Drug rehabilitation is designed to help people recover from drug and alcohol addiction. The intensity and length of services for any treatment program can be tailored to each person’s needs since no single treatment type will be right for everyone.¹

Addiction is a chronic condition, but with successful treatment and management, recovery is possible.²Recovery can take time and may benefit from a spectrum of treatment supports. Recovery support can start with a period of supervised detoxification, followed by some combination of residential and/or outpatient care, then may continue with various aftercare supports.

There are several benefits to seeking rehabilitation for substance use disorders. Trained staff is available to help support patients during the recovery process, assisting with any co-occurring mental health issues and offering guidance on what steps to take and what tools to use to create and sustain a drug-free life.

Learning about the different types of addiction treatment programs available and finding the one that is right for you is an important part of recovery. This article will explore various types of rehab, what to expect from treatment, and how to find the right addiction treatment options for you.

What Are the Different Types of Addiction Treatment Programs?

Depending on the patient’s needs, addiction treatment can involve participation in a few different levels of care. These might include medical detox, inpatient or residential treatment, outpatient rehab, sober living, and continued aftercare support.

For many, the addiction treatment process begins with medical detoxification, especially when withdrawing from substances like alcohol and benzodiazepines.³ It is important to note, however, that since withdrawal management alone is not considered a substitute for more comprehensive rehabilitation, a patient is encouraged to continue with additional treatment programs once they have completed the detox process.

Determining the right type of addiction treatment to to enter into after detox (or as a first step in the recovery journey) is an important part of a person’s overall recovery planning.¹The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) has developed the most widely used and comprehensive set of criteria used by treatment professionals to place patients with addiction and co-occurring conditions into the right level of care.^4,5 Based on patient assessment across these criteria, there may be several potentially appropriate levels of care at various stages of a person’s recovery, including:^4,5

Medically monitored or managed inpatient services.
Clinically managed residential services at varying levels of intensity.
Outpatient services, including intensive outpatient programs (IOP) and partial hospitalization programs (PHP).

Addiction is a chronic but treatable medical condition, but it can be beneficial for a person to seek an official assessment to determine an appropriate diagnosis prior to seeking treatment services.⁶ If a qualified professional determines that they have met several criteria dictated by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), 5th Edition, then a substance use disorder (SUD) may be officially diagnosed. The full 11 criteria used to diagnose a substance use disorder are organized in groups that, when present, demonstrate:⁷

Impaired control over use of the substance.
Social impairment because of substance use.
Risky use of the substance.
Pharmacological phenomenon related to the substance (i.e., substance tolerance; substance withdrawal).

As evidenced by the several potential levels of care outlined by the ASAM, addiction treatment is viewed as a complex process that involves many methods of treatment and intervention.⁸

Detox Facilities for Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

Medical detox can be one of the first therapeutic interventions used in the recovery process. Detox protocols can help manage any lingering effects of acute intoxication as well as manage withdrawal symptoms.³For alcohol and certain other substances, detox may be necessary to ensure safe physical recovery and can be potentially lifesaving in some instances.³

Three essential components of many professional detox programs include:³

Initial evaluation, where trained staff screen for the presence of drugs and alcohol and assess the patient’s mental and physical health to provide a basis for the patient’s treatment plan.
Medical and psychosocial stabilization, where staff assist the patient through intoxication and withdrawal to reach a substance-free, medically-stable state.
Fostering patient readiness, helping the patient prepare for follow-up treatment to address substance use.

Individuals undergoing withdrawal may not be prepared for the intensity of the physical and/or psychological symptoms they may experience. Symptoms in association with some types of substance withdrawal can range from relatively mildly troublesome to potentially life-threatening complications, such as seizures and delirium that can arise during alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS).⁹Additional substances like sedatives (benzodiazepines, prescription sleep aids, and barbiturates, for example) and opioids can also be particularly challenging to detox from due to the nature of their impact on the body.³

Detox alone is rarely sufficient in preventing relapse and sustaining long-term recovery.⁸It is considered best practice for the detox facility staff to proactively connect patients to ongoing treatment to promote sustained abstinence.¹⁰

Inpatient/Residential Addiction Treatment

Residential or inpatient addiction treatment settings provide around-the-clock care and recovery support.¹Patients of inpatient/residential programs can stay at the center for days to months depending on their needs.¹They are provided with 24/7 care and support from trained staff.¹This level of care may be recommended for those struggling to manage their recovery on their own, along with those who:¹

Are not benefiting enough from lower levels of care such as outpatient treatment.
Reside in an environment that is not adequately supportive of their sobriety.
Struggle with co-occurring disorders (a combination of substance use and mental health disorders).
Have experienced prior relapse, need medication, or withdrawal management.
Have prior history of severe or complicated withdrawal.
Have significant additional mental health or medical health concerns.

Residents may reside in an inpatient setting for the length designated to them according to their treatment plan.¹Once a patient and support staff agree that adequate treatment progress is being made, patients may sometimes drop down to a relatively less intensive level of care like outpatient therapy to continue their recovery.¹

Outpatient Addiction Treatment

Different from inpatient addiction treatment options, outpatient treatment does not require the patient to reside at the center for the duration of their care. When looking at inpatient vs outpatient rehab, this is one of the main differences, as patients can live at home or in other non-clinical settings outside of treatment hours while attending outpatient treatment.¹ During an outpatient treatment program, a patient may engage in multiple sessions a week of treatment and then reduce frequency as progress is made.¹

There are several types of outpatient addiction treatment options, with varying levels of intensity of services and time commitments for each. Standard outpatient services may include meeting with an individual therapist, receiving medication management, or participating in group therapy. Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) and Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) are also outpatient rehab options.³

Sober Living Homes

Sober living homes are another option for support in addiction treatment. These homes are designed to support a sober lifestyle by providing a safe, stable environment with zero tolerance for substance use.¹⁴A home of this type is often considered a transitional living environment, as it bridges the gap between intensive treatment and the isolation that can occur when formal services are no longer required.¹⁵

People who are feeling strong in their sobriety but still desire continued structure and support may want to live in a sober living home for a while after they have completed other, higher levels of treatment.¹⁵Transitional homes may mean having a roommate or housemates who also want to strengthen their sobriety through the accountability the home culture provides. Having the connections of others in the same community is an effective and often essential part of long-term recovery.

Residents of sober living homes may continue to participate in therapy, groups, and medication management as well as attend 12-Step meetings and other supports in their community.¹⁵

Rehab Aftercare Programs and Ongoing Recovery

Recovery is not over when treatment ends. Individuals in recovery will face challenges and triggers throughout life and can benefit from ongoing support.¹⁶Rehab treatment teams may help patients formulate an aftercare plan before they complete the program.¹⁶

As a means of continuing care beyond the initial treatment period, aftercare programs may include relapse prevention techniques, helpful coping skills, attendance of 12-Step meetings such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA), participation in ongoing treatment, and involvement with people and activities that support sustained recovery.¹⁶

Participation in a 12-Step program can offer those in recovery a chance to connect with others in similar circumstances and develop new coping skills that can help sustain recovery.¹⁷ Connection of this kind may be beneficial to reduce the risk of relapse. Support groups can provide connections to community-based resources and offer a system of peer support at little to no cost.¹⁷Some support groups are women- or men-only or have a spiritual and religious focus.¹⁸ Others may be non-religious and focus primarily on building and supporting healthy life skills.¹⁸

How to Find a Drug or Alcohol Rehab Program

Navigating addiction treatment can be overwhelming and finding the right rehab facility or program is an important step toward accomplishing long-term recovery.¹When selecting a program, it is important to consider what level of addiction treatment is necessary to gain and sustain recovery.

A person who is actively using drugs or alcohol and experiencing acute intoxication or at risk of impending withdrawal may need to enter a program that offers medically managed detox services. They may also consider relatively more intensive levels of care—such as IOP, PHP, inpatient, or residential—that might facilitate the adequate amount of monitoring and support to keep a person safe and comfortable during this challenging point in early recovery.

For someone who does not need acute assistance, an outpatient program, sober living home, or involvement in support groups may be a good option for strengthening and maintaining their recovery.

A good first step toward finding the right treatment may be to reach out to a friend, loved one, or support person, or to speak with a physician about options for care.

Getting Admitted to Rehab and Starting Addiction Treatment

Once admitted into the right treatment program, there are a few things to expect. Upon admission, a person may first participate in an initial evaluation and intake before starting the medical detoxification process. During the intake phase, an individualized treatment plan may be created to tailor to the patient’s specific needs and inform the direction of treatment. They may then enter formal treatment that includes a structure of groups, therapy, skills training, medication management, and other support. To maintain the strides made during treatment, a period of rehabilitation may be followed by an aftercare program that prepares the patient for sustaining long-term recovery.

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Types of Rehab for Drug and Alcohol Addiction