Substance abuse treatment takes place in a wide variety of different treatment settings with a variety of different treatment approaches. For example, some substance abuse treatment can be done on an outpatient basis, where the individual will typically receive 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 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 unique circumstances which can be different for each person. Most substance abuse treatment will concentrate on getting the person physically rehabilitated, and then concentrate on underlying psychological and emotional issues which will help them avoid relapse in the future.

Drug or alcohol rehabilitation programs which are provided on an outpatient basis are available to addicted people who have circumstances which prevent them from being able to take part in an inpatient rehabilitation center. An outpatient substance abuse treatment program offers many of the same services as an inpatient program, but allows for flexibility as opposed to an inpatient drug rehabilitation facility where the individual is expected to remain at the rehab facility until treatment has been fully completed. Outpatient drug or alcohol rehab is also offered for those who have completed residential or inpatient treatment but also need a comprehensive aftercare and relapse prevention program which will provide further support and treatment to help them remain clean and sober.

It is a disturbing fact that many adolescents in the United States become introduced to drugs and alcohol at a very young age, and some even become addicted and dependent to drugs and/or alcohol. For adolescents who do become addicted and dependent to drugs and alcohol, parents must be willing to do whatever it takes to get the problem resolved before it is too late. Any suspicion that drugs or alcohol are in the picture should be addressed immediately, otherwise, addiction will lead down a path of total destruction for the adolescent as well as for the family. There are drug and alcohol treatment programs for adolescents offered in every state, many of which cater only to adolescents and have treatment professionals on hand that are trained specifically in handling this age group.

DUI/DWI offenders are usually required to attend a specific number of hours either in counseling, meetings or a substance abuse rehab program. Each state has its own requirements when it comes to retribution for the DUI/DWI offender. Offenders who are regarded as low to moderate DUI/DWI offenders will typically be required to participate in some form of group counseling or therapy. These are sometimes referred to as "Level I & Level II Alcohol Classes". These group meetings are typically held by a professional in the field of addiction recovery or a person with long-term sobriety involved in the Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous groups. DUI/DWI offenders deemed to be serious offenders will likely have to serve jail time at a minimum before beginning their mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment program.

Self payment drug and alcohol rehab centers are an outstanding alternative to other types of treatment programs i.e. private medical insurance and state funded facilities. Individuals who are capable of attending self payment programs pay for their entire rehab 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 treatment program. To learn more about self payment at a specific program, make contact with a substance abuse rehab program and ask about their payment options. It is a good idea to contact several facilities so that you have a comparison of your choices regarding treatment options and payment options.

Medicaid is a type of health insurance which is made available to people in certain low-income tax brackets. Eligibility for Medicaid depends greatly on income and other factors such as whether or not the person has dependents and if they receive any other assistance. Medicaid may even cover the costs associated with drug treatment, and there are a lot of drug rehabilitation facilities throughout the country which are covered through Medicaid. Most drug and alcohol treatment programs which are covered through Medicaid may only provide a limited treatment curriculum and may only provide such treatment on a short term basis, typically 30 days or less. Individuals who have Medicaid should research which programs cover the greatest amount of treatment for the most amount of time to reap the full rewards of a Medicaid rehab program.