Rehabilitation is in many cases the saving grace for people with addictions. Although well publicized, not many people know or understand exactly what rehabilitation is all about. Drug or alcohol rehabilitation is a process of getting addicts back to health so they can reestablish themselves into society. There are two main types of rehab, inpatient where the person stays at a facility and out-patient where they go in for treatment at set times.
Does Rehab Work?
Like so many things in life, it depends on a few important factors. It depends on the person seeking help, the support system they have, and the type and length of the rehabilitation program.
If the person in rehab wants help and accepts the fact that they have a problem, the battle and path towards recovery have begun. They will be willing to do what is requested of them to get better, no matter how hard it may be.
As with most things, people do better if they have family support. Persons in rehab will generally work harder and commit to the program because of the support they receive. Without this, affected people may feel that they have no reason to seek help much less get well again.
It has been well documented that the longer the rehabilitation program the greater the level of success achieved. This is where the type of program also plays a significant role. Some programs can be as short as three days to a week, others last six months or more. Short programs, many of which run up to 21 days, tend to have a higher relapse rate.
One of the main reasons why rehabilitation works is the aftercare offered after the main treatment itself has ended. This is meant to help recovering addicts remain clean and healthy. It normally takes the form of a group meeting or counseling sessions where struggles and successes are shared. For persons with mental health issues aftercare is generally a one-on-one session with a counselor.