What is Rehab?

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What is rehab? 

Rehab is the process of rehabilitation usually provided as an inpatient treatment for substance abuse.  Rehabs are designed to deliver a variety of treatments and programmes for drug or alcohol addiction. Rehab is a common term used to describe drug and alcohol detoxification facilities. 

Rehab facilities treat alcohol or drug addicts to achieve sobriety and recover from medical conditions. In addiction treatment programmes, rehabs are designed to provide various programmes and intensive treatment, including mental health services to those that have alcohol or drug use disorder.

The kind of rehab you select should suit all your treatment needs instead of what you believe is the most cost-effective or convenient.

Rehabs are usually taken by people who cannot get over their alcohol or drug problem within a community-based system. Many rehabs are sobriety-based and thus have a much better and temptation-free atmosphere.

Just like any other treatment, professional help with alcohol addiction is the recovery journey and sobriety maintenance start with simple steps .

The certain stages of an addicted person rehabilitation process differ according to the type of drugs or alcohol addiction, the willpower of the person, mental health history, and the structured treatment plan used; still, all recovery processes share some specific similarities.

Inpatient rehab

In the advanced recovery world, a rehab programme includes various things. To treat their drug and alcohol use and substance abuse, people can choose short-term and long-term residential treatment.

The advantage of an inpatient program is that an addict is kept in quarantine from his substance of choice and provides the person a choice to start to think clearly.

Segregation away from behavioural triggers lets people focus exclusively on their recovery without getting distracted from the outer world.

With time, close friends and family members may be invited to family therapy sessions or visiting days.

This assists in building a support system that is so legit to recovering patients when they leave the rehab facility.

Outpatient rehab

In outpatient rehabs, the addicts have the liberty of movement and can manage daily activities of their life outside of the building but relying on the possible engagement of the court system, and there could be screening put into force.

An outpatient treatment programme provides the recovering addict the chance to collect facts and converse with group mates to learn ways to gain management skills to stave off past experiences and find support.

Outpatient addiction treatment is fantastic for those with fugacious addictions. It is not suggested for those with long-term or serious addictions or those with double diagnosis conditions.

What is a Rehab Centre?

A rehab centre represents physical medicine and a building to treat rehabilitation with various treatment options. It does not represent a place to treat criminal or substance abuse.

Rehabilitation and physical medicine involve various therapies to help addicts restore function after injury or illness.

These therapies can involve:

  • Speech therapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Physical therapy

A rehab centre offers one or more of these treatment options on prefaces. An addiction treatment centre may only be outpatient.

Recovery Time in Rehab Centre

Normally, the recovery time in residential rehab centres can differ from one person to another. Many addicts also require more than one form of treatment to recover completely from addiction.

The positive result of drug or alcohol rehab treatment at a rehab centre relies on addicts' motivation and a supportive environment.

We should not ignore the fact that drug or alcohol addiction is a serious disorder that can worsen if left untreated.

Thus, it usually involves treatment programmes for a longer duration and other types of abstinence-based treatment plans according to the response and effect of the treatments.

what are rehabilitation programmes

Different Residential Programmes of Rehab Centres

Massive research has been done to understand the factors causing addictions. Treatment centres use many rehab programs and approaches to treat recovering addicts like cognitive behavioural therapy, anger management, coping strategies, practical skills, and discussions with support groups.

There are a huge number of treatments to select from. Treatments are individualized based on a patient’s history and illness. The time needed for treatment may differ from person to person.

In the initial phase, outpatient therapy programs are helpful for people who are addicts. People with a long history of rehab normally need extra time and specialized effort.

These patients may need to attend a decent inpatient residential programme that offers around-the-clock treatment in a community of rehab counsellors and addicts. 

What Does it Mean to go to Drug and Alcohol Rehab? 

Going to rehab can help you or your family member one step down from addiction and stay sober after detox.

Still, the type of treatment facility, residential setting, and duration varies, depending on the personal situation, health problem, or drug dependence of the addicts. Not all treatments work for everybody.

It’s crucial to find out if rehab is the right treatment centre for you, then choose the program or therapy that meets your requirements. 

Steps involved in addiction treatment 

There are many rehabs, but they traditionally include the same common steps toward recovery: 

  • Therapy: assists addicts change their behaviours that trigger or come with their use of alcohol or drug. 
  • Detox: remove alcohol and drugs from the addict’s system safely. 
  • Resocialization: find out new ways of functioning in social circles to stay sober and maintain abstinence. 

How Can You Pick a Suitable Residential Treatment Programme? 

There are many things to consider while selecting residential rehabilitation. They include: 

  1. Rehab centres don’t offer a one-size-fits-all solution to residential treatment. 
  2. Addicts must commit enough time for their treatment to defeat their addictions effectively. 
  3. Different methods are used for different people. 
  4. Everybody can have quick access to the treatment they want. 
  5. Addiction affects our brain’s working. 
  6. Effective addiction treatments address all areas of a person’s life, not just the addiction or abuse. 
  7. Treatment plans are made to meet the addict’s requirements and circumstances. 
  8. Medical treatment is usually mandatory and used to improve mental health with therapy. 
  9. Mental sicknesses are usually linked to drug addiction and must be handled in treatment. 

Going to a residential rehab provides alcoholics a safe environment and better care under the supervision of professional treatment providers. 

What Are the Types of Residential Rehab? 

There are three main types of rehabs therapy; speech, physical and occupational.

Every treatment facility serves a distinctive purpose in helping an addict reach abstinence and full recovery. Still, all treatment programs share the same goal of helping patients return to an active and sober lifestyle. 

Rehab treatment facilities can also be used to treat a massive number of conditions and injuries, including musculoskeletal and orthopaedic injuries like tears, strains, sprains, or post-surgical rehab. The goal of every therapy is different.  

In inpatient treatment, you get addiction treatment in a clinic or hospital before getting discharged.

Patients who suffer a stroke or brain injury, experience amputation, or go through a spinal cord or orthopaedic injury may need inpatient therapy to recover to a stage where they can be considered healthy members of society.  

Outpatient rehab therapy includes treatment in which an addict is not admitted to a clinic or hospital.

Outpatient therapy centres provide a mix of services from occupational therapists, physical therapists, psychologists, consultant psychiatrist, and speech pathologists.

Outpatient rehab centres provide therapy for many conditions, including neck and back pain, neurological disorders, cancer, psychological disorders, and many more. 

The top 6 therapies offered in many rehabs are as follows: keep in mind that each of them addresses ranges of problems. 

  1. Occupational therapy – this type of therapy is designed to restore an addict’s ability to do daily activities like restoring balance, developing practical skills, or help patients in learning the strategies to increase their ability through adaptive equipment. 
  2. Physical therapy – this is an effective form of rehab therapy that helps improve movement dysfunction. Patients get assistance from therapists to restore stability, strength, movement, and functional ability. Targeted exercise with a massive range of treatment methods is used to reduce pain. 
  3. Respiratory therapy helps patients with breathing difficulties maintain open airways and reduce respiratory distress when necessary. They also learn the proper use of inhalers and supplemental oxygen. 
  4. Speech therapy – this kind of rehab therapy is designed to address swallowing, communication, or speech difficulties. 
  5.  Vocational rehab – this type of therapy aims to prepare the individuals to get back to work after an illness, an injury, or a medical event. 
  6. Cognitive behavioural therapy – also known as cognitive-behaviour rehab, this kind of rehab therapy assists patients to improve their thinking, memory, reasoning, & practical skills. 

These rehab therapies can be accessed in different residential rehab settings. That includes inpatient rehab, outpatient rehab, and residential treatment centre.

Inpatient treatment facility usually offers all of these types of therapies. Inpatient rehab centres usually offer all of these therapies and nursing and medical care delivered by a multidisciplinary team of rehab professionals in a clinic/hospital-type setting. 

However, in outpatient clinics, the types of treatment provider vary, and patients get appointments for their sessions. Contrarily, home-based rehabs usually offer some basic services like occupational, physical, and speech therapies.

When an addict is advised to take multiple therapies or close medical supervision is mandatory, getting in-patient rehab is recommended as the most efficient and safest means of treatment.

Home-based or outpatient services may be the most suitable for patients who require less intensive rehab/medical care. 

What are the Stages of Rehab? 

There are three stages of rehab. 

First stage – Detoxification 

Patients are treated with approved pharmaceutical drugs to control and alleviate the alcohol and drugs withdrawal symptoms. The process is simple and medically monitored. 

Second stage – Rehabilitation 

Rehabilitation can be a long process based on the addict’s history and treatment needs. Each patient rehabilitates at their own pace, and this element is focused on in their treatment plan.

Different people are comfortable with different treatment methods, so rehab programmes must be flexible and bespoke to be effective.

Basically, anybody attending rehab must forget their past and learn new healthy ways and coping techniques that will enable them to live a sober life. 

At this stage, a wide range of evidence-based treatments is offered by fully qualified professionals. The treatment approach merges medicines and typical evidence-based treatments with an innovative holistic approach.  

Third stage – aftercare 

Aftercare is the essence of drug and alcohol addiction treatment, but unfortunately, not all treatment providers deliver this service.

Aftercare is usually very underestimated, but if the needed support is not available, all the tough work that has been achieved through behavioural rehab can be ruined in days and result in addiction getting worse.

At treatment centres every treatment provider puts great emphasis on supporting every patient for long-term recovery. Some patients need more support than others, and this is made sure that they get it at rehab centres.

Aftercare sessions are also offered in rehab centres by specialists to reconnect to their surroundings and work.  

How Long Can You Be in Rehab? 

You can be in drug rehab for two to four months, depending on your history, addiction, and individual needs. It can be scary to get help if you are struggling with a drug and alcohol addiction.

You are concerned about what your family or friends think, the cost, and how long you would be in rehab to recover. As every type of addiction is unique, there’s no simple treatment mantra.  

Average lengths of Rehab treatment programme are; 30 days, 60-day plan, 90-day plan. While choosing a program, think about what would be most suitable for you in the long run.

To get detoxified and start a drug-free and healthy life, most people need 3 months of rehab. A long-term addiction treatment program offers the best results.

They can look overwhelming at the beginning, but they provide the most effective results.  

Wrap Up 

Once a drug or alcohol addict gets through stage one, they will move to the rehab stage of the recovery process. This is where the addicts get core reasons behind their drug dependence and address those issues for detox.

The most crucial aspect of residential rehab and recovery is that it’s the mind towards a person’s recovery and the heart.

An addict must be willing to give immediate gratification with, at times, a lengthy, arduous plan that directs to fulfilment in the ceaseless recovery.  

About the author

Laura Morris

Laura Morris is an experienced clinical practitioner and CQC Registered Manager with over twenty years experience, over ten of which have been as an Independent Nurse Prescriber.

She has held a number of senior leadership roles in the substance use and mental health sector in the NHS, the prison service and in leading social enterprises in the field.

Last Updated: October 31, 2023