Substance abuse treatment is offered in a wide range of different treatment settings with a variety of different treatment approaches. For example, some substance abuse treatment can be carried out on an outpatient basis, where the person will typically attend treatment during the day but is allowed to return home daily. Other substance abuse treatment requires the individual to stay in a hospital or residential facility during the entire course of treatment, which is particularly beneficial in resolving more severe cases of addiction. Inpatient and residential substance abuse treatment can be done on a short term or long term basis, depending on different circumstances which can be different for each person. Most substance abuse treatment will concentrate on getting the person physically rehabilitated, and then focus on the root psychological and emotional issues.

Drug treatment services which are provided on an outpatient basis are readily available to addicted people who have circumstances which prevent them from being able to participate in an inpatient treatment program. An outpatient substance abuse rehabilitation facility provides many of the same services as an inpatient program, but allows for flexibility as opposed to an inpatient drug treatment program where the individual is required to stay and reside at the rehab program until the treatment process is complete. Outpatient drug rehab is also available for those who have completed residential or inpatient treatment but also need a comprehensive aftercare and relapse prevention program which will provide further support and therapy to help them avoid relapse.

It is a disturbing fact that many adolescents in the United States become exposed to drugs and alcohol at a very young age, and some even become addicted and dependent to drugs and/or alcohol. For adolescents who do become addicted and dependent to alcohol and drugs, parents must take every step possible to help their child before it is too late. Any indication that drugs or alcohol are in the picture should be addressed right away, otherwise, addiction will lead down a path of total destruction for the adolescent as well as for the family. There are drug treatment programs for adolescents available in every state, many of which cater only to adolescents and have treatment professionals on staff that are trained specifically in handling this age range.

Persons with co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders must handle both issues in order to become fully rehabilitated. Some individuals take drugs or alcohol to relieve symptoms of mental health problems, and some people take drugs which then, in turn, causes symptoms which are identical to mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression. Drug rehabilitation professionals know how to differentiate between the two, and can work with clients to properly treat real mental health problems in tandem with any other substance abuse treatment that is done with the person. This has proven to be effective in keeping individuals with mental health disorders off of drugs and alcohol and mentally stable and productive.

It is not uncommon for someone with HIV/AIDS to end up in a substance abuse treatment facility receiving help for serious addiction issues. Sometimes people who abuse drugs and alcohol are predisposed to such diseases because of certain circumstances which afflict the drug culture such as sharing dirty syringes to inject drugs or participating in risky sexual behavior because of lowered sexual inhibitions caused by drug use. Persons with HIV/AIDS deserve effective rehabilitation just like any otherwise healthy addicted individual. Drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers that accept and cater to persons with HIV/AIDS provide specialized care to address any health issues that may come up in the course of treatment. This way, any physical barriers to rehabilitation are alleviated so that they can conquer their addiction once and for all.

When pregnant/postpartum women need drug rehabilitation there are a number of concerns unique to their situation that need to be addressed. This distinct group of addicted persons faces not only the personal shame of their addiction but also the reality of what their unhealthy choices may have caused their children. Recovery for pregnant/postpartum women often requires facilities that are both individualized and flexible in their recovery plan. While the length of stay may vary depending on the woman's particular needs it is recognized that the longer a person stays in treatment the better their chance of lasting sobriety. Many programs for pregnant/postpartum women can run long-term for six months or more.

Recovery from drug or alcohol addiction is a process that can be challenging and in manyways intimidating. This is why some women seeking help with addiction feel more comfortable in rehab facilities created specifically for women. Women who are addicted to drugs or alcohol typicallyhave personal issues that are very different than their male counter parts. In a drug rehab program where all the clients are women, the recovering addict will feel more at ease and will be able to work through her personal issues that led to her substance abuse and addiction problems. Statistics show that up to seventy percent of drug abusing women report having some type of sexual or physical abuse in their past. These delicate issues are easier to address in the company of other women without fear of judgment or ridicule.

Criminal justice clients typically need substance abuse treatment because of their problems with drug or alcohol addiction. Due to the nature of the criminal justice system, there are specific steps and guidelines that must be performed in order to be accepted into a criminal justice drug or alcohol treatment center or recovery program. The first step is to establish the criminal justice clients eligibility. This step is completed by a panel of officials who determine how much and what type of drug is necessary. Sometimes, the criminal justice clients receive their substance abuse rehabilitation while they are incarcerated. For optimum results, they are encouraged, if not strictly directed, to continue their recovery once they leave jail and enroll in a sober living home or a long-term residential transitional living program.

People can become addicted to drugs no matter their handicap, disability or personal physical challenge. This sometimes makes people particularly more vulnerable to becoming involved in substance abuse, because of the varying challenges that this can bring about in the individual's life. This is true for those people in the deaf and hearing impaired community as well, and treatment for substance abuse and addiction is sometimes needed. Deaf or hearing impaired individuals will require ASL or other assistance as part of their treatment needs, and there are drug rehabilitation centers available which provide these services. Professional treatment counselors who know ASL and can offer other necessary assistance to deaf or hearing impaired substance abusers.

There increasing numbers of Spanish speaking clients enrolling into drug rehabilitation programs every day needing help. Because Spanish is such a widespread language in this country, many substance abuse treatment programs are capable of providing treatment services to Spanish speaking clients. Additionally, many counselors and therapists make it a point to learn the language so as to be able to provide the treatment and therapy needed for Spanish speaking clients.

Many drug and alcohol treatment programs in the United States provide payment assistance to people suffering with drug or alcohol addiction and want to get help. The person in need of treatment can select a rehabilitation program which is a good fit, meaning the treatment curriculum and design of the program would offer them the best results. The addicted individual can then seek advice from one of the treatment professionals at the drug or alcohol rehab center to discuss what kind of payment assistance options are available or that they qualify for. The financial department in most drug rehab programs are more than willing to work with potential clients to get them started by offering payment assistance, and if this is unavailable, treatment professionals will usually work with the person to locate an equivalent or similar rehab facility which is more affordable or that can offer workable financing options so that they can receive the rehabilitation they so desperately need.