Residential Rehab

One option for the treatment of both substance and behavioral addictions is residential rehab.  This type of rehabilitation program differs from outpatient rehab in that the recovering addict will relocate to and live in the rehab facility for a predetermined amount of time, which can usually be extended depending on the person’s needs.  Most residential rehabs recommend or even require that people in recovery spend, at minimum, 30 days relearning how to live a sober life in a world full of stressors and temptations.  Longer stays of 60 or 90 days are often beneficial, especially for substances that cause severe physical dependence.  Some rehab programs or recovering heroin or other opiate addicts can be as long as 2 years.

Types of Residential Rehab

Addicts, family, and friends can easily find residential rehabs in just about any region of the world and certainly of the United States.  Some may prefer to stay close to home whereas others may need to be removed from their immediate environment to focus on recovery; for those who would find a relaxing location therapeutic, many rehabs intentionally establish themselves near beaches, mountains, or other beautiful, nature scenery to facilitate tranquility during recovery.  Residential rehab programs may “specialize” in the type of patient that they treat; for example, there are rehabs that work primarily or exclusively with patients who were addicted to specific substances or behaviors.  Additionally, some rehabs admit only teens, pregnant women, veterans, or executives, for example.  There are even Christian and other religiously affiliated programs for those who would like to incorporate their faith into their recovery.

Advantages of Residential Rehab

Most residential rehabs have physicians on staff or on call and offer detox services so that a patient who is recovering from a substance addiction does not need to go to a hospital or struggle through withdrawal alone (never advisable given the possible serious withdrawal symptoms for many substances).  At the facility, the patient will participate in therapy sessions (individual and group), develop a sense of responsibility for their future decisions, and learn skills for coping with stressors and triggers that they may encounter when they leave.  They will see firsthand that many of their feelings and fears are universal to those in recovery; meeting other recovering addicts will also give them a network of new friends to support them as they continue the healing process after they have been discharged.

Disadvantages of Residential Rehab

The primary disadvantage of residential rehab is the cost, which is higher than most outpatient programs (Read more about Paying for Rehab).  You must also factor in travel expenses if you choose a program in another country or state.  Also, depending on how you perceive it, some people may have difficulty being away from family and friends or being unable to maintain a job during the period.  Although many addiction specialists would point out that such stays are temporary and often crucial for breaking a cycle of codependence, receiving addiction treatment at a residential rehab is not realistic for everyone.