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.

A halfway house is a transitional living facility where a person who is trying to recover from drug or alcohol addiction can stabilize and re-adjust to life and society as a drug free individual. A halfway house is a location where someone can feel safe and rebuild their life while maintaining sobriety while also participate in clean and sober, productive activities. Halfway houses are an ideal opportunity for recovering addicts to be in a setting where they can acquire further counseling and different types of therapy while also learning new trades or finding stable employment so that they can support a healthy and drug free lifestyle.

Enrolling into a residential long-term treatment program (more than 30 days) is an effective way ofresolving a serious substance abuse problem. This type of drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility is more comprehensive than others that only last a few weeks or those where the client is free to come and go as they please. Attending a residential long-term treatment program (more than 30 days) means that you as the client will reside at the rehabilitation facility around the clock while you are in recovery. While offering a more relaxed home-like environment the person has access to counselors and staff at all times. Long term drug or alcohol rehab centers are a perfect choice for those who have a long history of addiction 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 if there is any hope for them to become fully rehabilitated. Some people take drugs or alcohol to ease symptoms of mental health problems, and some people take drugs which then, in turn, causes symptoms which are identical to mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression. Drug rehabilitation professionals know how to distinguish between the two, and can work with clients to correctly treat real mental health problems 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 healthy.

It is not unusual for someone with HIV/AIDS to end up in a drug rehab facility in search of help for serious addiction issues. Sometimes people who abuse drugs and alcohol are predisposed to such diseases because of certain circumstances which afflict the drug culture such as sharing dirty needles to inject drugs or participating in risky sexual behavior because of lowered sexual inhibitions caused by drug use. Persons with HIV/AIDS deserve effective rehabilitation just like any otherwise healthy addicted individual. Drug and alcohol treatment programs that accept and cater to persons with HIV/AIDS offer specialized care to address any health issues that may come up in the course of treatment. This way, any physical barriers to rehabilitation are resolved so that they can conquer their addiction once and for all.

Drug treatment programs created solely for men are emerging across the nation. While rehab facilities that work with both men and women are still the standard for drug rehabilitation, many rehab centers are developing programs intended to help a particular target group. These centers are able to focus on what their client's particular needs are in a way that standard facilities cannot provide. While these specialized types of rehabilitation programs are not needed for all recovering addicts, many men are selecting men-only addiction treatment facilities. This rehabilitation option is best suited for those who feel more comfortable among others of the same sex when sharing private and often difficult memories 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 receiving the support needed to make the process that much more bearable and successful.

Criminal justice clients typically need drug rehabilitation because of their problems with drug or alcohol addiction. Due to the nature of the criminal justice system, there are distinct steps and guidelines that must be completed in order to be admitted into a criminal justice substance abuse rehab facility or recovery program. The first step is to establish the criminal justice clients eligibility. This step is accomplished by a panel of officials who decide how much and what type of drug or alcohol is necessary. Often, the criminal justice clients receive their drug rehabilitation while they are incarcerated. For the best possible results, they are encouraged, if not strictly directed, to continue their recovery once they leave jail and enroll in a sober living home or a long-term residential transitional living program.