.
• Motivational interviewing: Motivational interviewing is a type of therapy that helps increase your motivation to change. In this case, to change your life and treat your addiction.
• Contingency management: Contingency management helps reinforce positive behavioral change by providing motivational incentives.
• Matrix Model: The Matrix Model is a multi-component service that includes support groups, family therapy, individual counseling, education groups, and more over 16 weeks.

Group therapy is another common therapy offering at inpatient facilities. Many people find group therapy to be helpful as it provides a sense of comradery and peer support.

There are several kinds of group therapy including support groups and 12-step support groups. Support groups can be for all kinds of addiction or trauma such as:

• Women’s treatment
• Emotional abuse victims
• Domestic violence victims
• Anger management
• Mental health disorders

These support groups provide an opportunity to hear other people’s stories about their experience and their journey.

Twelve-step programs such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA) or Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) are group therapy programs designed to help you through addiction via a designated 12-step protocol.

Dual diagnosis treatment is a kind of service that helps to treat mental health disorders that often occur alongside addiction. They’re also known as co-occurring disorders.

Most people who enter addiction treatment have a dual diagnosis, which can include any mental health diagnosis or SUD.

Some other dual diagnoses include anxiety, depression, PTSD, eating disorders, and bipolar disorder. All of these co-occurring disorders can be tied to someone’s addiction.

General treatments used during a dual diagnosis program include:

• Detoxification
• Inpatient treatment
• Psychotherapy
• Support groups
• Group therapy

You may also receive counseling when in inpatient treatment. In addiction treatment, counseling is one-on-one therapy that helps a person work through the triggers and situations in their life that may have led to addiction and substance abuse behaviors.

The goal of counseling is to find ways to manage these triggers and situations without substances long-term.

On the other hand, case management includes the services a treatment team provides to help see a person through their program. Oftentimes, case management continues after someone completes their program by following up long term.

Many inpatient rehab centers also offer alternative therapies.

Some commonly offered alternative therapies may include:

• Yoga therapy
• Art therapy
• Music therapy
• Mindfulness
• Holistic therapy
• Tai chi
• Adventure therapy
• Equine therapy

All of these alternative therapies have had success in helping people work through their addiction recovery.

Relapse prevention is a service that is offered throughout many stages of addiction recovery. It is designed to help you learn skills and tools to prevent relapse.

While addiction cannot be cured, it can be treated and managed, and relapse prevention is a huge part of that.

In relapse prevention during inpatient treatment, you may learn:

• Healthy coping mechanisms
• What your triggers are
• How to identify a relapse
• Where to reach out for support
• How to build a support network
• How to cope with stressors that can lead to substance abuse

Aftercare planning is an incredibly important aspect of addiction recovery. It will look different for each person and between different rehab programs.

Essentially, aftercare planning is planning services post-inpatient treatment to help you transition to day-to-day life and prevent relapse.

Aftercare planning may include:

• Entering a step-down program like a partial hospitalization program (PHP) or intensive outpatient program (IOP). These programs are less intensive than a standard inpatient program, but still provide structure and support in your addiction recovery.
• Entering a 12-step program such as NA or AA. These programs can help you build a community and support system as well as prevent relapse.
• Entering a sober living or transitional living home. These facilities help ease the transition to everyday life and provide peer support.

Here’s an example of what you may expect when you enter an inpatient program:

• First, you will likely begin with detox, if needed, to help your body through withdrawal and rid your body of the addictive substance. This will last a couple of days to a week at most.
• Next, you’ll move to a private or shared room, depending on the facility. This is where you’ll stay during treatment.
• The program will usually be very heavily structured with mornings spent in therapy sessions, counseling, or group therapy followed by a lunch and rest period in between. You’ll likely have a free period, group sessions, alternative sessions, and leisure time in the evenings.
• This will vary depending on the program you attend, but you can count on a regular structure and schedule to help you gain a sense of familiarity and adapt new patterns in your life.

The benefits of inpatient rehab programs are endless. You can count on many different areas of your life benefiting from this kind of addiction treatment.

Benefits may include:

• Reduction of substance abuse
• Improved physical health
• Improved mental health
• Reduced crime
• Reduced risk of infectious diseases
• Improved social function
• Improved professional life
• Improved relationships
• New relationships
• New hobbies and interests

Many people often find themselves choosing between inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment. It can be common for people to be hesitant to choose inpatient rehab as it’s a longer commitment, so let’s take a look at the differences and advantages of each kind of treatment.

Research shows that inpatient treatment tends to have the best and most long-lasting results for people with severe addictions.

While it is a longer commitment than outpatient treatment, it can have better results which can even prevent the need for more addiction treatment in the future.

However, we understand some people cannot leave their work or families to receive addiction treatment. Thankfully, there are some outpatient programs that can be just as effective if you are dedicated to the program and working toward sobriety.

There are also a variety of specialized inpatient addiction treatment programs designed for specific patient demographics.

Some specialized inpatient programs can include:

• Christian programs
• Gender-specific treatment
• Pet-friendly programs
• Programs for women with children
• Pregnant women programs
• Veterans programs
• Teen and adolescent programs
• First responders programs
• LGBTQIA+ friendly programs
• Executive professionals programs

These programs are tailored to address the specific needs of patients in these groups to ensure the best care and highest success rates.

It’s difficult to give an exact number for the cost of inpatient drug and alcohol treatment programs, because the price is dependent on a multitude of factors.

Factors may include:

• Where you get treatment
• The treatment facility
• What kind of treatment you need
• Your insurance coverage
• Payment options at the facility

That being said, there are some general costs of inpatient treatment nationally that may help you get an idea of what your treatment will cost.

Some general national costs include:

• $1,750 for the cheapest detoxification programs
• $6,000 for the cheapest inpatient treatment programs per month
• $5,000 for a three-month outpatient program

It’s best to talk with a representative from your insurance company and the facility at which you will receive care to determine how much your treatment will cost.

There may be a number of inpatient rehab centers to choose from, so it can be helpful to know top qualities to look for in potential inpatient treatment facilities.

Accreditation and licensing are both very important aspects of a reputable and reliable inpatient treatment center.

Look for licensing through the state department of health, as well as accreditation from the Joint Commission or Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).

Accreditation is important, because it helps to ensure proper care is being provided at a facility and evidence-based techniques are being used.

Positive reviews and ratings on Google, Yelp, and other search engines are also very important in finding a great treatment facility.

Online testimonials, in-person recommendations, word-of-mouth recommendations and any other positive reviews from other people can indicate that a treatment center is reliable and provides great care.

Certifications such as SAMHSA certifications, state or local certifications, and awards are also great indicators of a good facility.

Evidence of proper staff training, proof of vetting during hiring, and medical staff certifications should also be easy to find when researching a facility. These can all help give you peace of mind that you’re receiving proper care from qualified providers.

Before vetting a facility or scheduling a walk-through, write down important questions you have and record the answers to help you make your decision later on.

Questions that may help you gage if a facility is right for you:

• Do you offer private rooms?
• Can I bring my pet with me?
• Do you offer separate programs for men and women?
• Do you offer dual diagnosis treatment?
• What types of insurance do you accept?
• What lengths of treatment do you offer?
• What does a typical day in treatment look like?
• What amenities do you offer?
• What kind of training and certifications does your staff have?
• What makes your facility stand out from other addiction treatment centers?
• What kinds of therapy do you offer?
• What do your aftercare services look like?
• Can I visit with my loved ones?

Whatever individual needs and concerns you have, don’t be afraid to ask to make sure a facility is right for you.

As you can see, there are many moving parts involved in inpatient treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. With many different kinds of treatment, lengths of treatments, and facilities to choose from, there is certainly treatment out there for every individual’s needs.

If you’re ready to take the first step in your recovery journey, give our helpline a call today.