How Long Is Rehab for Veterans?
Everyone’s experience with addiction is different, and the duration of rehab may vary. Military veterans dealing with substance use disorders (SUDs) have unique needs, and the length of their stays may range from a few detox days or weeks to months and even years. Extended programs such as halfway houses and sober living shelters are available beyond 90-day programs.
You may be concerned about the length of addiction treatment and how it will affect your everyday life and work. When selecting a rehab program, however, it’s important to keep your personal health and best interests in mind and choose a program that offers you the best chances for long-term recovery. According to research, longer stays in treatment provide better recovery outcomes, especially for those with serious addiction and a long history of drug and or/alcohol use.
Various treatment plans are available to you. Learning more about your options can help you choose the one that is best for you.
Veterans and Drug and Alcohol Addiction
Know that you are not alone in your struggle with drug and/or alcohol addiction. Veterans and their family members deal with unique situations that people outside the military are not familiar with. Exposure to combat and other deployment-related stresses can lead service members to turn to alcohol or drugs to cope.
Certain environmental stressors specific to military personnel have been linked to an increased risk of substance use disorders. Those who experienced trauma or were hospitalized or injured in combat are at greater risk for addiction as well. Moreover, mental health issues that are common among veterans, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety, can lead to substance use. Fortunately, help is widely available, and you can attain sobriety with the right support and treatment.
The Addiction Treatment Process
Various treatment plans are available based on a client’s addiction level. At the beginning of treatment, you need to cultivate realistic expectations and be patient. With addiction, one’s body and brain functions change because of dependence on the substance. So, it may take quite some time to find the right treatment program and achieve longstanding sobriety. When it comes to treatment duration, the following programs are most common.
30-Day Program
Starting with a 30-day program is an excellent way to determine whether or not you will need a longer stay in treatment. The program offers time to overcome the physical symptoms of withdrawal and develop techniques for preventing relapse. Caregivers at this point may prescribe a treatment course and post-care program afterward. Since it’s the shortest recommendable rehab duration, most clients find it a reasonable commitment.
60-Day Program
The 60-day program offers extra time and assistance. It offers time for detox and therapy sessions to address behavior, trigger situations, and family issues that may be causing substance addiction. This program provides adequate time to fully detox from all addictive substances and actively start healthy and mindful habits to remain sober. With two months of treatment behind you, you can reenter your community with the skills and knowledge needed to resist the urge to use.
90-Day Program
At first glance, a 90-day program may seem overwhelming. But as said previously, your chances of staying sober while in recovery increase the longer you seek treatment and get assistance. The 90-day program involves intake and assessment, detox, therapy, self-help groups, and developing an aftercare plan. With the program, clients get more time to get accustomed to a lifestyle of sobriety. You will learn to sharpen your skills to identify potential triggers and withstand future temptations. This treatment is recommended for individuals with serious or persistent addiction.
Extended Rehab Programs
You may require further assistance or wish to move to a supportive home setting after the 90-day program for your long-term recovery. There are other programs out there where you can immerse yourself in a sober living setting. A sober living home is a drug- and alcohol-free setting where you may get support from your peers while you develop your recovery strategy. This is an additional stage if you need the extra structure and assistance to learn how to succeed with the skills you acquired through the program but aren’t quite ready to return to the outside world.
Sober living homes and other extended rehab services have the following benefits:
- A social network that supports ongoing recovery
- More time to adjust to treatment and procedures and set goals for long-lasting recovery
- Assistance with employment and other services
Factors Affecting How Long Rehab Stays Last
As mentioned, everyone is different, and your experience with drugs and alcohol won’t be the same as other veterans in need of treatment. Just like there are various factors that influence treatment outcomes, there are also factors that affect how long a person may need to stay in treatment. They include the following.
Co-Occurring Physical and Mental Health Conditions
A person’s recovery process may differ depending on their physical and mental condition at the time they begin therapy. Usually, a person who is in better physical and mental condition can recover faster and move through the program more quickly. On the other side, a person with physical health difficulties might not be able to recover as quickly in terms of their brain and body.
Additionally, a person who has a mental health issue or a dual diagnosis could require extra care and programming that lengthens their treatment schedule. Given that both the mind and body are crucial to rehabilitation, an individual’s overall health might have an impact on how long rehab takes.
Drug Use History
Obviously, the more severe the addiction, the longer the period of recovery. Individuals with a history of heavy drug and alcohol use or many years of addiction will likely require a period of detox and prolonged treatment. On the other hand, those with mild addictions may be able to build the skills needed to manage their addictions during a short treatment period.
Social Support and Home Environment
Home life, family, and friends are also highly important for healing and preventing relapses. A person’s chance of relapsing increases dramatically when they do not live in a secure and encouraging environment. In this situation, individuals can be encouraged to continue receiving outpatient therapy while living in a sober living facility or to stay longer in a residential treatment program.
Finding a Rehab Treatment Center Near You
Treatment facilities are available for veterans throughout the country. There are several possibilities for a rehabilitation facility. Some rehab facilities focus only on inpatient care, with patients getting round-the-clock treatment while residing at the facility. Others provide both inpatient and outpatient treatment or intensive outpatient programs that allow the recovering individual to remain at home while still receiving several hours of therapy each week from the treatment facility.
Clients must consider all alternatives and select a rehab facility or treatment program that matches their preferences and needs. Selecting the right treatment program for you might improve your chances of making a full recovery.
Types of Treatment and Therapies
Regardless of the length of treatment or whether it’s offered in an inpatient or outpatient setting, there are some common types of treatment modalities and therapies that veterans can expect to encounter during recovery. The following takes a quick look at some of the most common.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps veterans with substance use disorder examine how thoughts and feelings can contribute to negative behavior, such as drug abuse. During CBT treatment, you’ll learn to recognize distortions in thinking that are creating problems and then develop better coping mechanisms for dealing with difficult situations. CBT can be particularly helpful for veterans dealing with co-occurring mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression.
Group Therapy
Group therapy can help those in recovery start to build a support group of peers with similar experiences. In addition to receiving help, group therapy gives you the chance to help others, which can be very beneficial to recovery.
Family Therapy
Drug and alcohol addiction affects more than the person who is addicted; addiction also impacts family and friends and can lead to various relationship issues. Family therapy gives family members and their addicted loved ones the chance to address these issues and improve healing. Sometimes, family members may be contributing to their loved one’s addiction, and therapy can help them learn to identify and avoid enabling and other behaviors that can trigger drug use.
12-step Facilitation
Many treatment programs incorporate elements of 12-step self-help groups, which have been shown to be effective at helping individuals recover from alcohol and drug addiction. The treatment facility you choose may include these groups as part of your treatment. Other facilities encourage members to find a group within their communities. Either way, working the 12 steps can help you accept your addiction and stay accountable for your own recovery.
Reach Out for Help Today
As you can see, there is no one answer to the question “How long is drug treatment?” During treatment, it’s important to pay more attention to your rehabilitation than to how long it will take to complete. Don’t let the uncertainty around the length of your care prevent you from receiving the support you require to heal. If you’re a veteran or part of a military family and you need assistance finding a treatment program or other resources, you can find the help you need at VeteranRehab.org.
