Every individual is unique and the same goes for any substance use disorders they might have. As a result, there are many different levels of care and types of treatment available. However, one standardized model of treatment employed in many rehab programs is inpatient rehabilitation that runs for 28 to 30 days.
Inpatient care can include medication assisted detox for withdrawal and stabilization. These short term programs focus on detox and early recovery skill development to build strong support systems for continuing aftercare.
What are 28 or 30 Day Rehab Programs?
In terms of payment, 28-30 day rehab programs are commonly covered by insurance providers. A longer inpatient stay at an addiction treatment center often requires private funds.
Current evidence suggests that the longer a person stays in treatment, the better the outcome. But it’s not always convenient for folks to leave work and family for long periods of time. After completing a 28-30 short term rehabilitation inpatient program, many primary and specialty care providers offer ongoing recovery management without the expense of extended inpatient care.
An aftercare plan that includes peer support, medical monitoring, self-coaching and personalized counseling can continue to meet the needs of those who graduate from inpatient treatment.
Who Should Consider Short Term Rehab?
It’s not necessary for everyone with an addiction to undergo medical detox. However, short term inpatient environments can help those who need to taper off opioids. Alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal can be dangerous and should also be medically monitored.
For clients who’re giving up opioid substances, 30 day rehab programs offer an extended period of sustained medically assisted preventive care. Extended medication assistance discourages relapse and accidental overdoses for those with opioid use disorders.
Please remember that short term addiction treatment centers aren’t methadone clinics. Methadone clinics are outpatient and consist of dosing and counseling. In contrast, 28-30 day rehab programs feature overnight stays and may offer other medications like Suboxone for detox. You may be able to continue taking methadone if you are already taking it when you enter a rehab program.
For clients who don’t need to detox off alcohol or drugs, it’s advantageous to admit directly into a rehabilitation center. The emotional, spiritual, physical and mental support in a structured environment provides a gentle initiation into a sober lifestyle through a variety of scheduled activities.
Staying busy, working through core issues in therapy and learning about new ways to think, feel, and behave are all basic holistic foundations to recovery.
Benefits of Short Term Rehab Programs
Persons with commitments to family and work often select 28 to 30 day drug rehab for their initial rehabilitation.
Their desire to begin rehabilitation and separating from their normal routines for about a month demonstrates a commitment to a change. This can allow new habits to form within the 30 days and can be sustained afterwards through support systems.
Short term inpatient rehabs are often easier to admit directly into than long-term programs. Longer programs usually require the completion of a short term detox and rehabilitation prior to admittance into sober housing or outpatient programs.
Many independent providers require completing a 30 day inpatient rehab before admitting into outpatient treatment to ensure medical stability.
FAQS
Researchers over the past 10 years have indicated that long-term sobriety is sustained by ongoing care after the initial rehabilitation program ends. Types of ongoing care can include aftercare, follow-ups with primary care providers, or attending local peer support programs. These programs constitute the maintenance phase of recovery that sustains sobriety.
Remember that, by themselves, 28 to 30 day programs are not intended to provide long term sobriety. They’re for initial detox, learning early recovery skills and creating plans to sustain abstinence. Medication assisted management initiated in a short term rehabilitation program can aid in the continuation of relapse prevention.
The difference between programs that last for 28 or 30 days is just two days. But for those with more acute conditions, those two days can make a difference. The programs might be nearly identical, but you can get that extra boost of support and structure to strengthen your recovery. For some folks, that might make all the difference.
Safety is always the paramount concern at inpatient programs. Various measures are in place to prevent accidental overdoses, evaluate suicidal and homicidal ideation, and medical stability to ensure clients are a proper fit for the level of care the facility provides.
Finding an addiction treatment center should begin with consulting the insurance carrier who may have in network suggestions. Out of network coverage can be expensive. Clients can also receive recommendations from their primary care physician or licensure board affiliation.
There are many websites that list provider locations and phone numbers. Some clients prefer to leave their area to ensure privacy. Whether you choose a facility close to home or elsewhere, treatment is available everywhere.
The length of stay for short term rehab facilities is determined by insurance coverage. Most programs operate on a rotating schedule to accommodate varied time frames. A facility admissions staff will verify coverage prior to admittance. Thirty day treatment programs may also be covered by Medicare and Medicaid.
What to Expect from 30 Day Addiction Treatment Programs
A 28 to 30 day addiction treatment center offers a variety of scheduled programming to enhance the building of new habits and skills. You might have a private room or share the space with one or several roommates.
Some have private bathrooms and some have shared bathrooms. Some facilities are co-ed and some are gender specific. While amenities may be a little different across addiction treatment centers, the focus is generally evidence based, holistic and centered on your well being.
Programs start with medical evaluations and mental health assessments to ascertain your placement in an appropriate level of care. Detox can take 3-7 days before a person moves into the rehabilitation program.
Sometimes a client may move from medical detox to social detox. Others might head directly into social detox that can last up to seven days. Social detox is used for persons who don’t need medication assistance for withdrawal and stabilization.
Instead, they might prefer privacy and rest while the substances clear their system. All detox and rehabilitation inpatient programs have 24-hour medical supervision.
Rehabilitation programs usually provide 4-6 hours of scheduled activities per day. Days may start with yoga, meditation, or other spiritually oriented groups before breakfast. Process groups can evaluate your mental and emotional status alongside other clients.
Individual sessions with counselors allow time for personal reflection. Psychoeducational groups are conducted by a variety of leaders, including peers who have reached sobriety. All programming is focused on developing early recovery skills, coping mechanisms for stress and planning for aftercare.
Most programs have a nutritional emphasis through the meals provided and may include educational sessions for better dietary health. Exercise, massage, aroma therapy, cold plunges, and saunas address rebuilding physiology and are usually supervised by personal trainers or physiologists. Some of these services are proven to aid in the rebalancing of brain chemicals.
Standard therapeutic modalities used in most addiction treatment programs are cognitive and dialectical behavioral therapies, motivational interviewing, trauma informed treatment and talk therapy.

These approaches encourage clients to explore core issues that contribute to self destructive behaviors. Ancillary therapeutic services may include art and music therapies, movement therapy, gestalt or other expressive treatments.
Some programs offer a faith-based track such as Christian programming focusing on biblical principles of identity, healing, and mental restructuring.
These programs are specific to those requesting Christian emphasis on recovery and incorporate recovery according to biblical beliefs. Clients may request to participate in local churches as part of their program. The center might also have spiritual counselors.
Most addiction treatment centers regulate tobacco and vaping use by designating smoking areas. Some facilities require checking nicotine products out from the nurses’ station and only during specific times to ensure participation in other programming is not interrupted.
Smoking is rarely permitted indoors. Smoking cessation education and nicotine substitution medication may be provided and incorporated into regular programming.
Some facilities prohibit the use of electronic devices, including phones and computers. However, many now allow phone and computer usage during specific times or under supervision. If a person’s disorder is tied to their electronic devices, such as pornography, gambling, or gaming, that individual’s computer usage may be suspended as part of the treatment program.
Supervised weekend outings are sometimes provided to allow the clients to leave the facility and explore their surroundings. This can include church services and AA meetings. Many facilities now also provide alternative support meetings like Smart Recovery onsite.
Toward the end of the 30 day program, it’s common for clients to attend meetings off site. However, most facilities don’t allow residents to leave campus without supervision.
Some facilities have movie nights, game lounges, and recreational therapists to introduce you to new pastimes that don’t include drugs or alcohol. Center libraries are often stocked with leisure reading, recovery literature, and personal testimonies to build confidence that your process isn’t an isolated experience and others have successfully recovered.
Finding the Right 28 Day or 30 Day Program
You might be thinking, “I’m ready to find a short term rehab near me.” Choosing the right treatment center is a personal decision influenced by many factors. The initial factor is usually whether a program falls under in-network insurance coverage.
If not, the cost can be prohibitive. Keep in mind there are treatment programs available through Medicaid and Medicare provided through your state’s Health and Human Services Departments.
The second factor is the location of the treatment center. Choosing to be close to home can be important if family members are going to be involved in treatment. Many programs have family weeks for visitation and therapeutic interventions. Alternatively, clients may want to be out of their home area for various reasons and choose outpatient aftercare treatment locally to return to work and home.
Some clients are looking for specific settings, such as beaches, ranches, or the inner city for convenience. The environment chosen should be comfortable for the individual. For instance, a city dweller may not be comfortable on a ranch where they have outdoor chores and are around animals.
Or, they may want to get into the country and try a life outdoors. Beaches may appeal to some folks and not others. The variety of treatment facilities available are endless.
Internet search engines are the quickest ways to find addiction treatment centers that meet your specs. There are many search lists such as Rehab.com. You can also search government websites to point you in the right direction.
Another option is to contact your insurance provider to see which places are covered under your plan. If you don’t have insurance, your state’s Department of Health and Human Services can help you find services. Support is available 24 hours a day 365 days a year through the 988 Lifeline.