Substance abuse treatment takes place in a wide variety of distinct 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 receive treatment during the day but is allowed to return home daily. Other substance abuse treatment requires the person to stay in a hospital or residential facility during the entire course of treatment, which is especially helpful in handling more severe cases of addiction. Inpatient and residential substance abuse treatment can be done on a short term or long term basis, depending on various circumstances which can be different for each person. Most substance abuse treatment will focus on getting the individual physically rehabilitated, and then concentrate on underlying psychological and emotional issues which will help them avoid relapse in the future.

Detoxification is commonly the first step in getting off drugs. It permits an individual to be in a supervised setting while they go through withdrawal symptoms for drugs and/or alcohol. There are different types of detoxification. Theyvary from drug-free to medically supervised. A frequent mistake that quite a few addicts make is to assume that detox is enough to kick their habit. This is almost never the case. All detox does is get someone through the withdrawal when they stop using. It is often recommended that detox be followed up with some type of treatment plan to learn the root of why somebody was using drugs in the first place.

Drug or alcohol treatment programs which are offered on an outpatient basis are available to addicted individuals who have circumstances which prevent them from being able to take part in an inpatient treatment program. An outpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation center delivers many of the same services as an inpatient program, but allows for flexibility as opposed to an inpatient drug or alcohol rehab facility where the person is expected to remain at the rehab facility until the treatment process is complete. Outpatient drug or alcohol rehab is also available for individuals who have completed residential or inpatient treatment but require a thorough aftercare program which will offer further support and treatment to help them remain clean and sober.

DUI/DWI offenders are often required to enroll in a certain number of hours either in counseling, meetings or a drug or alcohol treatment program. Each state has its own requirements when it comes to retribution for the DUI/DWI offender. Offenders who are considered to be low to moderate DUI/DWI offenders will typically be required to participate in some form of group counseling or therapy. These are sometimes referred to as "Level I & Level II Alcohol Classes". These group meetings are typically held by a professional in the field of addiction recovery or a person with long-term sobriety involved in the Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous groups. DUI/DWI offenders considered to be serious offenders will likely have to serve jail time at a minimum before beginning their mandatory counseling or alcohol treatment program.

Self payment drug and alcohol rehab programs are a great alternative to other types of treatment centers i.e. private medical insurance and state funded programs. Individuals who are able to attend self payment programs pay for their entire treatment process out of pocket. Keep in mind though, this does not mean that they will not have access to financial assistance if needed. It just means that self payment is their primary method of covering the cost of their drug rehab program. In order to learn more about self payment at a specific program, contact a drug or alcohol treatment program and ask about their payment options. It is beneficial to contact several programs so that you have an understanding of your choices regarding rehab options and payment methods.

Paying for drug treatment can be a problem, as all resources have been exhausted due to the persons addiction. Many drug treatment programs understand this reality which is why many drug rehab programs across the nation provide payment options known as a sliding scale fee. There are various factors put into the equation of determining what the fee will be from person to person, and these factors are based on individual circumstances such as income, cash on hand, living circumstances, the size of one's family etc. Sliding scale fees have been in use for some time as most drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities would prefer to find a way to make it work financially so that those suffering with addiction can acquire the help they need.