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5 Common Drug Rehab Questions

Addiction affects your entire life. It can damage relationships, put a dent in your finances, cause legal problems, and lead to physical and mental health issues. It can strip away your sense of purpose and meaning in life and lead to low self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-awareness. Getting help for a drug addiction is central to successful long-term recovery, but you probably have a few drug rehab questions you want answered before you commit. Here, then, are the answers to the top five most frequently asked questions about drug addiction and rehab.

4 Minute Read | Published Aug 10 2023 | Updated Mar 10 2024 Expert Verified
Emma Collins
Written by
Ashley Bayliss
Reviewed by
Emma Collins
Written by
Ashley Bayliss
Reviewed by

If you’re considering rehab for a drug addiction, you probably have some drug rehab questions.

1. Do I really need drug rehab?

One of the most frequently asked questions about drug addiction is, Do I really need drug rehab? After all, going to rehab can be expensive and inconvenient, and you may wonder if drug rehab can really end your addiction. Maybe all you need is more willpower and to try harder.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse stresses that once an addiction has developed, professional help is almost always needed for long-term recovery. If you’ve tried quitting on your own, you probably know that good intentions and willpower aren’t enough to end your drug use. That’s because addiction is very complex. It involves changes in the physical structures and chemical functions of your brain, and it almost always has underlying issues that must be addressed for successful recovery.

If you’re addicted and you can’t seem to quit on your own for any meaningful length of time, you need drug rehab, which will not only help you end the addiction but will also help to improve your life on many fronts.

2. Which is better: inpatient or outpatient drug rehab facilities?

Common drug rehab questions focus on what type of drug rehab is best. While inpatient treatment generally offers the best outcomes of treatment, outpatient drug rehab facilities can help some people end their addiction for the long-haul. Choosing the right program is crucial for success.

People who have a long history of addiction, an unsafe or unstable place to live, or a low level of motivation to recover will do best in an inpatient program, which enables you to focus solely on recovery in a safe, stable, and supportive environment.

Outpatient treatment can work for those who have a high level of motivation to recover, have a safe, stable home life, and have a high level of support at home and in the community. Outpatient treatment allows you to continue working, attending school, or caring for the family while you’re in rehab.

An addiction counselor or other mental health professional can help you determine the best treatment setting for you.

3. How does drug rehab work?

Many people with drug rehab questions wonder how drug rehab works. Treatment through a high quality program involves both traditional “talk” therapies and complementary therapies like art therapy or nature therapy that together provide a holistic approach to treatment that addresses mind, body, and spirit for whole-person healing. Through therapy, people in treatment:

  • Address complex underlying issues.
  • Develop essential coping skills and relapse prevention strategies.
  • Learn to think and behave in healthy, productive ways.
  • Repair relationships.
  • Improve family functioning.
  • Find purpose and meaning in life.
  • Make healthy lifestyle changes.
  • Learn to relax and have fun without drugs.

Rehab helps you repair the damage the addiction has done to your life, and it helps you move forward in life and enjoy greater happiness, better relationships, and higher productivity.

4. How long does rehab last?

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, drug rehab should last at least 90 days. Anything less, NIDA stresses, is of limited effectiveness.

Just as it takes time to develop an addiction and the faulty thought and behavior patterns that it creates, it takes time to change unhealthy patterns of thinking and behaving and develop healthy habits that support a life of recovery. During your time in rehab, you’ll learn a great deal about yourself, and you’ll reinvent yourself. You’ll set and achieve goals and develop healthy habits that will help you stay in recovery for good.

5. Will rehab work for me?

Perhaps one of the most telling drug rehab questions is, “will drug rehab work for me?” Often, people believe that their addiction is too severe to recover from, or they worry that treatment won’t work because they really don’t feel very motivated to end their drug abuse. They worry that they’re too old to change their ways, or that they won’t be able to withstand cravings.

The truth is, research shows that most people–even the severely addicted – who engage with their treatment plan enjoy successful long – term recovery. If you enter rehab ready to work hard in therapy and fully participate in the program, the chances of success are very high.

Choosing high-quality drug rehab facilities and involving yourself in your treatment plan will help ensure that treatment works for you. Rehab works to restore your life and improve your quality of life in many areas, and it leads to greater health, happiness, and wellbeing well into the future.

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, get help right away. Make a phone call that will connect you to a professional drug treatment center. The call you make may save your life or the life of someone you love. Call us today at (800) 429-7690.

Resources

bullet Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2019).
"Substance Use Treatment FAQs."
Retrieved on May 18, 2018
bullet National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020).
"DrugFacts: Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction."
Retrieved on May 18, 2018
bullet American Addiction Centers. (2021).
"Frequently Asked Questions About Drug Rehab."
Retrieved on May 18, 2018
bullet National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020).
"Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition)."
Retrieved on May 18, 2018
bullet Mayo Clinic. (2021).
"Drug Addiction: Frequently Asked Questions."
Retrieved on May 18, 2018
bullet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020).
"Treatment and Rehabilitation."
Retrieved on May 18, 2018
bullet National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020).
"How Long Does Drug Addiction Treatment Usually Last?"
Retrieved on May 18, 2018
bullet Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2021).
"Finding Quality Treatment for Substance Use Disorders."
Retrieved on May 18, 2018
bullet American Society of Addiction Medicine. (2015).
"Public Policy Statement: Definition of Addiction."
Retrieved on May 18, 2018
bullet National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020).
"Drug Treatment in the Criminal Justice System."
Retrieved on May 18, 2018
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