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 done on an outpatient basis, where the person will typically receive 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 beneficial 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 unique circumstances which can be different for each person. Most substance abuse treatment will focus on getting the person physically rehabilitated, and then concentrate on the root psychological and emotional issues.

Detoxification is usually the very first step in getting off drugs. It allows an individual to be in a supervised environment while they go through withdrawal symptoms for drugs and/or alcohol. There are various types of detoxification. Theyvary from drug-free to medically supervised. A prevalent mistake that a lot of addicts make is to feel that detox is enough to kick their habit. This is seldom the case. All detox does is get an individual through the withdrawal when they stop using. It is at all times recommended that detox be followed up with some type of treatment plan to find out the root of why someone was using drugs in the first place.

Methadone detoxification is a process which must be overseen by substance abuse professionals within a drug rehabilitation facility who realize how challenging and difficult methadone detox can be. Methadone detox is regarded to be far more severe in terms of symptoms and duration than even heroin detox, and individuals typically revert back to methadone to alleviate withdrawal symptoms or, worse yet, turn to heroin or prescription opioids to alleviate symptoms. This is why methadone detoxification should only be done under close supervision at a drug treatment center which has experience in handling this type of detox, and where the individual can receive additional treatment services to deal with all addiction issues.

Drug or alcohol treatment programs which are offered on an outpatient basis are available to addicted individuals who have circumstances which prevent them from being able to take part in an inpatient rehabilitation center. An outpatient drug and alcohol treatment facility delivers many of the same services as an inpatient program, but allows for flexibility as opposed to an inpatient drug rehab facility where the individual is required to stay and reside at the rehab center until treatment has been fully completed. Outpatient drug rehabilitation is also available for those who have already gone through residential or inpatient treatment but require a comprehensive aftercare program which will provide further support and therapy to help them avoid relapse.

When pregnant/postpartum women need substance abuse treatment there are several issues unique to their situation that should be addressed. This distinct group of addicted persons faces not only the personal shame of their addiction but also the reality of what their unhealthy choices may have caused their children. Substance abuse rehabilitation for pregnant/postpartum women typically requires facilities that are both individualized and flexible in their treatment plan. While the length of stay may vary depending on the woman's specific needs it is recognized that the longer a person stays in treatment the better their chance of lasting sobriety. Many programs for pregnant/postpartum women can run long-term for six months or more.

People can become addicted to drugs or alcohol no matter their handicap, disability or personal physical challenge. This sometimes makes people particularly more vulnerable to becoming involved in drug or alcohol use, because of the difficult challenges that this can bring about in the individual's life. This is true for individuals in the deaf and hearing impaired community as well, and treatment for substance abuse and addiction is sometimes needed. Deaf or hearing impaired individuals will require ASL or other assistance as part of their treatment needs, and there are drug treatment facilities available which cater to these needs. Professional treatment counselors who know ASL and can provide other necessary assistance to deaf or hearing impaired substance abusers.

There are more and more Spanish speaking clients walking into substance abuse treatment programs every day needing help. Because Spanish is such a widespread language in this country, many substance abuse rehab facilities are prepared to deliver treatment services to Spanish speaking people. Additionally, many counselors and therapists make it a point to learn the language so as to be able to provide the treatment and therapy needed for Spanish speaking clients.

Self payment substance abuse rehab centers are an outstanding alternative to other types of rehabilitation centers i.e. private medical insurance and state funded facilities. People who are capable of attending 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 treatment program. In order to learn more about self payment programs, make contact with a substance abuse rehab facility and inquire as to their payment options. It is a good idea to contact several programs so that you have an understanding of your choices regarding treatment options and payment options.

Medicaid is a type of health insurance which is accessible to people in certain low-income tax brackets. Eligibility for Medicaid depends greatly on income and other circumstances including whether or not the individual has dependents and if they receive any other financial assistance. Medicaid may possibly even cover the costs associated with drug or alcohol treatment, and there are a lot of drug rehab facilities throughout the country which are covered through Medicaid. Most drug and alcohol treatment facilities which are covered through Medicaid may only deliver a limited treatment curriculum and may only supply such treatment on a short term basis, usually 30 days or less. Individuals who have Medicaid should look for which programs cover the greatest amount of treatment for the most amount of time to reap the full benefits of a Medicaid rehab program.

Paying for drug or alcohol rehab can be a problem, because typically all resources have been exhausted because of the persons addiction. Many drug rehab facilities recognize this reality which is why many drug and alcohol treatment programs around the country provide payment options known as a sliding scale fee. There are many variables put into the equation of determining what the fee will be from person to person, and these factors are based on individual circumstances such as income, cash on hand, living circumstances, the size of one's family etc. Sliding scale fees have been in use for some time as most drug treatment programs would rather find a way to make it work financially so that those that need addiction help can receive the help they need.