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 carried out 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 person to reside in a hospital or residential facility during the entire course of treatment, which is especially helpful 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 different 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.

Residential short-term treatment for addiction is a type oftreatment program where the person will reside at the facility on an inpatient basis, and which normally 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 commonly incorporates a supervised detoxification, counseling, and other forms of therapy which are aimed at helping the person become rehabilitated and able to function without drugs in everyday life once rehabilitation is complete. Residential short-term treatment is not always effective for all instances of addiction, and most will require an aftercare program or further treatment in a more long-term residential facility.

Enrolling into a residential long-term treatment program (more than 30 days) is an effective way ofapproaching a severe substance abuse problem. This type of substance abuse rehab program is more intensive than others that only last a few weeks or those where the person in recovery is free to come and go as they please. Choosing a residential long-term rehab program (more than 30 days) means that you as the client will live at the rehab center around the clock while you are in recovery. While offering a more relaxed home-like environment the individual has access to treatment professionals at all times. Long term drug or alcohol treatment facilities are an excellent choice for those who have a long history of addiction or who have had other unsuccessful attempts at recovery in the past.

Persons with co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders must address both issues in order to recover completely. Some individuals take drugs to ease symptoms of mental health problems, and some people take drugs which then, in turn, brings about symptoms which are identical to mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression. Addiction rehabilitation professionals know how to differentiate 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 happy.

It is not unusual for persons with HIV/AIDS to end up in a substance abuse rehab program in search of help for severe addiction problems. Often people who abuse drugs and alcohol are predisposed to such diseases because of certain circumstances which afflict the drug culture such as sharing dirty syringes to inject drugs or becoming involved 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 person. Substance abuse rehab centers 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 recovery are resolved so that they can conquer their addiction and maintain a drug-free lifestyle.

Whether it is evident or not, seniors and older adults comprise a significant percentage of individuals in the United States who struggle with drug and/or alcohol abuse and addiction. As the baby boomer generation ages, this will become an even bigger problem with an even bigger need for drug treatment programs which are prepared to treat seniors and older adults who are in need of rehabilitation for addiction issues. Seniors and older adults are faced with many physical challenges as a result of their age, which can affect treatment outcome if not addressed concurrently. It is beneficial for seniors and older adults to seek treatment before any long term consequences arise.

Drug treatment programs created solely for men are emerging across the nation. Although programs that treat both men and women continue to be the standard for drug rehabilitation, many rehab centers are creating 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 programs are not. While these specialized types of treatment programs are not needed for all recovering addicts, many men are choosing men-only addiction rehab centers. This rehabilitation option is excellent for those who feel more comfortable with those of the same sex when discussing private and often difficult memories from the past. Recovering from addiction is a challenging process for every addict and finding comfort among one's peer group is a very good way of getting the support needed to make the process that much more endurable.

Criminal justice clients often need drug or alcohol rehabilitation due to problems with drug and alcohol abuse. Due to the nature of the criminal justice system, there are specific steps and guidelines that must be completed in order to be accepted into a criminal justice drug rehab program or recovery program. The first step is to figure out the criminal justice clients eligibility. This step is completed by a panel of officials who decide how much and what type of substance abuse [[[rehabilitation is necessary. Sometimes, the criminal justice clients receive their drug treatment while they are incarcerated. For the best possible results, they are encouraged, if not strictly directed, to continue their recovery process once they leave jail and enroll in a sober living home or a therapeutic community.