Detox and rehab can be vital steps on a person’s path to successful addiction recovery – but there are several variables within these options. When you understand the features, similarities, and differences between detox vs. rehab, you’ll be prepared to make the best decisions about your care.
What Is Detox?
To fully appreciate the similarities and differences between detox vs. rehab, it can be helpful to first review a few fundamental facts about each service. We’ll begin with detox.
Detox is short for detoxification. It is a short-term program that can help people eliminate toxins (in this case, alcohol or other addictive substances) from their bodies safely, and with minimized distress.
Understanding Withdrawal
When someone develops an addiction, their body adapts to the presence of whatever substance they have been abusing.
When that person abruptly ends or significantly reduces their use of the substance, their body’s efforts to reestablish equilibrium can trigger a variety of unpleasant physical and psychological symptoms.
This experience, which is referred to as withdrawal, typically lasts for a week or two. Depending on which drug the person has become addicted to, their withdrawal symptoms can be extremely painful. In some cases, such as severe alcoholism, withdrawal can even be life-threatening.
If a person tries to get through withdrawal on their own, the intensity of their symptoms can undermine their health and quickly push them back into active substance use.
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The Benefits of Detox
Detox programs are safe, closely monitored environments where experienced professionals can protect patients’ health and ease some of their symptoms while they complete the withdrawal process.
To accomplish this, detox professionals may offer both medical and therapeutic support. Certain prescription medications can alleviate cravings and some other withdrawal symptoms, while therapy can help patients learn how to manage their discomfort.
Once a person has made it through the most difficult stages of withdrawal, they can transfer from detox to one of the follow-on programs that we’ll discuss in the next section.
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What Is Rehab?
Rehab (which is a shortened version of rehabilitation) is a general term that encompasses several recovery-related programs. When someone says they’re going to rehab, this usually means they have enrolled in a professionally run residential or outpatient program, where they can receive therapy and other support services to help them learn how to live a drug-free lifestyle.
Residential Rehab
While in residential rehab, patients will live at the center where they’re receiving care. Many residential rehab programs offer 28-day stays, though a patient’s actual length of stay may be longer or shorter based on their needs and progress.
The specific details of residential rehab can vary from one center to the next, but common features include the following:
- Patients can focus their full attention on their treatment and their health, without having to deal with the stresses and distractions of their usual day-to-day life.
- Patients usually complete a thorough intake assessment, which collects information that their treatment team can use to develop their customized treatment plan.
- A typical treatment day can involve multiple therapies and support services, as well as nutritious meals and supervised leisure/recreational activities.
As a patient approaches the end of their time in residential rehab, their team may provide them with a detailed discharge plan. This plan may include referrals to outpatient programming as well as information about peer support groups and other community-based resources.
Outpatient Rehab
Outpatient rehab includes treatment programs that don’t have a residential component. This means that patients need to be at the center only when treatment is in session.
Some patients live at home while they’re in outpatient rehab, while others opt for supportive sober living residences, where they can receive additional support to help them gain a stronger foothold in recovery.
The category of outpatient rehab includes partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) and intensive outpatient programs (IOPs)
- PHPs commonly offer full days of treatment, five days per week, which may include several types of therapy, educational sessions, and related support services. A person’s experience in a PHP can be quite similar to what occurs in residential rehab, with the exception that they won’t be at the treatment center in the evenings and on weekends.
- At the IOP level, patients attend partial days of treatment, two to five days per week. A typical day in an IOP involves three hours of care, with group therapy being the main method of treatment. Other types of therapy and additional services may also be available, depending on the needs of the patient and the parameters of the program.
Some patients start at the residential rehab level, then step down to a PHP and/or an IOP for continued support. Others may only take part in treatment at one level (either residential or one of the outpatient options). There’s no perfect path that’s ideal for everyone – the challenge is to find the right path for each individual patient.
Detox vs. Rehab
Now that we’ve looked at some of their basic features, let’s turn our attention to some of the key similarities and differences between detox vs. rehab.
Similarities
Here are a few common features of detox and rehab:
- Both may be staffed by multidisciplinary teams (meaning professionals with a range of training and experience).
- In both programs, patients may receive prescription medication and take part in therapy.
- Both are safe and supportive environments where patients can take vital steps in their recovery journey.
- At the end of either detox or rehab, patients should receive guidance on how to maintain and build on the progress they made while they were in treatment.
Differences
Some of the key differences between a detox program and a rehab program include:
- Detox is focused primarily on the biological and psychological aspects of withdrawal, while rehab is designed to help patients build essential recovery skills.
- A detox program may or may not have a therapeutic component. In residential or outpatient rehab, therapy is a fundamental element of care.
- Detox refers to a single program. Rehab encompasses residential programming and multiple outpatient options.
- Patients rarely remain in detox for more than 10 days, and many spend considerably less time than that. A person’s length of stay in residential and/or outpatient rehab can range from a few weeks to several months.
For many people, the path to recovery involves both detox and rehab. However, as we alluded to earlier, effective treatment can look quite different from one person to the next. Completing a thorough assessment with a trusted treatment provider can help you determine which programming options are best for you.
Learn More About Detox and Rehab in the Atlanta Area
If you need help to decide if you can benefit from detox and/or rehab, Retreat of Atlanta is here for you.
Our addiction treatment center near Atlanta, Georgia, is a premier provider of customized care for adults who have become dependent on alcohol and other drugs. We understand the many ways that addiction can disrupt a person’s life, and we’re committed to developing the personalized solutions that can help you achieve the healthy, drug-free future you deserve.
To learn more or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.
