Why Does Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Last 30 Days?

The best treatment option for recovering from substance use disorder varies from one person to the next based on several factors, including the length and severity of your addiction and the effect addiction has had on your life.  The longer a person is in treatment for addiction, the more successful their recovery will be.

No one treatment choice is right for everyone, but many people find that 30-day residential substance abuse treatment programs provide a structured environment and an effective foundation for beginning a journey of recovery. When you enroll in a 30-day treatment program, you’ll receive around-the-clock medical and emotional support from experienced professionals in the field of addiction recovery. Spending at least this long in rehab allows you to be completely focused for a month on recovery without the distraction of everyday life and your usual activities or responsibilities.
For More Information About Our Dual Diagnosis Treatment Programs
Call Us At: (310) 455-5258

Detoxification is Only the Beginning

Obtaining treatment for addiction at a residential facility provides a safe environment to go through detoxification while under 24-hour supervision by medical professionals. During this process, the substances gradually leave your body.  The symptoms of withdrawal can be very unpleasant and possibly even life-threatening.

Medical professionals are continuously available to help you get through detoxification. They may be able to provide medication to help ease symptoms, and they’re available to provide care if there are any physical complications. They may also be able to diagnose and simultaneously begin treatment for co-occurring disorders such as depression or anxiety. If medications are prescribed for co-occurring disorders, a 30-day residential facility provides time to stabilize this medication.

Learning About Substance Use Disorder

Once you get past the initial discomfort of withdrawing from substances, it’s important to begin to understand the disease of addiction. When you first go into treatment, you may feel that your misuse of substances is proof of weakness or character failings. Spending 30 days at a residential treatment facility gives you the opportunity to gain a much better understanding of what caused you to be compelled to rely on drugs or alcohol.

Getting sober isn’t like flipping a switch. Just because the substances are no longer in your system doesn’t mean you’ll know how to cope with the stresses of life without turning to substances in the future. It takes time to learn about what causes addiction, what may trigger the urge to use substances, and what to do when this occurs.

Learning to Live Sober

During 30 days of residential treatment or longer, you’ll have the opportunity to address the physical, mental and emotional aspects of substance use disorder. You may participate in individual and group counseling and behavior therapy. Therapy can help you to recognize and change ways of thinking, behaviors and attitudes related to substance abuse. You may also participate in family therapy.

You’ll participate in peer support groups, which can help reduce a sense of isolation and lay a foundation for ongoing support after you leave rehab. Learning to rely on the support of others who truly understand the compulsion to use alcohol or other substances is an important part of staying sober.

Getting Started on a Journey of Recovery

Committing to a 30-day inpatient program gives you a good opportunity to begin to physically heal and start learning how to live a sober life. While you’re in treatment, your thinking will gradually clear, you’ll learn new coping skills and get used to living a life that no longer includes reliance on mind-altering chemicals. Treatment doesn’t end after 30 days, and another 60 days of outpatient treatment after the initial 30 days is often recommended.

Substance abuse can cause changes in the brain that trigger powerful cravings and a compulsion to continue to keep using alcohol or drugs in spite of negative consequences. Making a decision to seek treatment from a 30-day residential treatment program is an important first step to recovery.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or a mental health disorder, please call us at (310) 455-5258 or submit the form below to learn more about our treatment programs in Los Angeles.