Substance abuse treatment takes place in a wide range of distinct treatment settings with a variety of different treatment approaches. For example, some substance abuse treatment can be performed on an outpatient basis, where the person 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 helpful in resolving more severe 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 person physically rehabilitated, and then focus on underlying psychological and emotional issues.

Detoxification is normally the initial step in getting off drugs. It permits 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 frequent mistake that quite a few addicts make is to feel that detox is sufficient to kick their habit. This is almost never the case. All detox does is get a person through the withdrawal when they stop using. It is usually recommended that detox be followed up with some type of treatment plan to learn the root of why somebody was using drugs in the first place.

Methadone detoxification is a process which must be supervised by addiction professionals within a drug rehab facility who recognize how challenging and difficult methadone detoxification can be. Methadone detox is regarded to be far more serious in terms of symptoms and duration than even heroin detox, and users often revert back to methadone to alleviate withdrawal symptoms or, worse yet, turn to heroin or prescription opioids to ease symptoms. This is why methadone detoxification must only be done under close supervision at a drug treatment center which has experience in dealing with this type of detoxification, and where the person can receive further treatment services to handle all addiction issues.

Drug or alcohol treatment programs which are provided on an outpatient basis are available to addicted people who have circumstances which prevent them from being able to participate in an inpatient treatment facility. An outpatient drug treatment program offers many of the same services as an inpatient program, but allows for flexibility as opposed to an inpatient drug rehabilitation program where the person is expected to stay and reside at the rehab program until the treatment process has been fully completed. Outpatient drug or alcohol treatment is also available for those who have already gone through residential or inpatient treatment but also need a thorough aftercare and relapse prevention program which will offer additional support and treatment to help them avoid relapse.

Recovery from drug or alcohol addiction is a process that can be difficult and in manyways intimidating. This is why some women seeking help with addiction feel more comfortable in rehab programs designed specifically for women. Women who are addicted to drugs or alcohol oftenhave personal issues that are much different than their male counter parts. In a drug treatment center where all the clients are women, the recovering addict will feel more relaxed and will be able to share her personal conflicts that led to her substance abuse and addiction problems. Statistics show that up to seventy percent of drug abusing women report having some type of sexual or physical abuse in their past. These sensitive issues are easier to address in the company of other women without fear of judgment or retaliation.

Drug rehab facilities designed solely for men are rising up across the country. Although programs that work with both men and women are still the standard for drug and alcohol rehabilitation, many rehab centers are developing programs designed to help a specific target group. These facilities are able to focus on what their client's personal needs are in a way that standard programs are not. While these specialized types of rehabilitation programs may not be necessary for all recovering addicts, many men are deciding on men-only drug rehab programs. This rehabilitation option is excellent for those who feel more comfortable with those of the same sex when discussing private and often difficult issues from the past. Recovering from addiction is a challenging process for every addict and finding comfort among one's peer group is a very good way of receiving the support needed to make the process that much more endurable.

Self payment drug and alcohol rehab centers are a great alternative to other types of rehabilitation programs i.e. private medical insurance and state funded programs. People who are able to attend self payment programs pay for their entire rehabilitation 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 treatment program. In order to learn more about self payment at a specific program, make contact with a drug rehabilitation center and inquire as to their payment options. It is a good idea to contact several programs so that you have a comparison of your choices regarding rehab options and payment options.