How Many Days Should I Spend in Rehab?

One of the biggest questions people who are considering rehab ask is how long they should spend in rehab in order to make a full recovery.

Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to tell how long a person will initially need to spend in rehab before they start to see results [1].

However, the standard amount of time is a 30-day programme, which can then be changed or extended if there’s a need for it. It’s only natural to be curious as to how long you’ll be in rehab for and the uncertainty might seem frightening and scary at first.

You might feel anxious about being away from friends and loved ones for an extended period of time. You might also be worried about how much it might cost.

All of these worries are only natural, but rehab is a proven way of getting individuals onto the road to recovery and you will thank yourself for it later.

It’s important to remember that how long you spend in rehab will depend on your dedication to your recovery. Additionally, you should remember that if you’re struggling with an addiction to alcohol or drugs, you have the same rights as anyone else to access help from the NHS [2].

The Typical Length of Time People Spend in Rehab [1]

A 30-day plan
A 60-day plan
A 90-day plan

When deciding how long you should stay in rehab, you should have a serious think about how long you really need, and what will bring you the most chance of success and recovery.

You may initially choose to spend 30 days in rehab, but you should be prepared that this will be extended to a long period of time.

Most addicts need a minimum of 3 months in rehab before they achieve long term success [1] and according to research, the longer you stay in rehab, the better your chances are of staying sober in the long term [1].

The Advantages of a 30-day Programme [1]

The main objectives of a 30-day programme are to allow the individual time to overcome their withdrawal symptoms, as well as:

Creating a long term recovery plan with a specialist
Getting treatment for other potential medical complications (including mental and physical)
Getting therapy for a trained specialist for any mental health issues or familial conflicts
Working with a therapist and specialist to develop relapse prevention strategies

Although this might not cure your addiction straight away, a 30-day program is a fantastic way to start and get the immediate care you need.

The Advantages of a 60-day Programme [1]

If you think you’ll need longer than an initial 30-day programme, then you might consider a 60-day programme.

Here you will receive:

Continued therapy and counselling
Detoxification
An opportunity to learn resilience and coping strategies
Therapy in positive psychology and safe behaviours

The Advantages of a 90-day Programme [1]

Although a 90-day programme might seem like a long time, it’s one of the most productive and sure ways of achieving recovery. A 90-day recovery plan has the highest rates of success out of the 3 options [1].

Under a 90-day programme, you will receive the following [1]:

A tailored 30-day plan including detoxification, counselling and the opportunity to attend self-help groups.
The opportunity to develop and practice self-help and self-soothing behaviours to avoid relapsing
The opportunity to delve into the possible causes and triggers of your addiction and behaviour

90-day programmes are most popular and successful because it allows the individual the opportunity to not only recover physically from their addiction but mentally too.

Each individual case is different, and how long you will need to spend in rehab won’t be clear until you take the first few steps.

You should certainly be prepared to spend 30 days in a rehab centre, and you should understand that you may be required to stay longer in order to give yourself the best chances of recovery.

When you speak to the admissions team of a rehab centre, or to your healthcare professional, you should ask them how long they think you will need to spend in rehab and discuss any of your needs, worries or concerns with them from the offset.

This way they will make sure your needs are met, and that you feel comfortable with the amount of time you will spend in a rehab centre.

When Do I Know if I’m Ready to Leave Rehab?

You should only consider leaving rehab if you’re sure that you have recovered both physically and mentally from your addiction.

As previously discussed, it can take a long time for an individual to recover mentally from an addiction, so a 90-day programme is usually advised.

Leaving rehab to enter the real world again can seem very daunting. It’s important to remember that outside of your rehab centre, there will be many temptations; whether that be from your friends, family or from seeing alcohol in pubs, restaurants or supermarkets.

Although you may have developed some strong coping strategies throughout your rehab programme, you must be sure that you’re strong enough to be exposed to these triggers without being tempted to relapse.

Factors that Influence How Long it will Likely take you to Recover

If you’re unsure yourself how long it might take to achieve recovery, then it’s important to know that there’s a range of factors that influence how long you should usually take to recover.

There are a number of things to consider if you’re trying to work out how long you will likely need to be in rehab, such as:

How old you are
How much you weigh
Your metabolism
How long you’ve been taking the drug
What kind of drug you’ve been taking
How severe your addiction is
What type of therapy you’re most likely to respond better to

Rehab Benefits

Regardless of how long you stay in rehab, you’re likely to reap benefits; whether it be for 30 days or 90.

Although it’s well researched that the longer you stay in rehab then the more benefits you’ll receive, what’s important to remember is that by attending rehab your chances of entering recovery and staying sober are dramatically increased [1].

Although there are several benefits to attending rehab, some of the main ones are:

Learning a range of copies techniques and strategies to help you stay sober for longer and avoid replacing
Getting the opportunity to detox from drugs in a safe place with healthcare professionals around you
Being introduced to people in a similar situation to yourself who can provide you with peer support
Being removed from your immediate environment at home may trigger your addiction
You’re fed a healthy diet
It provides you with a clear and strong structure to your day
You’re encouraged to exercise
You’re given therapy
A better future lifestyle and longer lifespan

Inpatient Rehab

Inpatient rehab is when you stay at the residential centre for the period of your treatment. There are two types of inpatient, residential rehab which are long-term and short-term [3].

Here, the patient actively commits to staying in the environment for an extended period of time, and they’ll receive around the clock care and support whilst they’re there.

One of the main benefits of inpatient rehab is that by living in a controlled environment, you’re taken away from your immediate triggers and temptations.

Additionally, inpatient rehab treatment focuses on developing accountability, helping the individual understand how their actions and habits have led to their addiction [3].

You’re also receiving 24/7 support and care and will receive medical help when dealing with withdrawal symptoms.

Outpatient Rehab

Outpatient rehab is where an individual visits a local health care or treatment centre for approximately 10-12 hours a week.

They don’t need to stay at a rehab centre overnight, and they can go about their other daily tasks. The sessions focus on making sure the individual is able to remain sober when they’re out in the world carrying out their daily activities.

This can be a good option for someone who doesn’t want to commit to inpatient rehab, or it can be something an individual does after they leave a stint in inpatient care. Some of the many benefits of outpatient rehab is that individuals can continue to live relatively normal lives whilst undergoing help.

They can continue to earn money and look after any family members whilst still gaining access to support and coping strategies. Therefore, outpatient rehab is more suitable for those with extensive social support or jobs [3].

Appointments are often made to fit in with your daily schedule. For example, if you have children then they can be made whilst they are in school or nursery.

There are many different types of outpatient models, and some involve more intensive day programmes which is similar to residential programmes [3] but are cheaper and less invasive.