60 Day Treatment Program for Addiction

As you may already know, residential treatment for alcohol and drug addiction can last anywhere from four to 12 weeks. It’s not uncommon for alcohol and drug addiction rehab centres to work in 30-day increments, leaving you options of 30, 60, and 90-day treatments. A 60-day programme would be best suited to an individual with an established addiction who is not yet considered a chronic, hard-core case.

60-day rehab programs can provide someone struggling with an addiction with the support and treatment they need to obtain and maintain sobriety. Treatment interventions, such as individual counseling, group therapy, 12-step meetings, and family therapy equip patients with the coping skills necessary to avoid relapse.

How It Works.

Taking advantage of a 60-day rehab programme can happen in one of two ways. The first option is to specifically enrol in a 60-day programme based on an assessment of your addiction. You will enter rehab with a target release date two months down the road. During your residential stay, you will undergo a number of therapies designed to prepare you to live addiction free.

The other method of using a 60-day programme is to sign up for a 30-day rehab programme and see how it goes. This is more common than you might think. Drug and alcohol addicts might be advised to try a 30-day programme, but if they have not yet managed to conquer their addiction at the end of four weeks, an additional 30 days may be added.

It’s difficult to say that all residential rehab facilities work the same way in this regard. It really does hinge on the type of services a clinic offers.

Why Can’t I Just Go To A Short-Term Rehab Program?

For those who face serious addictions, and especially for those who require a medical detox, a longer inpatient program is in most cases best. Science supports this, as NIDA reminds us: “Research indicates that…the best outcomes occur with longer durations of treatment.”

While shorter, 28-30 day programs are invaluable resources within addiction medicine, they are not for everyone, in every circumstance. Many people do achieve success within this time, however, these shorter, inpatient programs are often better utilized in different ways.

Programs of these lengths are great resources for relapse prevention and treatment or for mild to moderate substance abuse, but 60-day programs are better for serious addictions. Doubling this time gives you double the opportunity to heal, build coping and relapse prevention skills, and grow in countless other ways.

What’s Best for You?

Should you believe you have an abuse or addiction problem that needs help, we do understand that no single programme that works flawlessly for everyone. You are a unique individual with your own set of circumstances and history. What you need is an individualised treatment plan that considers your circumstances.

As an example, the first thing to do is to identify what type of problem you have. You may be an addict, abuser, or heavy user of drugs or alcohol. There is distinct difference between the three classifications:

• Addict – The addict is one who cannot control his or her appetite for drugs or alcohol. They practice addictive behaviour throughout the day, believing it to be impossible to cope with life outside of being drunk or high. The addict will give up everything to satisfy his or her need for drugs or alcohol.
• Abuser – The abuser is not necessarily controlled by drugs or alcohol 24 hours a day. However, they do use far too often and in quantities that are deemed unsafe. Binge drinkers are good examples of alcohol abusers who may not yet have reached a level of addiction. Abusers are typically able to continue leading normal lives when not under the influence.
• Heavy User – The heavy user is a person who uses drugs or alcohol more than once or twice per week. He or she also engages in binge behaviour multiple times per month. It can sometimes be difficult to draw a distinction between a heavy user and an abuser because the lines are easily blurred.

We cannot stress enough the need for you to get a professional evaluation if you are even remotely concerned you might have a problem. Heavy use and abuse can very quickly become addiction if ignored for too long.

When you get in touch with us we will help you determine where you are on the abuse/addiction scale. If it turns out you are addicted, a 60-day programme may be just what you need. You need to understand that a 60-day treatment implies a residential programme at one of the facilities we work with.

Why Residential Treatment?

We know there are some very good outpatient programmes and support groups achieving positive results in the UK. We recognise that sometimes these types of programmes are appropriate. However, we also know that residential treatment tends to have higher success rates due to the way they are structured.

For starters, residential treatment is based on the philosophy that separating the addict from his or her daily routine and circumstances allows them to concentrate fully on recovery. The separation eliminates the distractions that might otherwise slow down progress. This is the primary reason residential facilities tend to be located in out-of-the-way places surrounded by plenty of open space.

The other advantage of residential treatment is that it is provided by private clinics and charities that have nothing else to worry about. Unlike the NHS, private clinics and charities are free to concentrate only on drug and alcohol addiction recovery.

Is Rehab Private and Confidential?

When you receive any sort of professional medical treatment, including rehab for drug or alcohol abuse, you can trust that your personal health information will be protected. Your medical information or even the fact that you are a patient of the center will be private, unless you expressly give consent that the information be disclosed or if there is a case where the disclosure is necessary (such as in a medical emergency).

In some cases, you may have your own room, allowing for increased privacy during your stay. This extra amenity may come at a higher cost, however. If a private room is important to you, be sure to ask any prospective facilities about whether this is an option and if it will increase the cost of treatment.

What Happens During Rehab?

During a 60-day rehab, you may partake in:

• Medical detox.
• Individual therapy.
• Group therapy.
• Support groups.
• Life skills training.

Therapy will be the main element of treatment and may be individual, group, or family-based. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is common to many programs and utilizes techniques to help you see how your thoughts and behaviors keep you stuck in a pattern of substance abuse. Through CBT, you'll learn to modify your thoughts, avoid high-risk situations, and develop coping skills to deal with your cravings and triggers.

Family therapy will help to heal your family unit and help you to get past the major conflicts that may have existed before you began abusing drugs or have arisen as a result. You will learn better ways to communicate and support each other.

Other therapeutic approaches may also be utilized. Any facilities you contact can discuss with you the types of therapy and other treatment approaches they use.

What to Expect.

When you enrol in a 60-day rehab programme, you will undergo a number of therapies designed to break both the physical and psychological aspects of addiction. It will not be easy. In fact, it may be one of the most difficult things you will ever do. Nevertheless, rest assured that completing your programme would be well worth it.

When you first arrive at the rehab facility, you will undergo a comprehensive evaluation designed to determine both your physical and emotional needs. The information gleaned from that evaluation will be used to develop a personalised treatment plan uniquely tailored to who you are. Regular assessments throughout your treatment will ensure that the appropriate care is always being provided.

When you come out the other side, you will be able to face life head-on, without the need for the addictive behaviour that once controlled you. You will also be able to enjoy a life you wouldn’t have otherwise experienced. It is certainly better than continuing to live under the control of addiction.

Your road to addiction recovery may be through a 60-day rehab programme. It starts when you make the effort to get in touch with us via the telephone.

How Do I Pay For Treatment?

The price of rehab is dependent on many things. Location, program length and type, amenities, and other factors all influence the cost. Some programs are quite expensive. But before you let the expense of treatment deter you, we’d like to remind you that a lot of options exist beyond paying out of pocket.

If you have health insurance you may have existing coverage for treatment. If this and your personal finances can’t cover the total expenditures, there are still means to examine. Close family and friends may be willing to help. Scholarships and grants, personal loans, financing options, and medical credit cards could help round out your financial resources.

What Happens After?

After you leave a 60-day rehab center, your recovery journey is not over. Addiction is a lifelong condition that often involves relapse. You won't be cured when you walk out the door of a 60-day rehab. Two months of intensive treatment is a great start to your recovery, but staying sober requires continual effort.

Rehab program staff will work closely with you as you progress through treatment to create an aftercare plan that is most likely to help you avoid falling back on substance use when faced with the triggers and cravings that may arise at home.

This aftercare plan may include steps such as:

• Regular visits to an outpatient center for therapy.
• Telephone counseling.
• Participation in recovery support groups/12-step programs.
• Transfer to a sober living facility.

Your plan will be unique to your needs, your support, and your progress in recovery.

It's Not Too Late.

"Treatment helps people to stop abusing substances, reduce their criminal activity, and improve their psychosocial functioning."

No matter what stage of life you are in, addiction is treatable and you can get help to live a normal life again. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, treatment helps people to stop abusing substances, reduce their criminal activity, and improve their psychosocial functioning. You can live a better life in sobriety. Don't wait any longer to reach out.

• Sources

  National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2014). Treatment Settings.

  American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.

  National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2007). 6. Definition of tolerance.