Request a Callback

How Long Do Rehab Programmes Last?

Here we have compiled information about how long drug and alcohol rehabilitation takes, including the detox and therapy process. Find out more about how long rehab programmes last below. Enquire Now
How Long Do Rehab Programmes Last?
Alexander Lapa
Updated on 19/02/2024
Medically reviewed by
Dr Alexander Lapa (Psychiatrist)

Rehab is a short-term sacrifice that positions those with behavioural and addictive behaviours on the right track towards long-term recovery.

One of the most asked questions asked to our admissions team at Addiction Advocates is ‘how long do rehab programmes last?’. For some, this will be a standard enquiry to secure and dedicate enough time to rehab treatment.

For others, the length of rehab programmes may be a concern due to the commitment that rehab programmes require, especially if long term treatments are needed to achieve recovery.

To prepare for rehab, you are encouraged to ask questions around the duration of treatment and the therapies and treatments provided themselves. This is helpful to form expectations about rehab and take away any concerns about the experience.

We’re here to answer and address your queries about the length of rehab, while also providing useful guidance surrounding rehab as a comprehensive experience.

Here are all things about time it takes to complete the rehab process and the benefits of residential rehab programmes as a step towards long-term recovery. Keep reading for insight into how long rehab programmes last.

Get Treatment Advice Now

Speak to an expert

To get in touch with an expert, call or message us using the contact details provided below. Alternatively, you can complete our online enquiry form, and we will get straight back to you.

How Long Does Rehab Take?

To answer the commonly asked question of ‘how long do rehab programmes last?’, it is important to note that rehab duration and addiction recovery timescales vary from person to person.

Typical rehab programmes take 28 days, meaning that rehab programmes themselves commonly span for a month. This is the typical timeframe for residential rehab to treat drug and alcohol addiction effectively.

Rehab is suitable for addictions of all degrees. Meaning that mild forms of rehab may be accessible, carrying a shorter duration.

The duration of rehab as a comprehensive process may therefore be longer for individuals with highly complex behavioural habits.

The most effective way to gauge the contents and length of your impending rehab programme will be to start the process.

Rehab Questions

By reaching out, completing a self-referral and fulfilling pre-admission assessments, you’ll soon have will be able to decide on a rehab time period and how long your rehab programme will last.

The most important factor here is that you commit to rehab and that you see your time as an investment. The short-term sacrifice of 28 days will direct the next days, weeks, months, and years for you, on a post-rehab basis.

How Long is Alcohol Detox in Rehab?

Detox refers to the period of time it takes for your body to process or metabolise the toxic substances (drugs or alcohol) already in your system. This is best done in a controlled and supervised environment as there can be severe withdrawal symptoms.

It can be tough both physically and mentally. For those with mild or moderate alcohol addictions, the detox process will often begin within eight hours after the last drink and can last between five and seven days. For more severe alcoholism, withdrawal symptoms may not subside for two weeks or more.

This means that detox typically takes 5+ days, but the rehab timeline varies depending on your personal addiction.

For those fighting drug addiction, the detox and withdrawal process can vary depending on the individual, the substance involved and the length and heaviness of usage.

Cocaine withdrawal, for example, can have comparatively mild physical symptoms but serious psychological ones. Opioids such as heroin, meanwhile, can result in extremely serious physical withdrawal symptoms.

As already stated, detox is only one part of the overall battle. Holistic rehab programmes may also include treatments such as talking and group therapies, counselling and workshops exploring addiction and general health issues.

How Long Does Rehab Take? The Factors

There are a number of factors which can dictate your personal rehab programme. While some individuals can progress through a 7 to 10-day detox programme, without the necessary support of further addiction treatments, for others, a programme can last up to 12 weeks through a mix of residential and outpatient rehab.

As a result of this, please keep an open mind when considering drug and alcohol rehab, and whilst placing your enquiry with our team.

Your readiness to recover and acceptance of addiction treatment
If your readiness to recover is lacking, it’s likely that your acceptance of addiction treatment will be limited. This can delay your initial stages of rehab, which can carry many disruptions. With this in mind, for a positive start, it’s important to be ready for rehab.

Your budget
Your budget can dictate the length of rehab. While our partnering rehab clinics work to a number of budgets, your financial investment will influence how long your rehab experience can last.

Your selected drug and alcohol rehab clinic
All rehab clinics will approach addiction recovery differently. Through our affiliated treatment centres, personal rehab programmes will be promoted. While this will carry a longer detoxification and rehabilitation journey, it will also increase recovery rates.

The severity of your drug and alcohol addiction
If your drug and alcohol addiction is severe, there is a likelihood that you will require greater streams of addiction treatment, resulting in a longer stay. Your acceptance of those addiction treatment options can, however, shorten this time frame.

The length and consistency of consumption
Once an addiction develops, once a build-up of drugs and alcohol is formed, it can be challenging to diminish that connection. While visiting a rehab clinic can motivate this, it can take some time to unravel physical and psychological associations, especially if a large build-up is present.

The substance that you’ve abused
Some substances can be harder to withdraw from. Others will carry greater mental health effects, requiring further streams of addiction treatment. With this in mind, if you’re asking, “how long does rehab take?”, you must consider the strength of the consumed drug.

Your physical and psychological health
Depending on your physical and psychological health, your ability to metabolise drugs and alcohol will vary. This can influence your withdrawal rate, and ability to cope without addictive substances.

The type of rehab programme you select
If you’re opting for outpatient rehab, it’s important to understand that this is a longer process to complete. Whereas if you select residential rehab, your rehab stay can expect to be shorter, down to the intensity of addiction treatment.

The type of addiction treatment you require
Some clients will luckily only require a detox programme. This can influence their rehab stay to fall below average. However, the average client will require a stream of addiction treatment options, formed on a personal basis, usually reaching the 28-day mark

The Process of Getting Treatment

While some may feel that the rehab process is long-winded, it is in fact an efficient process. It’s broken down into a few steps for easy access to help move clients from consumption to post-rehab life.

To access a rehab programme, you can start the process with our help here at Addiction Advocates. We help with guiding you through decisions surrounding your rehab programme, we assist with securing your stay, and we also work to activate a fast and reliable admission for you.

The process of getting treatment can be straightforward with professional help which makes the entire process of rehab an efficient one.

How Long Will Aftercare Last?

Aftercare will follow all 28 day rehab programmes to assist with post-rehab adjustments and provide you with many further benefits.

Aftercare is usually offered for 12 months post-rehab, free of charge to clients who complete a comprehensive rehab programme.

The offering of aftercare helps to prolong motivation, accountability, and structure during a vulnerable period in the first few months after rehab has ended, which for most should strengthen the ability to normalise a drug and alcohol-free life.

The timespan of aftercare, similarly, to rehab itself may differ depending on your selected rehab clinic. However, our rehabs are passionate about consistent support and provide aftercare for 1 year to advance long-term recovery rates.

Support Groups

Overcoming addiction through a rehab programme

The best way to overcome addiction will be through completing a 28 day rehab programme.

Offering safeguards to health, reliable recovery rates and efficient recovery timespans, rehab programmes are highly recommended for their consistent and intense.

The rehab process takes as long as is necessary to treat your addiction. 7 day rehab programmes are available for detox only, and rehab can take up to 6 months or more if necessary.

Contact our team at Addiction Advocates to find out how long rehab programmes last and get more information about our rehab referral.

Timings are important yet remembering that a short-term sacrifice can transform your life is even more valuable through rehab.

Seth Bolton

Seth is an author, addiction recovery expert and fully accredited member of the national counselling society. He has experience working with a wide range of addictions and mental illnesses using a number of evidence-based therapies and programmes such as the SMART models of addiction recovery.

What do our previous clients think?

Really enjoyed my time at Asana lodge. Staff are great and most have previous experience of the afflictions that affect all the clients, so they can relate to the situation you are in. I feel ready now to tackle the outside world with all the skills I have learnt.
Ben
Thank you to all the staff at asana lodge from management to the cleaners, everyone made me feel so welcome and really went above and beyond to help me in my recovery. highly recommend anyone seeking help with addiction depression and anxiety to go to asana lodge and heal your mind body and soul.
Thomas
Everyone at Cassiobury court have been very supportive with my recovery and I have learnt a lot over the past 14 days. I am taking away some good tools to help me with my addiction. I look forward to seeing the piers at the aftercare service.
Mr Hussain
I came to you desperate, feeling so depressed and anxious. I left feeling hopeful and grateful and excited about life. I can't believe the change in just 28 days.
S Molloy

Latest News

How Long Does Cannabis Remain in Your System? Thumbnail

How Long Does Cannabis Remain in Your System?

Cannabis, also known commonly as weed, is a drug derived from various strains of the cannabis plant. It can have

How Does CBT Help Addiction? Thumbnail

How Does CBT Help Addiction?

Addiction can be a challenging force, affecting various aspects of your life. And although it may seem overwhelming at times,

Internet Addiction Disorder: What You Should Know Thumbnail

Internet Addiction Disorder: What You Should Know

Many of us could probably do with reducing the amount of time we spend online. For some people, however, using

Does Drinking Non-Alcoholic Beer Break Sobriety? Thumbnail

Does Drinking Non-Alcoholic Beer Break Sobriety?

Often viewed as a nation of drinkers, changing attitudes in the UK towards alcohol and moderation have meant that the

How We Help

Finding the right treatment for your addiction can be difficult this is why we have created a service which takes the stress away which can be a massive relief when dealing with an addiction.
Self Referrals

Self Referrals

Suffering with an addiction and being alone can be a horrific scenario for many. Whether you have a drug or alcohol addiction, we're here to help.
Family Referrals

Family Referrals

Do you have concerns that a loved one may be affected by substance misuse? Have you spotted any signs and symptoms of a drug and alcohol…
Friend Referrals illustration

Friend Referrals

Are you worried that a friend’s alcohol or drug consumption has become out of control? For many individuals, substance abuse starts unintentionally…

What We Offer

#

Free Assessment

This is done to assess what sort of help is needed so we can recommend an addiction treatment service that can provide the best help possible. All calls are strictly confidential and are carried out by a trained healthcare professional.…

This is done to assess what sort of help is needed so we can recommend an addiction treatment service that can provide the best help possible.

All calls are strictly confidential and are carried out by a trained healthcare professional.

No obligation recommendations are made after a full assessment of yourself or loved ones situation is fully made.

Recommendations include specialist addiction treatment programmes in CQC regulated facilities based throughout the UK.

If you are unable to afford private treatment then public healthcare and charities would also be recommended to you.

Read More
#

How We Support You

We have a large number of helpful services available to help give you the best possible support when it comes to dealing with addiction. Just some of the services we can offer includes: Free confidential telephone assessment Recommending CQC regulated…

We have a large number of helpful services available to help give you the best possible support when it comes to dealing with addiction.

Just some of the services we can offer includes:

  • Free confidential telephone assessment
  • Recommending CQC regulated residential addiction treatment providers
  • Arranging for an intervention, if needed
  • Insights into how different therapies and evidence based treatments work
  • How detoxification works and what is the most safest option
  • What type of rehab and detox programmes would be best suited for yourself or loved one
  • Recommendations of the best providers in your area
Read More
#

Why Choose Us?

We can help take the stress out of finding an addiction treatment provider by recommending only the best options available that fully suits your criteria. The help and advice we can provide includes making sure that your journey towards recovery…

We can help take the stress out of finding an addiction treatment provider by recommending only the best options available that fully suits your criteria.

The help and advice we can provide includes making sure that your journey towards recovery is one that can definitely be achieved.

Taking the step towards recovery can be incredibly tough but we are here to put your concerns at ease by giving you insights into the safety of undertaking residential addiction treatment and how it can put you on the path towards long lasting recovery from addiction.

Our team of advisors have extensive experience and knowledge about the subject of addiction and the treatment provided so if you have any questions then they will be more than happy to help.

Get started today by calling our friendly team today on 0800 012 6088.

Read More