A growing body of research has shown that long-term rehabilitation programs lead to high success rates.
For example, a study from the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse showed that 76-78% of participants who completed 6-12 month addiction treatment programs remained abstinent 3-5 months later, which was substantially higher than those who didn’t complete the entire program.
Another systematic review from the Journal of Social Science & Medicine found that completing rehab programs lasting 18 months or longer led to a 23.9% greater chance of abstaining from substance use.
Longer programs are beneficial for those who’ve struggled with longer-term addictions, have relapsed several times, or feel they could use more support as they rebuild their life.
What’s involved in extended addiction treatment? Is it right for you? In this article, we’ll explain everything you should know and how we can help at United Recovery Project.
What Is Long-Term Rehab and Who Is It For?
Long-term rehab is any program that lasts longer than 90 days. Treatment centers typically offer it in 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year time spans to accommodate different needs.
These programs provide ongoing support through therapy, support groups, skill-building, lifestyle change, and relapse prevention planning to facilitate long-term sobriety during rehab and help you transition back to routine daily life. It offers a good opportunity to get used to living a sober lifestyle and build healthy habits that lead to lasting success.
Who Long-Term Treatment Is Best For
Extended rehab programs are best for:
- Severe substance use disorder: Clients who’ve struggled with addiction for several years may benefit from a longer program. Withdrawal symptoms and cravings can linger a bit longer in these cases, so an extended program provides an opportunity to learn how to cope and maintain sobriety going forward.
- Dual diagnosis clients: It’s estimated that 50% of those who struggle with mental illness also have a co-occurring substance use disorder. Treating co-occurring disorders simultaneously leads to better results and may require extra time in treatment to achieve well-rounded healing.
- People with multiple relapses: Several relapses can indicate that additional support is needed to recover. Long-term residential rehab gives you extra time to heal and remain sober in a controlled and supportive environment. Then, your treatment team can help you slowly ease into everyday life as you progress.
- Those rebuilding their lives from scratch: Anyone who has struggled to maintain employment, had financial difficulties, relationship problems, or family breakdowns caused by substance abuse may feel like they’re starting from scratch. Longer treatment can assist you at each step of the way as you rebuild.
Why Short-Term Rehab Isn’t Always Enough
Short-term treatment, such as 30-day rehab programs, can be effective for some individuals who have less severe addictions or just need a quick reset. However, they aren’t the right fit for everyone.
One of the main limitations is that these programs may be detox only or can only provide surface-level therapy. Thirty days doesn’t give a lot of time to dig in and treat underlying issues like chronic stress, trauma, or feelings of loneliness that contribute to addiction. Those feelings may pop back up after leaving the treatment center.
Therefore, it’s essential to consider all the options to determine the ideal program for your needs. Long-term inpatient rehab can be a better fit for those who’ve had extended struggles with addiction or have underlying conditions that must be managed to ensure the best results.
Achieving lasting psychological, behavioral, and lifestyle changes can take time. Long-term programs offer the structure, accountability, and support necessary to do so for those who need it.
Overview of Long-Term Treatment Options
Here’s a quick overview of the most common long-term rehab program lengths so you know what each one entails before selecting a treatment option.
6-Month Rehab Program
6-month rehab is best for those who need extended therapy after detox or relapse. The focus will be working through deeper issues, treating any underlying conditions, developing coping strategies, and building the skills necessary to transition back to normal daily life while maintaining sobriety.
1-Year Rehab Program
The 1-year rehab program is typically seen as a structured life reset. You’ll receive:
- Clinical care at a treatment facility to manage detox and withdrawal.
- Therapy throughout the program to develop coping skills and manage underlying issues contributing to addiction.
- Vocational support, such as career counseling, job search assistance, or help locating training to find employment after your treatment program ends.
- Connections with a sober community at the facility and in your local area to learn from others and create a positive support system.
The 1-year program is a good fit for those who’ve struggled with addiction for years, have severe trauma, or receive a dual diagnosis.
2-Year Rehab Program
The 2-year program isn’t as standard, but it’s an excellent option for those requiring a higher support level. It’s a fully immersive option that can help:
- Rebuild from scratch, such as working through family struggles, deep trauma, or career struggles that contribute to or have resulted from addiction.
- Gain education and develop career readiness to secure employment.
- Develop detailed strategies for relapse prevention to manage triggers and the stresses of life without using drugs or alcohol.
- Slowly transition back to everyday daily life after achieving sobriety. Many 2-year programs will include staying at a halfway house toward the end that provides support during this transition phase.
This is an excellent option for anyone who’s had addiction deeply impact their life or has struggled with addiction for a long time without success in other recovery options.
What to Expect in a Long-Term Program
3 key things you can expect in most long-term programs are:
- You’ll have a consistent daily structure with therapy, life skill building, and support groups. This structure is meant to build healthy habits that lead to lasting success.
- Recovery will consist of key phases. You’ll start with detox to allow drugs and alcohol to leave your system and manage withdrawal. Then, you’ll go through intensive treatment consisting of therapy, skill-building, and lifestyle change to manage sobriety. Finally, as you finish the program, you’ll transition to independence in regular daily life.
- Community and accountability play a central role. The rehab center will help you find and develop a positive community that supports one another. Plus, you’ll learn strategies to remain accountable to yourself and others throughout the program.
Benefits of Long-Term Addiction Treatment
As mentioned earlier, one of the key benefits of longer treatment is that it often results in higher success rates and lower relapse rates since you have more time to heal and build lasting habits. Some other key benefits are:
- It helps you address the root causes of addiction. Extended treatment gives you time to identify underlying issues contributing to addiction and learn how to manage them effectively for well-rounded healing.
- You’ll create sustainable routines and healthy habits. Studies mention that building lasting healthy habits can take anywhere from 10 weeks (70 days) up to 254 days. Longer rehab ensures you have enough time to ingrain everything you’re learning and working on.
- It gives you time to repair relationships, stabilize mental health, and plan for success. Recovering from addiction isn’t easy, and it can take time to make it through each step. Extended rehab ensures you have support for the ups and downs along the way.
United Recovery Project’s Approach to Long-Term Recovery
We offer customizable long-term treatment options at United Recovery Project that are built for your needs. There’s no one-size-fits-all program that works for everyone, so we’ll work with you at each stage to determine the right fit, including:
- The ideal program length
- The type of therapy that works best for you, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma-informed care, or holistic therapy
- The most effective transitional support, such as sober living, aftercare, or our alumni program
Working with us starts with a confidential consultation where we’ll recommend options based on your needs and explain what each one involves so you feel confident before committing to a program.
Is Long-Term Rehab Right for You or a Loved One?
Signs that long-term rehab might be a good fit for you or a loved one are:
- Having multiple rehab attempts that weren’t successful
- A dual diagnosis with mental illness or other underlying conditions
- Significant family, work, or life struggles that require repair
- Feeling a lack of life structure or purpose, where extra guidance would help
If you or a loved one is experiencing any of these signs or you aren’t sure if long-term rehab is a good choice, we can help you decide at United Recovery Project. We offer a comprehensive range of programs to fit individual needs.
Contact United Recovery Project Today
Ready for lasting change? We offer long-term rehab options built for your needs at United Recovery Project. You can contact us today to schedule a consultation or ask other questions. We’re here to help you rebuild your life for good.
References
- Greenfield, Lawrence, et al. “Effectiveness of Long-Term Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for Women: Findings from Three National Studies.” The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, vol. 30, no. 3, 1 Aug. 2004, pp. 537–550, doi:10.1081/ada-200032290. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15540492/
- Beaulieu, Myriam, et al. “A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy of the Long-Term Treatment and Support of Substance Use Disorders.” Social Science & Medicine, vol. 285, no. 285, Sept. 2021, p. 114289, doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114289. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277953621006213
- Bethesda. Common Comorbidities with Substance Use Disorders Research Report. PubMed, Bethesda (MD), National Institutes on Drug Abuse (US), Apr. 2020, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK571451/
- Gardner, Benjamin, et al. “Making Health Habitual: The Psychology of ‘Habit-Formation’ and General Practice.” British Journal of General Practice, vol. 62, no. 605, Dec. 2012, pp. 664–666, doi:10.3399/bjgp12x659466. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3505409/
- Lally, Phillippa, et al. “How Are Habits Formed: Modelling Habit Formation in the Real World.” European Journal of Social Psychology, vol. 40, no. 6, 16 July 2009, pp. 998–1009, doi:10.1002/ejsp.674.
