Substance abuse treatment takes place 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 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 serious 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 individual. Most substance abuse treatment will focus on getting the person physically rehabilitated, and then concentrate on the root psychological and emotional issues.

Detoxification is commonly the very first step in getting off drugs. It enables a particular person to be in a supervised setting while they go through withdrawal symptoms for drugs and/or alcohol. There are diverse types of detoxification. Theyvary from drug-free to medically supervised. A widespread mistake that quite a few addicts make is to believe that detox is enough to kick their habit. This is seldom the case. All detox does is get someone through the withdrawal when they stop using. It is usually recommended that detox be followed up with some type of treatment plan to uncover the root of why an individual was using drugs in the first place.

Residential short-term treatment for substance abuse is a type oftreatment program where the person will remain at the facility on an inpatient basis, and which usually requires a stay of 30 days or less. While attending residential short-term treatment the recovering addict undergoes an intensive but brief course of treatment that usually includes a supervised detoxification, counseling, and other forms of therapy which are aimed at helping the person become rehabilitated and able to function without drugs in daily life once treatment is complete. Residential short-term treatment is not always effective for all cases of addiction, and most will need an aftercare program or additional treatment in a more long-term residential setting.

Attending a residential long-term treatment program (more than 30 days) is an effective way ofapproaching a serious substance abuse problem. This type of drug and alcohol rehab program is more intensive than others that only last a few weeks or those where the person in recovery is free to come and go as they please. Attending a residential long-term rehabilitation program (more than 30 days) means that you as the client will reside at the rehab facility around the clock while you are in recovery. While offering a more relaxed home-like setting the individual has access to counselors and staff at all times. Long term drug or alcohol rehabilitation programs are a perfect choice for those who have a long history of substance abuse or who have had other unsuccessful attempts at drug or alcohol treatment in the past.

Persons with co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders must handle both issues in order to become fully rehabilitated. Some individuals take drugs to ease symptoms of mental health complications, and some individuals take drugs which then, in turn, causes symptoms which are identical to mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety. Drug rehabilitation professionals know how to distinguish between the two, and can work with clients to properly treat real mental health conditions in tandem with any other substance abuse treatment that is done with the individual. This has proven to be effective in keeping people with mental health disorders off of drugs and alcohol and mentally stable and productive.

Rehabilitation from drug or alcohol addiction is a process that can be difficult and in a lot ofways intimidating. This is why some women seeking help with addiction feel more comfortable in treatment facilities created specifically for women. Women who are addicted to drugs or alcohol oftenhave personal issues that are very different than that of males. In a drug or alcohol rehabilitation center where all the clients are women, the recovering addict will feel more relaxed and will be able to work through her personal issues that led to her drug 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 work through in the company of other women without fear of judgment or ridicule.

Drug rehabilitation facilities designed solely for men are emerging across the country. Although rehab programs that work with both men and women continue to be the standard for drug rehabilitation, many rehab facilities are providing programs designed to help a specific target group. These centers are able to focus on what their client's personal needs are in a way that standard facilities cannot provide. While these specialized types of rehabilitation programs are not necessary for all recovering addicts, many men are choosing men-only addiction treatment facilities. This recovery option is ideally suited for those who feel more comfortable with those of the same sex when sharing private and often difficult issues from the past. Recovering from addiction is a difficult process for every addict and finding comfort among one's peer group is a great way of getting the support needed to make the process that much more bearable and successful.