Substance abuse treatment is offered in a wide variety of different treatment settings with a variety of different treatment methods. For example, some substance abuse treatment can be carried out on an outpatient basis, where the individual will typically attend 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 particularly 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 individual. Most substance abuse treatment will concentrate on getting the person physically rehabilitated, and then focus on the root psychological and emotional issues which will help them avoid relapse in the future.

Drug or alcohol rehab services which are provided on an outpatient basis are readily available to addicted individuals who have circumstances which prevent them from being able to participate in an inpatient rehabilitation center. An outpatient drug and alcohol treatment center delivers many of the same services as an inpatient program, but allows for flexibility as opposed to an inpatient drug rehab program where the individual is required to remain at the rehabilitation facility until the treatment process is complete. Outpatient drug rehab is also offered for individuals who have already gone through residential or inpatient treatment but also need a thorough aftercare and relapse prevention program which will offer further support and treatment to help them remain clean and sober.

DUI/DWI offenders are often required to attend a specific number of hours either in counseling, meetings or a drug or alcohol rehabilitation program. Each state has its own requirements when it comes to sentencing for the DUI/DWI offender. Offenders who are considered to be low to moderate DUI/DWI offenders will typically engage in some form of group counseling or therapy. These are sometimes referred to as "Level I & Level II Alcohol Classes". These group meetings are often 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 deemed to be serious offenders will likely have to serve jail time at a minimum before beginning their assigned counseling or substance abuse rehab program.

Criminal justice clients often need substance abuse treatment because of their problems with drug and alcohol abuse. 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 substance abuse rehabilitation center or recovery program. The first step is to figure out the criminal justice clients eligibility. This step is completed by a panel of officials who decide how much and what type of drug or alcohol is necessary. Sometimes, the criminal justice clients obtain their substance abuse treatment 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 sober living or a therapeutic community.

Self payment drug and alcohol rehab programs are an outstanding alternative to other types of rehabilitation programs 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 or alcohol rehab program. In order to learn more about self payment programs, contact a drug treatment program and ask about their payment options. It is beneficial to contact a number of facilities so that you have an understanding of your choices with regards to treatment options and payment methods.