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180 Day Rehab Programs for Drug & Alcohol: Inpatient vs Outpatient Facility Treatment Options

Guide for understanding and finding outpatient or inpatient 6-month rehab centers programs for alcohol and drug addiction treatment 

Regardless of the type of addiction, an outpatient or inpatient 180-day rehab program is one of the best options available for chronic drug or alcohol addiction treatment.

The reason why you should seriously consider choosing the 180-day rehab for long term addiction treatment is the fact that it has shown a lot of potentials and a lot of success when compared to other shorter residential, partial hospitalization,  intensive outpatient or outpatient programs.

One of The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse article titled Effectiveness of Long‐Term Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for Women: Findings from Three National Studies, looked at the effectiveness of residential substance abuse treatment for women.

The researchers examined data from the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment’s Residential Women and Children/Pregnant and Postpartum Women (RWC/PPW) Cross-Site Study and other studies. And what they found is a high treatment success rate of 68% to 71% abstinent after rehab for those women who spent six months or more in rehab.  They also found that RWC/PPW clients who completed treatment successfully required six months or more to do so.

It makes a lot of sense to consider and pick an alcohol or drug addiction treatment facility program like the 6-month rehab center program that will help you deal with the problem and give you the best positive outcome as studies have shown.

In this article, we provide you some helpful information that will help guide you in determining whether the one hundred and eighty-day rehabs are the best options for you.

What is rehab?

Before picking a rehab option it is always best to understand addiction and what rehab is.

There are so many forms of addiction. There are also many forms of recovery. Rehab generally refers to intensive and supervised programs that are created to assist people to end the usage of alcohol or drugs and other addictive habits to help them lead a healthy and decent lifestyle.

Rehab is necessary for any person with an addiction to help them stop in the safest way possible and to stay sober after it has been concluded. The form and length of the treatment usually vary and it is often based on the patient’s personal issues.

It is important to note that everyone is unique and therefore, you need to select a facility that takes the time to address everyone personally.

Benefits of rehab including 180-day rehabs

The main goal of attending rehab such as the 180-day rehab program is to make the patient stop using drugs or alcohol altogether and lead a more productive life. There are many benefits that are associated with rehab and they can be life-changing when the right treatment center is involved and the program is followed through. They include:

  • Breaking the cycle

The addictive cycle can be frustrating and hard to deal with. When you are addicted to something, it is important to be within an environment that is free of all the triggers. Detoxification is the first thing that is completed at some of the drug and alcohol rehab facilities and it helps remove the substance from the body and to deal with withdrawal.

After this, the real rehab begins.

  • Learning

When you or a loved one is in rehab, then you get to learn more about addiction. This usually occurs after the detoxification process. When you learn about what you are dealing with, then you have better insight regarding sensory experiences, events, habits, and people that cause your cravings. These triggers are often explored within the facilities and the efforts are chosen to help with the transition.

  • Underlying issues

People have substance abuse or addiction issues due to many reasons, but it is important for the addict to know what draws them to the substance in the first place. Is it done as a way of coping with stress? Is it to deal with physical or emotional pain? Whatever the reasons, being in rehab gives you time to deal with the inner demons.

  • Building new practices and habits

It is important for patients to create some new habits and practices to help with the recovery process and getting back into society. Long term rehab is a great setting for emotional and physical health.

How do I know that I need a rehab center help?

When someone is addicted to something, they know it is bad, but they may not be sure just how bad it is. In some cases, they are in denial and will refuse to get professional treatment. This is even so for chronic addictions.

So, how do I know that I need a rehab center? You need rehab for chronic addiction:

  • You drive while high or intoxicated
  • Keep getting ticket
  • The doctor points out that you are dealing with health issues that are a result of alcohol or drug use or other addictive habits
  • Your family and friends are concerned with your use of drugs or drinking
  • You get withdrawal when you don’t use the drug or substance. These include irritability, paranoia, insomnia, cramps, nausea, and headaches
  • You make poor decisions when you are high
  • You have inflicted harm on others and/or yourself when you are under the influence
  • You have lost employment due to addiction
  • You are not able to stop regardless of how hard you try
  • You sell or trade yourself, belongings to buy the substance

It is typically recommended that people seek treatment help even for minor substance use and abuse but when it turns into a chronic addiction you really have no choice but to check into treatment such as the 180-day rehab programs.

So if you notice any of the above signs or any other substance addiction signs for a loved one or yourself contact us to speak with someone at no cost or obligation to you.

What’s 180-day rehab program?

Long-term recovery is offered over the short-term one, especially when the addiction is too elevated. The six months rehab program is a long-term option and it offers complete rehabilitation.

It is a program that is multi-faceted and offers rehab for the long term to help someone who is really struggling with addiction to deal with all the underlying issues that are closely related to the addiction.

The longer period shows greater success and is, therefore, the preferred option for those with chronic addiction.

Typical 180-day rehab program process

The rehab process differs from one person to the next depending on different underlying factors. There are some things that need to be done for it to be successful. A typical 6 months rehab process involves:

  • Intake exam: This usually involves an exam where the team identifies the kind of support needed. Your history with addiction, general health, and blood has to be tested. Mental and physical health have to be established as well.
  • Detox support: After the exam, the next course of action is detoxing. In this case, you may be given medication to handle withdrawal as well as care for any other issues that may arise. The main goal here is to ensure that the patient is stable both physically and mentally. During this stage, breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature have to be checked at a regular rate.
  • The third step is to start treatment so that you can learn the best way to break the addiction. Long-term care is one of the most effective methods to use to break the addiction and is highly recommended for severe addiction as well as mental issues.
  • Aftercare preparation: in this stage, you are trained and counseled on the best way to deal with getting back into the real world. You learn how to cope with the triggers, which may include stress. It is this stage that aims at ensuring that a person does not have a relapse.

Medical detoxification

Medical detoxification is usually used for detox and always the recommended method of detox, especially for chronic addictions. As we mentioned before detox is the first step towards a successful substance use disorder rehab and it is not different in the 180-day addiction treatment program for drug and alcohol addiction treatment.

A professional drug or alcohol detox facility is important because of the withdrawals that come with detox. We recommend that you never try to detox at home especially for chronic addiction.

There are different types of detoxification and they include:

  • Cold turkey detox or social detox: This is a type of detox that does not involve any medication. It involves a person stopping the use of drugs completely which is called “going cold turkey”.
  • Medical detox: This is the kind of detox that involves giving the patient medicine to clear their systems. Medication aims at avoiding symptoms that are associated with withdrawal. The patient also gets therapy and counseling.
  • Rapid detox: This is a fast detoxification process that is usually done under supervision under clinical settings. According to this article on PubMed. gov of the National Institute of Health, detox is a good alternative for selected patients who are addicted to opiates.
  • Ultra-rapid detox: This is an even faster method of detoxification that usually takes an even shorter time period. It involves the use of anesthesia and is therefore considered a painless process.
  • Holistic detox: Holistic refers to an approach that focuses on the patient instead of just concentrating on specific symptoms.

Withdrawals and symptoms of addiction during detox

There are different types of symptoms that are present when one is experiencing withdrawal. Usually, the symptoms and their intensity depend on the drug that is being abused and how long it has been used.

Some symptoms of withdrawal include:

  • Fatigue
  • Irritability
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Headache
  • Insomnia
  • Anxiety
  • Nightmares
  • Mood swings
  • Shakiness
  • Dizziness
  • Clammy skin
  • Appetite loss
  • Muscle aches
  • Depression
  • Shallow breathing
  • Dehydration
  • Sweating, etc.

It is important to have an expert around when you are going through withdrawal. They can be especially instrumental in:

  • Administering medication in cases where the symptoms are too pronounced
  • Encouraging meditation so that the patient focuses on breathing, shutting out all stimuli
  • Encouraging the patient to walk or do any other form of exercise that involves movement to soothe the muscles
  • Distracting the patient from what they are feeling than by talking with them
  • Helping the patient take cool or warm baths

The fact that all these can be provided at a rehab facility or a separate detox only facility means that it is always a good idea to seek help from the professionals to detox and deal with withdrawal in the most professional and safe way possible.

6 months drug & alcohol addicton treatment approaches

Rehab centers using different modalities to treat their clients for drug and alcohol addictions. Below are some of them:

  • Education & learning 

Education is very important and powerful. When you learn, you easily improve your quality of life.  Even in recovery, education and learning are very important. Education starts as you deal with the addiction. Getting professional help is still learning in itself. You get to know more about yourself and all your motivations.

Education can also be a great help after you leave rehab.  Self-learning is at the center of rehab and you can immerse yourself into learning as much as you can about addiction.

  • Counseling & group therapies

Counseling and group therapy is one of the treatment services that you get during the whole process. Speaking about your experience with addiction is very important, especially during rehabilitation. It helps the patient deal with all issues better.  Counseling and group therapies address psychological issues related to addiction and are very important.

  • Family therapies & meetings

When you think of family, everyone has their own definition. Some will consider family anyone they are related to through genetics while others define them as people within their inner circle. These are people who have a major impact on the way we relate to and do things.

For persons dealing with addiction, family therapies, and meetings and be particularly helpful on so many levels. These people suffer a lot when we make wrong turns and they can be instrumental or detrimental in the progress you make.

Therapy of this kind is aimed at helping you work hand in hand with the family to build a strong foundation for recovery. When they are a part of the process, they also get to understand what addiction is and help you every step of the way.

  • Relapse prevention

Relapse prevention is a huge part of rehab. This is because a big percentage of people recovering from substance use disorders relapse.  According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, between 40% and 60% of those recovering from drug addiction relapse. They also pointed out that the recurrence rates are similar to that of other chronic diseases such as asthma and hypertension et cetera.

The aim of relapse prevention is to teach cues for one to recognize that leads o relapse. And some skills to use to avoid relapsing.

There are other treatment modalities used for rehabs including the 180-day rehabs so when you speak to a treatment facility be sure to find out which modalities they use. Also about the typical day at their treatment facility.

6-month inpatient rehab program vs outpatient ones

Addiction a lot of time cannot be dealt with by simply ending the use of a substance.  One of the best ways to deal with the condition is to get professional treatment and care in an area that is focused.

And there are many different options to pick from facility wise.

Even though you have the option of partial hospitalization, outpatient and intensive outpatient rehab but for long term treatment, the 180-day inpatient rehab program might be the best option to help in treating chronic addictions by offering structured and intensive care. As a matter of fact, the  Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) points out a study that shows that outpatient treatment, medication therapy has a 35 percent completion rate, while the residential programs were as high as 65 percent.

The end goal of rehab centers is to help the patient reclaim their normal life after the stay has been concluded. Residential programs allow the patient to live in the facility, get monitored 24/7, and do all their rehab activity there.

They are a well-structured environment.

Is a 180 day drug or alcohol rehab right for you?

Ridding the body of substances that we are addicted to takes time and it is never a short or easy process. When addiction has spanned over years, then all a person can think about is drugs or alcohol.

You need the 180-day drug or alcohol rehab when you have been addicted for so long and need enough time to learn some skills that will allow you to form a new habit of being sober and get your life back on track.

Research has shown that it takes time to form a habit and also that residential long term rehabilitation programs produce a better positive outcome than short term addiction treatment programs.

Picking the right rehab center

Picking the right 180-day rehab facility could be hard but should be done as soon as one realizes that they, or a loved one, is dealing with a chronic alcohol or drug issues. To pick the right treatment facility there are some things to consider.

So to pick the right rehab here are some factors to considers:

  • The approach of the facility: A scientific and medical approach is the recommended treatment for chronic addictions.
  • Location: Picking a location that you feel will be the most convenient and will present the best positivity outcome.
  • Cost: Consider a facility cost but don’t focus too much on it that you seek bad treatment.
  • Amenities: Consider the amenities provided, especially when you will be spending six months or longer for treatment
  • Staff credentials: Make sure that a facility has enough staff and that they have the right credentials.
  • Payment options: Consider a center that offers different payment options.

Also if you are an LGBT person, a certain religious group or someone from a minority ethnic group, consider centers that understand how to work with such a group if that’s important to you.

Facilities cost

Treatment cost usually varies from one center to the next. There are free programs while others may cost thousands.

Regardless of the budget, you are working with, you will always find a facility that matches it. It is not that hard to find help in this area as people think. Just search online and speak with multiple treatment centers and other resources and you find something.

Note that the kind of care you receive may affect the amount of money you may need to pay to access services. Inpatient rehab may cost 6000 dollars for 30-day programs while outpatient may require 6,000 dollars for a program lasting for three months.

Medications used during the period could affect the price.

If you have to do a detox and the type of detox program will also increase your cost.

Just speak with an addiction recovery services provider for a free consultation to get the actual cost for your treatment.

Ways to pay for one hundred and eighty day rehabilitation programs

There are different ways to pay for 6-month rehabilitation programs.

Many facilities offer some sort of financial aid and most also accept insurance. This makes it possible for different people to get help.

Most of the addiction centers also have their own financing options which make the patient’s situation more flexible.

Insurance that can be used to cover the care includes employer-sponsored insurance, private insurance, state-financed insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and military insurance et cetera.

Treatment centers cost is tax-deductible

It is important to note that alcohol and drug rehab costs could be tax-deductible.

One of the reasons why this is the case is the fact that the costs associated with rehab are usually quite high.

Health insurance may only cover some of the costs of your 180-day rehab program, so in that case, you have to finance and pay out of pocket.

The good news is that there are some ways you can claim substance use disorder rehab on tax returns according to the Internal Revenue Tax Service which you can read by clicking here( scroll down on the IRS website for the sections that say Alcoholism and Drug Addiction).

However, for this to be possible, it is necessary to itemize such deductions. So we recommend that you please speak with a tax professional for help with this.

Aftercare/continuing care

It is important to understand the fact that addiction is a chronic disease and going to rehab does not guarantee a total cure.

Also, substance use disorder rehab is a long term game

So aftercare is important and it usually lasts longer than the rehab program.

It offers a chance to maintain the progress achieved during the rehab period. It is a great place to keep learning coping skills and talks to others going through what you are going through.

So getting into a sober living home, going to AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) or NA (Narcotics Anonymous) programs, and seeing a therapist after the rehab has ended is very important for a long term sober life goal.

When your six months rehab program end don’t just stop there, follow-through with aftercare and continuing care program.

Free consultation

Please call us to be connected with an admission counselor to learn more about outpatient and inpatient 180-day rehab centers program for drug and alcohol addiction treatment. There is no cost to you or an obligation for calling 866-579-8780!

Get the information you need for a 6-month rehab today!