Inpatient Drug and Alcohol Rehab: Definition, Treatment Options and More

Author

Kerry Nenn

About the Author

Medical Reviewer

Dr Luke Prest

About the Reviewer

Treatment for substance use disorders comes in many formats, serving as a way to meet people where they are. Some people need counseling support to maintain a sober lifestyle. Others benefit from 12-step groups. And for many, the recovery journey begins with more intensive care in the form of inpatient drug rehab.

What is Inpatient Drug Rehab?

Inpatient addiction treatment is the most intensive type of drug rehab setting. It involves living at the rehab facility under 24/7 supervised care. Treatment interventions usually include individual and group therapy, experiential and recreational therapies, medication, and nutritional counseling.

You follow a set schedule each day, filled with activities and therapies. During your stay, you’re able to stay on-site and remain focused on your treatment. The structure and stability of the setting helps you overcome your substance use challenges.

This type of rehab is also known as residential addiction treatment. While the two terms are often used interchangeably, some programs differentiate between the two.

What Are the Benefits of Inpatient Drug Rehab?

Each treatment option, from inpatient to outpatient, has specific benefits. With that in mind, inpatient treatment offers the following advantages:

• Targeted Treatment: Inpatient treatment centers target specific addictions and their effects. Staff ensures the appropriate medications and treatments are provided to manage withdrawal and other substance abuse effects that are typical for that substance.
• Reduced Relapse: Research shows that inpatient treatment can increase the chance of long-term substance abstinence and reduce the likelihood of relapse after treatment.³ By living at the facility, you aren’t thrown back into tempting environments before learning the skills to overcome addiction-related challenges.
• 24/7 Support: Inpatient treatment programs provide round-the-clock staffing and supervision. Highly qualified medical professionals are available to deal with withdrawal symptoms, medical issues, and mental health struggles.
• Structured Schedule: A structured, predictable environment is extremely helpful at the beginning of your recovery journey. You follow a rigid daily schedule. Your entire day focuses on the recovery process, which helps you establish new, healthy day-to-day habits.
• Integrated Treatment: During inpatient treatment, you participate in a full schedule of activities and treatments. Each one is interconnected, conducted with a single common goal of helping you successfully overcome addiction. These activities push you toward changing your behaviors and thoughts, leaving you equipped with the skills to maintain sobriety. Integrated elements may include therapy sessions, recreational therapy, group sessions, holistic activities, and dietary counseling.
• Peer Support: Inpatient treatment residents live at the rehab center with peers who are struggling with similar substance use issues. You attend group therapy sessions, meals, and classes together. This allows you to form bonds and provide mutual support. When you leave treatment, you have a support network in place to help you as you face the “real world.”

How Does Inpatient Drug Rehab Work?

While no two inpatient treatment programs are exactly alike, most offer a core group of treatment services. These typically include:

Medications

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) may be offered as part of a resident’s treatment plan. These medications are prescribed to treat withdrawal symptoms, curb cravings and/or prevent relapse. Methadone, naltrexone, and buprenorphine are commonly prescribed medications to treat addiction. Clinical staff may prescribe other medications to address co-occurring disorders, including conditions like anxiety, depression, or other health issues.

Behavioral Therapies

These therapies focus on teaching life skills and coping mechanisms that help you change dangerous substance use behaviors. Therapy sessions may include individual, group, and family counseling. That said, some of the most common behavioral therapy techniques used during inpatient drug rehab include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Contingency Management Interventions
• Community Reinforcement Approach
• Motivational Interviewing
• Family Behavior Therapy

Holistic Treatment

These methods focus on treating the emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects of the individual to achieve “whole person” recovery. Methods include physical exercise, mindfulness-based activities, and spiritual services. Common holistic therapies include:

• Massage therapy
• Yoga
• Acupuncture
• Spiritual services
• Guided meditation
• Art therapy
• Animal-assisted therapy

Life Skills Education

Inpatient treatment offers comprehensive care that equips you with the tools to succeed in life. This requires additional supports beyond addiction counseling and medical treatment. Life skills education addresses a full range of concerns that someone struggling with substance use disorder may face. Support services may include:

• Vocational counseling: You may receive guidance for job searches or career path selection.
• Housing assistance: Staff can help you find housing that puts you in an environment to encourage recovery. What’s more, you may also receive guidance on obtaining financial assistance for housing.
• Educational counseling: Support staff can help you establish educational goals and provide guidance on how to pursue them.
• Nutritional classes: You learn about the importance of a nutritional diet and how to prepare and enjoy more nutritious meals.
• Peer support groups: You participate in a number of peer support groups while in residential treatment, including 12-step programs. Experts suggest continuing with this type of support  after completing inpatient treatment.

How Long Does Inpatient Drug Rehab Last?

Based on your needs and the type of treatment you prefer, you can choose short- or long-term inpatient drug rehab.

Common program lengths include:

• 30-day inpatient drug rehab: Programs lasting one month are a good starting point for alcohol and drug rehab. This is the shortest recommended time period for addiction treatment programming. By starting here, you can determine if a longer treatment program would be helpful. Additionally, since the length of stay is shorter, this type of inpatient rehab generally costs less.
• 60-day inpatient drug rehab: Longer programs allow you to dive deeper into the experiences and issues that may be at the root of your substance use disorder. The longer programs also provide more time to practice the skills and habits learned in treatment before you return home.
• 90-day inpatient drug rehab: Of the three time-frames, this one has the highest success rate. You have more time to strengthen your sobriety skills and adjust to life without substances before you leave the structured environment of inpatient treatment.
• Long-term programs: Sober living homes or halfway houses offer transitional settings for long-term support. You live communally in a substance-free environment while continuing to work on your recovery. This step can be helpful for those who don’t feel ready to jump back into the “real world” after inpatient drug rehab.
• Hybrid forms of inpatient drug rehab: For many individuals, family, work, or financial obligations make it difficult to enroll in a longer-term inpatient program. Hybrid approaches provide the desired treatment in a slightly different format. For example, you may attend inpatient treatment for 30-45 days, then return home and continue treatment in an intensive outpatient program for another 30-45 days.

How to Pay for Inpatient Drug Rehab

Many people worry about how they will pay for inpatient drug rehab. Fortunately, funding sources are available to cover some or all of the cost of treatment. Potential sources of coverage include:

Insurance

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires that all insurance plans offered in the ACA marketplace cover addiction treatment to some extent. It is considered an essential benefit. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act requires all health insurers to treat addiction with benefits equivalent to medical treatments. This includes medications, hospitalizations, and inpatient drug rehab.

Medicare and Medicaid insurance programs may also cover costs of inpatient drug rehab. For both private and government plans, coverage varies based on the plan terms, such as out-of-pocket maximums and relevant copays.

Financing

Many inpatient rehab centers offer sliding scale payments plans. These allow residents to pay only what they can afford based on their income. The center may also offer payment plan options that allow participants to pay for treatment over time at low or no interest.

Grants and scholarships may also be available through the treatment center directly or from non-profit organizations. These sources may pay for some or all of treatment costs.

Self-Pay

If an individual is unable to pay for inpatient treatment through an insurance plan or other coverage, they can simply self-pay for treatment. If the funds are not available on hand, a loan might be a possibility. Banking institutions offer personal and medical loans, or a trusted family member or friend may be able to provide a loan.

Note: Inpatient rehab programs set their own policies on what methods of payment they will accept. Before enrolling in a program, it’s important to confirm which methods that facility allows.

Who Benefits Most from Inpatient Rehab Settings?

There’s a reason so many rehab treatment options are available: Rehab is not one-size-fits-all. Some individuals may benefit more from outpatient treatment due to particular life circumstances. For many, though, inpatient drug rehab can be extremely beneficial.

Individuals who are most likely to benefit most from inpatient treatment include those with:

• Severe addiction: If you have a severe addiction, 24/7 supervision can provide the ideal environment. Staff helps you safely manage withdrawal, provides a structured, stable environment, and assists with developing a long-term recovery plan.
• Triggering environments: For some, staying at home and undergoing treatment is not a viable option. If you are surrounded by too many triggers, it makes recovery especially challenging. You need the drug-free environment of inpatient rehab to avoid triggers while you begin your recovery journey.
• Intense withdrawal: Depending on the type and severity of addiction, withdrawal symptoms can be severe and even life-threatening. Inpatient care is designed to monitor and treat withdrawal symptoms.
• Compulsory drug treatment: Inpatient treatment can be an effective option for individuals in prison or who have received a court order to attend a rehabilitation program. Although results are mixed, in some cases, research has identified positive impacts of compulsory inpatient treatment on criminal recidivism and drug use.⁴
• Dual diagnosis: For individuals with a substance use disorder and co-occurring mental health disorder, inpatient treatment may be especially effective, as it provides an opportunity to treat both conditions simultaneously in a controlled environment. Some inpatient programs are designed specifically for those with co-occurring disorders, which enhances the chance of recovery.
• Veterans: Research has shown that this demographic benefits from inpatient treatment programs. One study of 300 veterans with drug and alcohol use disorders found that 90% demonstrated a preferential need for inpatient care.⁵

Resources

1. Werb, D., Kamarulzaman, A., Meacham, M. C., Rafful, C., Fischer, B., Strathdee, S. A., & Wood, E. (2016). The effectiveness of compulsory drug treatment: A systematic review. The International Journal on Drug Policy, 28, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2015.12.005
2. Meta Addiction Treatment (2022, July 24). Does drug rehab work? Let’s look at the statistics. https://metaaddictiontreatment.com/does-drug-rehab-work-lets-look-at-the-statistics/
3. Ho, C., & Adcock, L. (2017, November 7). Summary of evidence. NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507689/
4. Werb, D., Kamarulzaman, A., Meacham, M. C., Rafful, C., Fischer, B., Strathdee, S. A., & Wood, E. (2016). The effectiveness of compulsory drug treatment: A systematic review. The International Journal on Drug Policy, 28, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2015.12.005
5. Pub Med NIH. Admission criteria for inpatient substance abuse/dependence rehabilitation: implications for managed care. (n.d.). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8743643/