The duration of addiction rehab varies depending on several factors and can range from a few weeks to several months or more. Longer treatment is associated with more positive outcomes, however, it’s best to work with your treatment team to decide the appropriate length of time based on your individual needs.¹

The most important aspect of treatment is that it addresses the whole person, regardless of the length of treatment.⁶ This article will help answer the question ‘how long does rehab last’ and why certain treatment lengths may be more appropriate for your needs.

Addiction Treatment Program Lengths

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, seeking treatment is a brave step toward making a positive change in your life. However, there are many questions that can feel overwhelming when trying to decide the right rehab to choose. You may be wondering, ‘how much does rehab cost?’ or ‘what is the average rehab stay?’

There are several different types of treatment at various intensity levels, so it’s difficult to limit rehab to a set time. However, common rehab lengths are:

Rehab can also extend beyond 90 days in both inpatient and outpatient settings if you and your treatment team feel that more time is needed.

How Long Should Rehab Last?

Addiction rehab programs are most effective when a person spends an adequate amount of time in treatment.¹ What’s considered adequate time depends on several factors, including:

Level of care assessed by your treatment team.
The severity of your addiction.
Need for detox.
Insurance coverage.
Substances that are being misused.
Co-occurring mental and physical health conditions.
Rate of progress throughout treatment.

For many people, recovery is a long-term process. Relapse is a common part of the recovery process but does not indicate failure. If a person experiences relapse, it’s important for their treatment team to reassess and adjust treatment accordingly, which may mean more time in treatment.^{1, 6}

How long rehab lasts may also be impacted by the science behind addiction. Since addiction affects the brain and can lead to dependence, people may need more time to help with withdrawal from substances, establish new patterns of behavior, and understand triggers that can lead to continued substance use.²

What Are the Benefits of Rehab?

While addiction is a chronic condition, it is treatable and can be managed.² Getting treatment and actively working through the recovery process, regardless of how long treatment lasts, may help you or a loved one remain abstinent and set a foundation for a new path in life.

Entering formal treatment where you can receive a combination of services like behavioral therapy, medication, and support has been shown to be an effective way to find long-term sobriety and recovery.²

The benefits of alcohol or drug rehab can vary depending on the person and their unique situation, but people may find that they’re better able to stop the cycle of substance misuse, understand the underlying causes of addiction, and establish healthy patterns of behavior.

What are the Benefits of 28- or 30-Day Rehab?

A 28- or 30-day rehab is a common type of treatment program that offers varying levels of care to meet a person’s needs. Rehab that lasts 28 to 30 days is often more intensive to help a person detox and begin the process of recovery with therapy, medication, and/or group facilitation.

One-month rehab programs can help you lay a good foundation for recovery by helping you learn valuable tools to remain abstinent and cope with triggers in daily life. However, for people with more severe addictions or who have relapsed, longer rehab stays may help increase the possibility for positive outcomes.¹

What are the Benefits of 60-Day Rehab?

A 60-day addiction treatment program allows people to focus on getting clean and sober and can give people more time to work through the causes of their addiction and establish new healthier behavior patterns.

Often, 60-day rehabs take place in a supervised facility where people stay overnight for the entire 60 days. Outpatient treatment may also offer 60-day programs depending on the facility.

A 60-day rehab may be well-suited for people with more severe addictions and co-occurring disorders. A 60-day inpatient rehab stay may be better for a person who wants 24/7 supervision and can stay in the facility.

What are the Benefits of 90-Day Rehab?

For people with a long-standing addiction, co-occurring disorders, medical needs, or have relapsed, a 90-day rehab be a more appropriate option than short-term programs. Alcohol or drug treatment that lasts longer can give you more time to practice relapse prevention skills and prepare for independent living outside of the facility.

Since a 90-day program may include more intensive treatment and inpatient care, it’s possible that your treatment team will help you create a continuing care plan. This may include step-down care in which treatment continues at a lower intensity level or outpatient setting.

What Does an Addiction Treatment Program Include?

Regardless of how long rehab lasts or which program you choose, your entry into rehab will likely follow a similar structure depending on your needs. Before you enter treatment, you’ll receive a thorough assessment by your treatment team to make sure you get the proper level of care and all physical needs are met. Many rehabs will include the following services.

Detoxification

The detox and withdrawal process can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks depending on the substance being misused and your physical needs. The detox process includes:

Evaluation for physical and mental health needs.
Stabilization through the safe management of withdrawal symptoms, which may include medication.
Preparation for the next phase of treatment as recommended by your treatment team.

A period of medically supervised detox is strongly indicated in cases of alcohol, benzodiazepine, and barbiturate abuse, as dangerous withdrawal symptoms such as seizures and hallucinations may occur when substances of these types are abruptly discontinued.³

Detox services can be a part of both inpatient and outpatient treatment programs and may affect how long rehab lasts.

Structured Treatment Program

After detox, your treatment team will likely recommend continued treatment. This may be a formal rehabilitation program on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Depending on your program, treatment may include:⁴

Regularly scheduled counseling or therapy sessions – both individual and group counseling.
Family counseling – wherein family members become active participants in your recovery.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps people recognize patterns of thinking and behavior that can lead to substance misuse.
Medication management.
Treatment of co-occurring disorders, such as eating disorders and/or depression.
Participation in 12-step recovery groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
Career development training.
Adult education classes.
Skills training, e.g., financial management.
Relapse prevention techniques.
Aftercare planning.

How to Choose a Drug or Alcohol Rehab Program

When looking for types of rehab programs, there are many options to consider. (Learn more about inpatient vs. outpatient programs). What’s most important is that the program meets your needs with individualized care. Factors to consider include:

Credentials of treatment staff and the facility.
Treatment approaches.
Accommodations (private vs. shared).
Types of evidence-based therapies offered.
Location.
Treatment of special populations like women, LGBTQ+, religious.

Integrating medication with therapy has also been found to lead to positive results for drug and alcohol users.⁵

Additionally, you may want to evaluate a rehab program based on how they meet the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s Principles of Effective drug addiction treatment:⁶

Treating recovery as a long-term process that involves a variety of approaches
Consideration of co-occurring physical or mental health conditions
Tailoring treatment programs to individuals and their needs
Ongoing reassessment of treatment to ensure each person receives the proper level of care
Incorporating behavioral therapies and medications
Continuing treatment after detox
Monitoring drug use during treatment
Testing people for diseases and other conditions from drug use, such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and tuberculosis

What Happens After I Finish Rehab?

How long treatment lasts varies; however the recovery process is ongoing even after you leave rehab. That’s why it’s important that you and your treatment team work together to create a continuing care plan, also known as aftercare planning.

A continuing-care plan will help create a structure to follow when you leave formal treatment, which can help encourage abstinence, positive behavior patterns, and in preventing relapse. Plans will vary depending on your needs and what you discuss with treatment professionals, but may include:

12-Step programs, non-12-Step programs or other support groups.
Continue individual or group therapy.
Medication for co-occurring disorders.
Education.
Drug counseling.

Find Addiction Treatment

If you or a loved one are ready to begin your process of recovery, American Addiction Centers (AAC) is ready to help. We have a team of compassionate admissions navigators who understand addiction and can help you find the right treatment. They are available 24/7 via our confidential helpline, which you can call at . They will answer questions, check insurance coverage at AAC facilities and provide addiction resources and information – such as how to pay for rehab – as needed.

How Long Does Rehab Take?