Substance abuse treatment takes place in a wide variety of distinct treatment settings with a variety of different treatment approaches. For example, some substance abuse treatment can be carried out 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 especially helpful 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 various circumstances which can be different for each person. Most substance abuse treatment will focus on getting the individual physically rehabilitated, and then concentrate on underlying psychological and emotional issues which will help them avoid relapse in the future.

Drug or alcohol treatment programs which are provided on an outpatient basis are readily available to addicted people who have circumstances which prevent them from being able to participate in an inpatient treatment facility. An outpatient drug and alcohol treatment program delivers many of the same services as an inpatient program, but allows for flexibility as opposed to an inpatient drug or alcohol treatment facility where the person is expected to stay and reside at the rehab program until treatment is complete. Outpatient drug rehab is also available for individuals who have already gone through residential or inpatient treatment but require a comprehensive aftercare and relapse prevention program which will provide additional support and therapy to help them avoid relapse.

DUI/DWI offenders are typically required to attend a certain number of hours either in counseling, meetings or a drug or alcohol rehabilitation program. Each state has its own requirements when it comes to sentencing for the DUI/DWI offender. Offenders who are considered to be low to moderate DUI/DWI offenders will typically engage in some form of group counseling or therapy. These meetings are usually held by a professional in the field of addiction recovery or a person with long-term sobriety involved in the Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous groups. DUI/DWI offenders deemed to be serious offenders will likely have to serve jail time at a minimum before beginning their assigned counseling or alcohol rehabilitation program.

Individuals who speak other languages, other than English that is, should receive substance abuse rehabilitation which is on par with English speakers. Speakers of other languages should not feel that their treatment curriculum or treatment setting is going to be any less effective because they don't speak English. There are many drug treatment programs available which provide services to those who speak foreign languages, all of which offer a selection of programs to choose from. For example, some substance abuse rehab facilities which cater to individuals who speak other languages are only short term rehab facilities, but there are more long term options available. Foreign language speakers can consult with an addiction professional in their area to choose a drug treatment program that provides rehabilitation services in their specific language.

Self payment drug and alcohol treatment programs are an outstanding alternative to other types of rehabilitation programs i.e. private medical insurance and state funded programs. People who are capable of attending self payment programs pay for their entire rehab 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 drug treatment program and inquire as to their payment options. It is a good idea to contact a number of facilities so that you have a comparison of your choices regarding rehab options and payment methods.