Checking into a rehab program in Florida can be intimidating, especially if you don’t know what to expect. While we can’t tell you exactly what your personal experience in rehab will be like, we can give you some ideas of what you can expect.
Checking In
The first thing that you will do when you begin a drug rehab program is to check in with the staff. This usually involves an intake interview so that the staff can learn more about you and decide what program is best for you. No one program is right for everyone, so it’s important that the staff finds something that suits your unique needs. A drug rehab program can be as short as 30 days or as long as 90 days, although the National Institute on Drug Abuse recommends that most patients stay at a treatment center for at least 90 days.
Detox
After you complete your intake interview and decide what program is best for you, you’ll begin the detoxification process. Detoxification, or detox, is the process of removing drugs or alcohol from your body. It can be a very difficult process, and it’s often what makes rehab so intimidating for some people. In some cases, detox is just about waiting until a substance has completely left your body, which can be difficult in itself if you have to deal with withdrawal symptoms.
If you need to detox from heroin, alcohol, or some other substance that can have severe withdrawal symptoms, you may be given medication to ease these symptoms. In any case, you will have medical staff with you at all times while you detox. The amount of time you’ll spend detoxing will depend on what drugs you were taking, how long you were using them, and how much you have taken. The entire process can be as short as three days or as long as two weeks.
Therapy
Although most people think of detox when it comes to drug rehab, most of your time in treatment will be spent in therapy. This can take different forms, but the most common is one-on-one therapy. This is when you speak to a therapist who specializes in addiction to learn about your addiction triggers and how your drug use has affected your life.
These sessions aren’t unlike those you might have with any other therapist, with the biggest difference being the focus on your previous drug or alcohol abuse. Your treatment might also involve family therapy sessions, especially if members of your family have been affected by your drug use. These sessions are intended to provide a safe space for you and your family to discuss your drug use and the impact it may have had on your life and the lives of your family members. Finally, you might engage in group therapy sessions with other patients at the rehab facility. These sessions will allow you to discuss your experiences with drugs and alcohol and how they have impacted your life with others who may have had similar experiences.
After Rehab
An important thing to remember when seeking treatment for drug and alcohol abuse is that your work is far from finished after you’ve completed a rehab program. Becoming and staying sober involves rethinking and changing much of your life, and that is never easy. This is why your treatment program will almost certainly involve some form of aftercare once you’ve gone through detox and therapy.
This might involve staying in a sober living home for a period of time, ongoing counseling with a therapist, medical evaluations, or support group meetings with others who have gone through rehab. Depending on the impact that your addiction had on your life, this aftercare can last anywhere from a few months to several years.
Even though a drug rehab program can seem intimidating, beginning such a program is an important step for anyone who wants to be free of an addiction to drugs or alcohol. If you or anyone you know has a substance abuse problem, don’t hesitate to contact us at 844-639-8371 to find out what programs are available. We have staff members ready to take your calls at any time, and they will be happy to answer any questions you might have.