Substance abuse treatment is offered in a wide range of different treatment settings with a variety of different treatment methods. For example, some substance abuse treatment can be performed on an outpatient basis, where the individual will typically participate in treatment during the day but is allowed to return home daily. Other substance abuse treatment requires the person to reside in a hospital or residential facility during the entire course of treatment, which is particularly helpful in resolving more serious cases of addiction. Inpatient and residential substance abuse treatment can be done on a short term or long term basis, depending on different circumstances which can be different for each individual. Most substance abuse treatment will focus on getting the person physically rehabilitated, and then concentrate on the root psychological and emotional issues which will help them avoid relapse in the future.

Detoxification is generally the first step in getting off drugs. It allows a person to be in a supervised setting 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 frequent mistake that quite a few addicts make is to believe that detox is sufficient 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 usually recommended that detox be followed up with some type of treatment plan to discover the root of why an individual was using drugs in the first place.

Methadone detoxification is a course of action which must be supervised by substance abuse professionals within a drug rehabilitation center who realize how challenging and difficult methadone detoxification can be. Methadone detoxification is regarded to be far more severe in terms of symptoms and duration than even heroin detox, and users often revert back to methadone to relieve withdrawal symptoms or, worse yet, turn to heroin or prescription opioids to ease symptoms. This is why methadone detox must only be done under close supervision at a drug rehabilitation center which has practical experience in handling this type of detoxification, and where the person can receive additional recovery services to deal with all addiction issues.

Drug or alcohol treatment programs which are offered on an outpatient basis are available to addicted people who have circumstances which prevent them from being able to participate in an inpatient rehab facility. An outpatient substance abuse treatment facility 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 individual is required to remain at the treatment center until treatment is complete. Outpatient drug or alcohol rehab is also available for individuals who have already gone through residential or inpatient treatment but require a thorough aftercare and relapse prevention program which will provide further support and therapy to help them avoid relapse.

When pregnant/postpartum women need drug rehabilitation there are a number of factors unique to their situation that must be addressed. This specific 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. Recovery for pregnant/postpartum women often requires facilities that are both individualized and flexible in their recovery plan. While the program duration may vary depending on the woman's particular needs it is understood that the longer a person stays in treatment the better their chance of a successful recovery. Many rehab facilities for pregnant/postpartum women run six to nine months on average.

Self payment drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities are a great alternative to other types of rehab centers i.e. private medical insurance and state funded facilities. People who are capable of attending 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 or alcohol rehab program. To learn more about self payment programs, contact a drug or alcohol rehabilitation center and inquire as to their payment options. It is beneficial to contact several programs so that you have a comparison of your choices with regards to treatment options and payment options.