Substance abuse treatment takes place in a wide variety of distinct 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 attend 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 especially beneficial 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 various circumstances which can be different for each individual. Most substance abuse treatment will focus on getting the person physically rehabilitated, and then focus on the root psychological and emotional issues which will help them avoid relapse in the future.

Detoxification is generally the very first step in getting off drugs. It enables an individual to be in a supervised setting 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 many addicts make is to think that detox is sufficient to kick their habit. This is seldom the case. All detox does is get somebody through the withdrawal when they stop using. It is always recommended that detox be followed up with some type of treatment plan to uncover the root of why a person was using drugs in the first place.

Residential short-term treatment for drug or alcohol addiction is a variety oftreatment program where the individual will remain at the facility on an inpatient basis, and which usually requires a stay of 30 days or less. While in residential short-term treatment the client undergoes an intensive but short duration of treatment that typically incorporates a supervised detoxification, counseling, and other forms of therapy which are aimed at helping the person to recover and be able to function without drugs in everyday life once rehabilitation is complete. Residential short-term treatment is not always effective for all cases of addiction, and most will need an aftercare program or further treatment in a more long-term residential setting.

Individuals can become addicted to drugs or alcohol no matter their handicap, disability or personal physical challenge. This sometimes makes individuals particularly more susceptible to becoming involved in drug or alcohol use, because of the varying challenges that this can bring about in the person'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 necessary. Deaf or hearing impaired persons will need ASL or other assistance as part of their treatment needs, and there are drug rehabilitation facilities available which provide these services. Professional treatment counselors who know ASL and can provide other necessary assistance to deaf or hearing impaired substance abusers.

Many drug rehabilitation centers in the United States provide payment assistance to men and women suffering with drug or alcohol addiction and want to get help. The person in need of rehabilitation can choose a treatment program which ideally fits their situation, meaning the treatment curriculum and design of the program will offer them the best results. The addicted person can then seek advice from one of the treatment professionals at the drug rehab center to discuss what kind of payment assistance options are available or that they qualify for. The financial department in most drug rehabilitation centers are more than willing to work with potential clients to get them started by offering payment assistance, and if this is unavailable, treatment professionals will typically work with the individual to find an equivalent or comparable treatment facility which is more affordable or that can provide workable financing options so that they can acquire the help they so desperately need.