Inpatient rehab for drug abusers is defined as a residential facility that offers detoxification services and drug rehabilitation counseling. Inpatient rehab is the treatment of choice for drug addicts who have insurance to cover long-term stays and for those who have not had success with other, less restrictive treatment programs. While some inpatient programs treat alcohol or drug abuse specifically, most rehabs offer programs for alcohol and general drug abuse, as well as treatment for people with co-occurring mental disorders.
Time
Researchers at Helpguide.org, a nonprofit online resource, say that the longer the alcohol or drug addiction went on, the greater the need for more intensive treatment programs, usually offered by inpatient rehab centers. Inpatient rehab often is covered by insurance and can last for anywhere from 14 days to more than a year. Long-term inpatient rehab programs lasting longer than 30 days are most relevant for chronic relapsers.
Location
The Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration provides a comprehensive list of accredited inpatient rehab programs across the country on its website. Private and public facilities licensed by each state are listed. Inpatient rehab centers are available on a sliding fee schedule and many offer financial assistance. While many people prefer to find inpatient treatment close to home, others look for rehabs that are far away from where the addict or alcoholic used.
Benefits
According to Drug Alcohol Rehab, an online resource for drug treatment, many people choose to go to an inpatient rehabilitation center for relief from the everyday pressures of work and family obligations. In the closed, secure environment of an inpatient recovery program, patients can focus exclusively on their drug problem and what they need to do to stay clean. Inpatient programs typically are very structured, providing addicts a framework on which to base their new recovery.
Services
Inpatient rehab centers usually offer a medically supervised detox program to deal with withdrawals, followed by intensive counseling and other programs. Doctors often perform physical and mental evaluations and prescribe medications to ease the transition and to treat other disorders common in alcoholics and addicts such as bipolar disorder and depression. Individual and group counseling are an integral part of most inpatient programs as well.
Integration
During the patients' stay at an inpatient treatment facility, they are usually taken to outside support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous to introduce patients to other services in the community that can be utilized following their release. Other facilities invite outside groups to come speak to patients about recovery and the resources available in the community. Sober living skills are addressed and taught to patients before they are released. Most inpatient programs also provide outpatient follow-up programs for a set period of time.
