If you or a loved one is struggling with the devastating effects of drug and alcohol addiction, finding timely and professional help is your number one priority. Drug and alcohol addiction is progressive and it will continue to significantly affect your physical and mental health until you find professional help. While finding quality drug treatment as quickly as possible is crucial to your long-term health, it is important that you find appropriate treatment programs that will allow you to stay for as long as you need in order for you to completely break free from your substance abuse. To help you have the best chance at achieving long-term sobriety, a long-term drug rehab will provide the structure and comprehensive care you need to achieve that ultimate goal.
What is Long-Term Drug Addiction Treatment?
When you enter an inpatient drug rehab to address your substance abuse, you will find that the average length of the treatment programming that you will undergo is typically around 28 to 30 days. While this time frame may seem like a considerable time commitment and long enough in order for you to overcome your addiction, this time frame may not give you the time you need to fully address the deeper underlying causes of your substance abuse.
By contrast, a Florida long-term addiction treatment program long term lasts for 90 days or even longer depending on the severity of your addiction issues. These extended treatment programs will allow you to fully transition into intensive inpatient treatment. By attending treatment for longer periods, you can fully acclimate and get comfortable with the rehab experience and you can feel more comfortable.
Long-Term Drug Treatment Center Benefits
Those who undergo treatment at a long-term drug and alcohol rehab at Ocean Breeze Recovery Center will benefit from this type of programming in a number of ways. As stated earlier, those who spend extended time in a Florida long-term treatment program will have more time to understand the underlying causes of their addiction and will also have sufficient time to resolve any and all issues pertaining to their substance abuse. Longer periods of time in treatment gives clients the best chance at achieving and maintaining meaningful long-term recovery.
Long-term residential treatment will also benefit clients by providing a safe environment to stay clean and sober that is secure, empowering, and supervised 24 hours a day. When the temptations and triggers from their home are environment removed, those who are in a long-term drug and alcohol treatment program can solely place all their focus on getting the tools, support and encouragement they need to truly break free from their addiction. Additionally, longer stays in drug treatment allow clients to fully rest their bodies and minds so they can become physically and mentally healthy.
Choosing a Long-Term Addiction Treatment Program?
When you make the decision to undergo treatment at a Florida long-term addiction rehab facility, you arrived at your decisions for a number of reasons. For example, you may consider long-term addiction care if you had bad experiences while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. You may also consider this type of treatment program if you have encountered a long line of physical and mental problems that are associated with your substance abuse. When searching for long-term treatment in Florida, there are several important factors to consider. First, you must find out if treatment staff is trained and certified to treat all kinds of chemical dependency.
Most long-term addiction programs feature both clinical and medical staff, and they offer a wide variety of treatment options that can be individually tailored to your specific needs. Along with treatment options such as medical care, long-term facilities also should feature group, individual, and holistic drug treatment options that are appropriate for your particular situation. Additionally, long-term treatment centers in Florida need to offer education and training in essential life and coping skills, relapse prevention education and other services which are essential to long-term recovery.
Additionally, family involvement is another crucial element in a quality long-term addiction treatment program. Addiction is seen as a family disease and the whole family needs to be involved in the treatment process so that the family dynamic is restored and conducive for recovery. Long-term addiction treatment should also include dual diagnosis treatment options in the event that you’re dealing with a co-occurring mental illness and your substance abuse. Additionally, outpatient drug rehab may be suggested after the initial long-term treatment period to offer continued support.
What is Involved in Long-Term Drug Treatment?
Long-term treatment for substance use disorders typically involves a continuum of care that starts with more intensive treatment that scales down based on your individual needs. The more you progress, the more your treatment plan with lower in intensity. Depending on your needs, you may start with medically monitored detoxification and move all the way to aftercare programs that are focused on relapse prevention.
Each treatment plan is tailored to the individual’s personal history and needs. When you enter a treatment program, you will go through the intake phase where you sit down, typically with your primary therapist, and talk about everything from your family history to your experience with substance use. The questions will become personal, but the purpose is to help create a treatment plan that is the most effective for you. According to the National Institute on Drug Addiction, an effective treatment plan will involve you, the client, in the treatment planning process. NIDA says, “Matching treatment settings, interventions, and services to an individual’s particular problems and needs is critical to his or her ultimate success…”
During intake, your medical needs will also be assessed and you may be placed into a level of care that involves medical care or monitoring. Treatment typically follows Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, where immediate physical needs like safety and security are met first. Then deeper needs can be addressed.
Levels of Care
The levels of care are designed to meet you where you are in relation to substance use as well as physical and emotional needs. A person in withdrawal isn’t going to do well if they dive straight into intensive cognitive therapy. And a person with limited physical needs doesn’t need to waste time in an intensely medically focused level of care. The follow are the five basic levels of care. Keep in mind that many levels also have subset levels as well:
- Detox – Most people entering treatment for substance abuse start with medical detoxification, because common drugs like benzodiazepines and alcohol can come with potentially deadly symptoms. Post-acute withdrawal symptoms can come with seizures and delirium that may be fatal without medical attention. Medical detox can come with 24 hours of medically managed treatment. This means that medical professionals with treat you with any medication you might need to curb withdrawal symptoms and monitor and respond to any complications. The goal is to guide you safely and comfortably through withdrawal and relieve you of your chemical dependence. If you’ve developed a tolerance to a drug with dangerous withdrawal symptoms or felt withdrawal symptoms before, you will want this level of care.
- Inpatient – Inpatient programs are intended to treat people with a medical need that aren’t necessarily as at-risk as someone with post-acute withdrawal syndrome. In the highest level of care in this category, you would receive 24 hours of medically monitored care. While you may not be medically treated around the clock, you will be monitored so, if a need arises, medical professionals are available to step in and handle complications. You will also spend at least five hours each week in clinical services.
- Intensive Outpatient – Intensive outpatient (IOP) services are more intensive than inpatient care but still involves nine or more hours of clinical services each week. IOP is ideal for people dealing with the complex needs of substance use disorders, underlying issues, and co-occurring disorders.
- Outpatient – Outpatient services involve fewer than nine hours of treatment. This level is ideal for people who have gone through more intensive levels of care and are ready for more independence and to apply the relapse prevention skills they have learned.
- Aftercare – Aftercare programs involve alumni services, support groups, and 12-step programs that occur after treatment is completed. Staying involved in recovery programs even just one or two times a week can help you continue to learn about recovery and avoid relapse.
