When is Long-Term Residential Treatment Necessary?

If you or a loved one has a drug or alcohol addiction, you may be wondering if a long-term residential treatment program is necessary. Some studies have shown that longer programs have lower relapse rates and overall greater success with recovery, however, there are a lot of possible challenges with this type of intensive program. Before we go through the factors that you should consider to determine if long-term residential treatment is right for you, let’s briefly review what residential treatment entails.

What is residential addiction treatment?

Residential addiction treatment, or residential rehab, is a type of substance abuse treatment program that usually lasts 30, 60, 90 days, and sometimes longer. With residential treatment, you reside at the treatment facility 24/7, eating, sleeping, and attending various treatment therapies and meetings until you complete the program. Usually, you will spend about 30 hours or more per week participating in activities related to your recovery plan. Your access to people outside of the treatment facility is limited, with your phone and any other personal electronics being removed. Although visitation is usually allowed, it is typically limited in terms of who can visit and when. 

The strict limitations are a part of what makes these programs so successful, but they are also largely why this option is not for everyone. For someone with the following factors, you may not want to enter long term residential treatment unless it is necessary:

• No healthcare insurance
• Limited financial means
• Children/dependents
• A job that will not allow 30 or more days off

These are not the only factors that may make residential drug rehab challenging, but they are some of the most common. If these factors apply to you, you may still want to consider residential treatment if:

1. You have been through outpatient treatment multiple times before and have been unsuccessful/relapsed.
2. You do not have a sober, supportive home environment.

Residential treatment may be a necessary next step if you have tried outpatient treatment before, even an intensive outpatient program, but you have relapsed time and time again. After multiple tries, it can become clear that lower levels of care, such as outpatient, IOP’s, or even PHP’s,  are simply not working and it is time to try something different. A residential option will remove you from possible triggers, provide continuous care, and create a safe, supportive environment. 

This last item, a safe and supportive environment, is the other major factor that may tell you that residential treatment is necessary. Staying sober is not an easy feat for most people, especially during the first 60-90 days. For outpatient treatment, you do not live where you go to treatment. A halfway house or sober living house might be available but if you are going home, then it needs to be to a supporting home. If others in the house are using or don’t support your recovery in general, this is not a good environment and residential treatment is possibly your best option.

If you are considering long-term residential treatment or any other form of drug or alcohol rehabilitation, contact our team at Level Up Lake Worth. We can help you determine the best rehabilitation route and get you treatment ASAP.