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.

Drug or alcohol rehabilitation services which are provided on an outpatient basis are available to addicted individuals who have circumstances which prevent them from being able to take part in an inpatient treatment facility. An outpatient drug rehab facility provides many of the same services as an inpatient program, but allows for flexibility as opposed to an inpatient drug or alcohol rehab facility where the person is expected to stay and reside at the rehab program until the treatment process has been fully completed. Outpatient drug rehab is also offered 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 treatment to help them remain clean and sober.

Residential short-term treatment for drug or alcohol addiction is a type oftreatment program where the individual will stay at the facility on an inpatient basis, and which usually demands 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 includes a supervised detoxification, counseling, and other forms of therapy which are aimed at helping the individual to recover and be able to function without drugs in everyday life once rehab 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.

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 individuals take drugs to alleviate symptoms of mental health complications, and some individuals take drugs which then, in turn, causes symptoms which are identical to mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety. Drug treatment professionals know how to differentiate between the two, and can work with clients to properly 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 mentally stable and happy.