How Long is Alcohol Rehab?

It can feel overwhelming and exhausting to figure out which addiction treatment center will best serve your individual needs or if alcohol rehab is right for you. You have to consider location, then whether you should commit to inpatient treatment or an outpatient treatment program. You need to figure out payment options for rehab. And this gets even trickier when you are trying to figure out how to address a struggle with substance abuse while also balancing work and family life.

That’s why it’s especially important to fully understand how long a rehab program will last. Whether it’s you or your loved one who is in need of treatment for your addiction to alcohol, we at Skypoint Recovery Ohio understand how important it is to get the help you need so you can return to the life you want.

While every person’s experience with alcohol abuse is unique, there are a few predictable elements to alcohol rehab that you and your family can plan for. For example, alcohol rehab usually includes a combination of detox and mental health services, and the lengths of time for addiction treatment are typically scheduled in 30-day increments.

Read on to learn more about how long alcohol rehab is – and what to expect from treatment for your struggle with drinking.

Alcohol Rehab Steps

No matter how long you’ve been battling alcohol abuse, all alcohol rehab programs will begin with a medically supervised detox. The reason this step is so crucial is that your brain chemistry is altered after extensive binge drinking, and choosing to stop drinking on your own can be uncomfortable and even fatal. However, with the help of addiction specialists like those found at alcohol rehab centers, you can break your negative cycle of drinking for good.

Withdrawal symptoms from alcohol addiction can begin as soon as six hours after a person’s last drink and will last for up to two weeks. But they can also vary based on how much you drink and how long you’ve been struggling with a drinking problem.

After you have successfully completed a medical detox, alcohol treatment programs traditionally include a combination of individual therapy and group therapy. Through individual mental health services like cognitive behavioral therapy, you do the work to better understand the cause of your substance abuse problem. Then group therapy gives you the space to better develop healthy interpersonal skills that you can use in your life outside of treatment.

These combined steps usually take as few as 30 days to complete or as many as 90.

How Long is Alcohol Rehab? Inpatient vs. Outpatient Treatment

The type of treatment you need to best help you achieve sobriety is based on your need for relapse prevention services and how severe your struggle with alcohol abuse is.

Inpatient programs are ideal for people who are earlier in their recovery journey and would benefit from round-the-clock support from the staff at addiction treatment facilities. This type of program also gives you the opportunity to focus solely on your commitment to sobriety without any potential triggers from your life outside of rehab. A residential treatment program is designed to help you invest in better stress management techniques and nutritional education that you can use when you return to your day-to-day life in place of substance abuse.

In contrast, outpatient programs are most beneficial for a person who has first completed inpatient treatment. That way, outpatient treatment functions as a continued support system as you transition back to your life outside of a treatment facility. But you also have the ability to start participating in work and family life, as you will no longer stay at a treatment center full-time.

While a person may spend up to 90 days in addiction treatment, this is usually divided up between both inpatient and outpatient treatment programs. For example, a person may begin their alcohol recovery in a 30-day inpatient facility. Then they will continue part-time substance abuse treatment through a partial hospitalization program or intensive outpatient program for the other 60 days.

Benefits of Each Treatment Program Timeline

Realistically, you won’t know how long your alcohol rehab will be until you are already doing the work in a rehab program. For this reason, many individuals will commit to a 30-day program initially, and then they will commit to further addiction treatment from there.

The main benefit of 30-day programs is that they give you the time you need to get through the painful physical withdrawal symptoms associated with alcohol abuse, and then you can begin work on relapse prevention.

Both 60-day and 90-day programs give you more time to commit to the internal work you need to complete in addiction recovery. Through continued mental health services, you are given a safe space to address any negative self-talk that has contributed to your cycle of substance abuse. And according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, this work and continued reliable support groups are how a person successfully accomplishes lifelong sobriety.
H2: Addiction Treatment Aftercare
After a person has struggled with any substance addiction, it requires a lifetime commitment to stay sober. For this reason, many individuals prefer to remain in a sober living community for up to a year after they begin their substance abuse treatment.

Through an option like sober living, you can begin to develop a peer-based support system made up of people who are on the same road to recovery as you. These individuals will understand your continued struggle with choosing other options besides drinking alcohol when triggered in a way that your friends and family never will. This is more important than you might think, especially during early recovery.

Other support groups outside of treatment facilities include options like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Through the proven 12-step program and regular meetings with AA, you will continue to be held accountable for making the right decision whenever you need it. You might also benefit from the job placement services that are offered by some addiction recovery facilities.

No matter what timeline of care works best for you in the end, committing to alcohol rehab means you never have to carry the burden of your substance abuse alone again.

Outpatient Treatment Can Work

Support and healing are possible while maintaining your daily life. Through structured outpatient programs, you can access therapy, group support, and medical care on a flexible schedule that lets you stay connected to work, family, and your community. Many people find that outpatient care provides the right balance of professional help and personal independence needed for lasting recovery.

Outpatient programs offer several key advantages. You can typically schedule treatment around your work or school commitments, allowing you to maintain financial stability and continue your education. This real-world integration means you can immediately practice new coping skills in your daily environment. Additionally, you remain close to your support network of family and friends, who play a crucial role in long-term recovery.

Modern outpatient care comes in various forms to match your needs. Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) provide structured treatment several days per week, while standard outpatient care might involve weekly therapy sessions and support groups. Many programs now offer virtual options, making treatment even more accessible. Your care team can adjust the intensity and frequency of treatment as your needs change.

Research shows that outpatient treatment can be just as effective as inpatient care for many people, particularly those with a stable home environment and strong support system. Success rates are especially high when treatment includes a combination of individual therapy, group support, and medication management when needed. The key is finding a program that matches your specific situation and following through with the recommended treatment plan.

Cost is another important consideration. Outpatient treatment typically costs significantly less than inpatient care, and many insurance plans provide better coverage for outpatient services. This makes it a more sustainable option for long-term treatment, allowing you to access care for as long as you need it without facing overwhelming financial burden.

The Skypoint Recovery Difference

As one of the largest cities in the state of Ohio, Akron is known for its diverse art scene and beautiful historic buildings. But when you choose the road to a sober life at Skypoint Recovery, you will get to enjoy the quiet and peaceful side of Akron culture.

At Skypoint Recovery, we will help you get away from the noise and chaos of your daily life so you can focus on your individual mental and physical needs. It starts with a phone call, and then we help you through every step of your addiction recovery process. We are even there for you after you transition back to your daily life outside of addiction treatment through services like our sober living community and job placement program. Through it all, our main goal of Skypoint Recovery substance abuse treatment is to help you take control of your life again!

Contact Skypoint Recovery today to learn how we can best help support you on your journey toward rehabilitation.