Detox from Alcohol and Other Drugs at an Inpatient or Residential Treatment Center
what to expect
what to expect
Residential treatment allows a separation from environmental triggers, temptations to use drugs or alcohol, and daily stressors that can prevent and hinder recovery.
Addiction is a powerful, complex, and progressive brain disease that may be arrested through abstinence.
Although there are many good options available for outpatient treatment, sometimes getting out of the current environment is essential to getting free. Residential treatment can offer that solution.
A person may go away to treatment for 30- or 90-days or even longer. The needs of different clients depend on their medical history and mental health as well as the kinds and quantities of drugs they’ve been using.
Those who have a substance abuse problem may be aware that withdrawal can be painful. The thought of checking into a rehab can be scary; however, a safe, secure environment with support for the physical and emotional challenges of withdrawal can actually make it less frightening.
The process of withdrawal is the shortest – but often the most difficult – part of recovery. Certain substances – like alcohol, heroin, prescription opioids, or sedatives like Xanax and Valium – can bring withdrawal symptoms that can be dangerous and even deadly. For this reason, residential treatment facilities and inpatient rehabs both offer medical detox services.
Residential treatment allows a separation from environmental triggers, temptations to use alcohol or other drugs, and daily stressors that can prevent and hinder recovery.
Residential treatment is designed to:
You will live with a small community of other people who are also recovering from substance abuse disorder. You may have your own room, or share a room with someone else.
Once you check into residential treatment, you will typically be assigned a case manager who will create a treatment plan for you. During your stay, you will receive individualized therapy, attend peer-group therapy sessions, and receive education about the science of addiction and recovery.
Some residential facilities offer luxury amenities like swimming pools, a jacuzzi, massage and spa services, recreational activities, yoga, acupuncture, meditation classes, and gourmet meals. Others take a more bare-bones approach to this time. Many will take patients to meetings or other support services “off campus”; others prefer to keep residents inside the facility for the duration of treatment.
Unlike residential treatment, which offers longer-term care in a home-like environment, inpatient rehab usually represents a short stay at a hospital or psychiatric facility. It is a clinical setting where patients receive services 24/7 for a period that usually lasts from two days to two weeks. This more-intensive treatment is recommended for people who are suffering from an acute medical condition or mental health issue related to prolonged substance abuse.
Inpatient treatment is also ideal for those whose addiction to alcohol, heroin, prescription opioids, or other substances requires a more extensive medical detox than what is typically offered at residential rehabs. When withdrawal would be life-threatening, it is recommended that someone stay at an inpatient facility until they are stabilized and can continue treatment at a residential rehab.
While many residential treatment facilities offer dual-diagnosis treatment, inpatient treatment specializes in this area. A dual diagnosis, also referred to as a co-occurring disorder, is defined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as “the coexistence of both a mental health and a substance use disorder.” Inpatient treatment facilities have psychiatrists on staff who are highly skilled in acute treatment of those with co-occurring disorders. They offer medication management and psychiatric services.
Most people who want to get treatment for a substance abuse problem do not require the extensive services offered at an inpatient facility. However, it is best to allow a professional to determine what services are necessary, especially for an individual with addiction and who is in crisis.
If you think you might be ready to talk to someone about your treatment options, why not call a treatment center near you for a consultation? Many addiction providers will perform a free, confidential assessment over the phone to determine what course of action is best for you. You don’t have to make a commitment – you can just talk to someone who will provide greater insight into your situation.
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