Hardly one week goes by that people not hear of any new famous singer, politician, or actor checking into centers to treat alcohol or drug problems? And when these individuals go to rehab centers, it is usually with exclusive facilities with ocean views, a full spa, and marble baths.

It is enough to provide addiction treatments a bad name. A thirty-day stay in rehab centers used to be a common treatment for addicts. But today, it is rarely covered by any insurance, which is why it is very expensive for regular Americans.

Does this mean that effective and efficient treatment is only for famous and rich individuals? The good news is, the answer is a resounding no. According to experts, outpatient rehabilitation therapy has proven to be pretty effective and efficient for a lot of addicts, according to experts. Either way, not even the most expensive program can guarantee a 100% success rate. Success also needs a lifelong effort by patients to stay sober and clean.

How do these things work?

Whether individuals are regular Americans or famous public figures, addiction therapy usually involves the same series of steps.

Detoxification

About 50% of patients who come to these facilities need to check in as inpatients for at least three days of acute stabilization. Some individuals need to cope with drug or alcohol withdrawal symptoms like paranoia, depression, and tremors. Others need to deal with the crisis that brought them into this kind of situation like domestic or legal problems. Detoxification is the only inpatient element when it comes to outpatient drug or alcohol programs.

Diagnosis

A lot of alcohol and drug addiction patients also suffer from various psychiatric issues like sleep disorders, depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. There is a good chance that these individuals have faced traumatic life experiences like incest or rape. While the exact connection between these issues and drug or alcohol abuse may be pretty clear, a lot of programs link up patients with therapy groups or psychiatrists.

Check out this site for more details about bipolar disorder.

Cognitive therapy

According to medical professionals, this type of therapy helps patients realize which situations are most likely to set off substance abuse. Then patients develop alternative plans. For instance, if an individual usually drinks after fighting with their significant other, they might learn to end these fights by counting from one to ten or going to AA (Alcoholic Anonymous) gatherings instead of going to bars or pubs. These people also learn various assertive skills that can help them learn how to avoid or say no to illegal substances or alcohol.

Family treatment A lot of programs bring individuals, especially family members, into programs to heal damaged family relationships and shore up the patient’s support network. Help from family members is one of the most important aspects to help patients stay sober for the long run.

Medication

A Food and Drug Administration-approved medication such as Campral helps people with substance dependence who have quit, stay drug- or alcohol-free. Another approved medication, Suboxone, treats various addictions such as opiates (including prescription painkillers or heroin); it minimizes cravings and withdrawal symptoms. This medication has the same effect as methadone but is less susceptible to abuse.

Introduction to twelve-step programs

Some facilities in the country recommend the “Ninety meetings in Ninety Days” for all types of patients. A lot of these centers encourage individuals to attend AA or other types of group therapy for one year or more after their treatment.

Who benefits from inpatient care?

A thirty-day stay in these institutions used to be the benchmark treatment for substance-abuse victims. But with the increase of managed care in the 80s, insurance firms balked at the cost of these programs. A lot of facilities shut down, and for many years, it was pretty hard to get an insurance firm to cover inpatient therapy programs.

Now, some plans will cover these things at relatively cheap or inexpensive centers. According to experts, these plans are most needed by substance abuse victims coming from a very chaotic environment or people who suffer from severe psychiatric illnesses.

For instance, if individuals are substance-abuse victims, this kind of program will get them out of these situations so some intensive work can be properly done. By contrast, outpatient therapy may be fine for people who are married or have a good and steady job. Single moms with no permanent address, who are living in a drug-infested community can qualify for inpatient treatments, just like hard-partying celebrities who are constantly traveling between concert stages or movie sets. The difference is that celebrities or rich individuals can spend thousands of dollars per day on these therapies, while a homeless person is at the mercy of the country’s public health system.