An inpatient treatment program is one of the many ways you could treat recovering drug addicts. How does it work?
Definition
Inpatient treatment, also known as residential rehabilitation, is a type of drug addiction program. It’s the most intensive one out there, requiring you to check yourself into the facility for the entire length of the treatment. Some of the programs are about 28 days long, says Rehabs. Others are longer and can stretch to about 90 days, 12 months, or more.
Length of Stay
This depends entirely on the level of a patient’s addiction. If the condition isn’t too severe yet, shorter programs can work. However, in cases where individuals need to learn to change their behavior, specifically to deal with the reasons behind the addiction, longer programs are ideal. While shorter ones might be effective for managing physical symptoms through detoxification, longer ones are far better in improving the psychological symptoms of the addiction.
Managing Withdrawal
Detox is a typical part of any inpatient drug rehab program. Also known as managed withdrawal, this is widely known as one of the most difficult parts of the rehabilitation process. Withdrawal from drugs doesn’t just result in some token discomfort. Withdrawal symptoms usually involve tremors, nausea, headaches, and irregular heartbeats. Sweating and clamminess along with fevers, anxiety, depression, agitation, mood swings and hallucinations are also common. Seizures and in some cases, death, could also happen.
Outpatient
Once withdrawal is done, treatment can continue in a less rigid manner, with outpatient sessions. This means you can now go home while you attend therapies and sessions at the facility.
Aftercare
Once the treatment is done, post-rehab centers provide a range of aftercare services to help you overcome and manage the possibility of a relapse. That way, you have a better chance at living a drug-free life.
