How Long Will I Be In Recovery For Substance Abuse?

Recovering from a substance abuse problem is a process. You didn’t get into this situation overnight and you can’t expect it to resolve overnight either. That being said, it’s also important to know what you’re getting yourself into before you sign up for a recovery program.

That’s why we’ve put together this article. It tells you how long you should expect each phase of your recovery process to take and why. Keep reading to learn more.

How long does detox take?

Detox is the first phase of most peoples’ recovery processes. It’s when your body gets rid of what’s left of the substance that you’ve been abusing in your systems. Patients need to go through detox so that they are physically and mentally prepared to receive treatment during rehab.

The exact amount of time that you end up needing to spend in detox can vary. Factors that influence this include the substance you’ve been taking, your dosage, and other personal health factors.

That being said, most detox programs are between 3 and 7 days long. But that doesn’t mean your body’s adjustment to life without the substance will be complete after 7 days.

Instead, you could continue having withdrawal symptoms for up to 6 months if you were addicted to opioids or heroin. Withdrawal symptoms for most other substances can last for up to a few weeks after your last dose.

How long will I be in rehab?

After their detox is complete, many patients choose to enter into a rehab program. These can take place in either an inpatient or an outpatient setting. Once again, the length of your rehab program can vary based on a few factors.

Actually, you generally get to choose how long you’re going to spend in whatever rehab facility you select. Most companies offer the option to choose between programs with lengths varying from as low as 30 days to as long as one year.

Longer rehab programs tend to change as time passes. They may start as intensive, fully-scheduled care plans but transition into something more relaxed as you progress with your healing.

One thing to keep in mind here is that doctors typically recommend longer rehab programs to patients with more severe levels of addiction. So if you believe that your addiction problems are more severe than average, then spending more time in rehab could be an important part of reaching your goals.

How much time will I have to commit to aftercare such as sober living?

Once you complete rehab, your next step will be getting started with whatever type of aftercare your doctors have recommended to you. This may include things like spending some time living in a halfway home, or sober living continuing to work with a therapist,  going to weekly group meetings, or a personalized combination of those things.

Generally, the maximum amount of time that you could spend living in a halfway home is one year. At that point, people are ready to transition back into the real world and give living a normal lifestyle another try. But your stay in one of these facilities could only be a few months if you adjust well.

That being said, aftercare is an ongoing process. It doesn’t really ever end. That might sound daunting, but it’s not so bad when you understand what aftercare really is.

In the most basic sense, aftercare can be anything that you do to keep yourself sober after completing rehab. That might mean working with a therapist every week. But it could also be as simple as giving yourself time to enjoy a healthy hobby and reflect, or spending time with friends who support you.

So although aftercare is an ongoing process, it stops being formal at a certain point. When that happens is different for everyone. It will depend on how you progress as time goes on.

Get the comprehensive treatment you need to heal from The House of the Rising Son

A successful substance abuse recovery program requires a significant commitment of your time and energy. That’s why it’s so important to make sure that you pick the right place to receive that treatment. Do so, and you can be sure that every minute you spend working on your recovery matters.

If you’re looking for treatment in the Southern California area, check out The House of the Rising Son. We treat a wide variety of substance abuse disorders with personalized treatment plans adjusted to meet your unique needs.