Substance abuse treatment takes place in a wide variety of different treatment settings with a variety of different treatment methods. For example, some substance abuse treatment can be done 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 individual to stay in a hospital or residential facility during the entire course of treatment, which is particularly beneficial in resolving more serious 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 concentrate on getting the individual physically rehabilitated, and then focus on the root psychological and emotional issues.

Detoxification is usually the 1st step in getting off drugs. It enables a person to be in a supervised environment 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 common mistake that many addicts make is to think that detox is sufficient to kick their habit. This is rarely the case. All detox does is get an individual through the withdrawal when they stop using. It is often recommended that detox be followed up with some type of treatment plan to uncover the root of why an individual was using drugs in the first place.

Residential short-term treatment for substance abuse is a variety oftreatment program where the individual will remain at the facility on an inpatient basis, and which typically requires a stay of 30 days or less. While attending residential short-term treatment the individual undergoes an intensive but short duration of treatment that typically includes a supervised detoxification, counseling, and other forms of therapy which are aimed at helping the individual to recover and be able to function without drugs in daily life once rehab is complete. Residential short-term treatment is not always effective for all scenarios of addiction, and most will need an aftercare program or additional treatment in a more long-term residential setting.