How Long Does In-Patient Alcohol Rehab Last?

Inpatient stays for alcohol treatment vary depending on the facility, the type of insurance coverage used and the needs of the patient. Most community-funded alcohol treatment centers are short-term facilities that get the alcoholic through the physically dangerous period of detoxing, while other facilities provide long-term plans.

Detox

The physical detoxification process is over within a couple of days, leaving the patient free from any medical complications due to withdrawals.

Obsession

Following detox, continued treatment focuses on the mental and emotional aspects of the disease and the level of obsession the patient is experiencing.

Treatment Centers

Most inpatient alcohol treatment programs last for 28 to 30 days and provide the patient with a foundation on which to expound upon after returning home.

Long-term

Long-term rehab for alcoholics sometimes takes up to six months or a year until the patient recovers enough to be able to live in the world alcohol-free. Reintegration is usually a slow process at long-term facilities.

Best Case

Research and statistics, including work done through the National Institutes of Health, report that the longer patients remain in rehab, the better chance they have of sustaining sobriety.

References

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