Substance abuse treatment is offered in a wide range of distinct treatment settings with a variety of different treatment approaches. 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 individual to stay in a hospital or residential facility during the entire course of treatment, which is especially helpful 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 different circumstances which can be different for each individual. Most substance abuse treatment will concentrate on getting the person physically rehabilitated, and then focus on the root psychological and emotional issues.

Detoxification is typically the first step in getting off drugs. It allows 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 common mistake that many addicts make is to believe that detox is enough to kick their habit. This is hardly ever the case. All detox does is get a person through the withdrawal when they stop using. It is usually recommended that detox be followed up with some type of treatment plan to find out the root of why a person was using drugs in the first place.

Residential short-term treatment for drug or alcohol addiction is a type ofrehabilitation program where the individual will remain at the facility on an inpatient basis, and which typically requires a stay of 30 days or less. While attending residential short-term treatment the client undergoes an intensive but brief course of treatment that typically incorporates 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 daily life once treatment is complete. Residential short-term treatment is not always effective for all cases of addiction, and most will require an aftercare program or further treatment in a more long-term residential facility.

DUI/DWI offenders are usually required to attend a certain number of hours either in counseling, meetings or a substance abuse treatment 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 meetings are usually 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 considered 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 rehabilitation centers are an excellent alternative to other types of rehab centers i.e. private medical insurance and state funded programs. People who are able to attend 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 substance abuse treatment program. To learn more about self payment programs, contact a drug or alcohol treatment facility and inquire as to their payment options. It is a good idea to contact several programs so that you have a comparison of your choices with regards to rehab options and payment methods.

Some people are covered through state financed insurance because they fail to qualify for Medicaid. Some states however offer state financed health insurance to those individuals who cannot afford private health insurance plans. State financed health insurance programs will in some cases cover the costs associated with substance abuse treatment at a wide variety of drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers around the country. State financed insurance other than Medicaid may cover both outpatient or inpatient substance abuse rehabilitation providers. To find out which rehab facilities will accept state financed insurance, consult a drug treatment advisor.

When an individual is abusing drugs or alcohol and is seeking help, many effective substance abuse treatment programs accept private health insurance. Whereas some outpatient and short term rehab facilities accept private health insurance, far more effective drug or alcohol treatment programs which provide an inpatient or residential stay for at least 90 days are also an available option. These treatment programs which accept private health insurance can differ in terms of treatment curriculum, but those people who are covered by private health insurance are fortunate enough to have financial assistance when it comes to attending a drug or alcohol rehabilitation program. For additional information, consult with an addiction specialist at a drug or alcohol rehab program in your area to see which services your private health insurance will cover.

Paying for drug or alcohol rehab can be a problem, because typically all resources have been exhausted due to the persons drug habit. Many drug treatment programs understand this reality which is why many drug and alcohol rehab programs around the country provide payment options known as a sliding scale fee. There are various variables put into the equation of determining what the fee will be from person to person, and these factors are based on individual circumstances such as income, cash on hand, living circumstances, the size of one's family etc. Sliding scale fees have been in use for some time as most drug and alcohol treatment programs would prefer to find a way to make it work financially so that those that need addiction help can get the help they need.