The treatment process

Detox, Inpatient, and Outpatient treatment all serve different purposes through the recovery process and are often accessed in that particular order.

Detox treatment

Detox is the process of facilitating the safe clearance of drugs or alcohol from a person’s body. The detox process commonly lasts anywhere from a few days to weeks.

Inpatient treatment

Inpatient Treatment is generally the first step after detox and lasts between 1 and 3 months. The goal of inpatient treatment is to provide 24-7 medical stabilization.

Outpatient treatment

Outpatient treatment focuses on continuation of care, helping people maintain the healthier habits and coping mechanisms they have developed in higher levels of care.

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American Addiction Centers is dedicated to supporting individuals struggling with drug and alcohol addiction on their journey to recovery. We offer our national directory and library of resources to you and your loved ones so you can find the path that best suits your needs.

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We provide licensed Medical Detox care

American Addiction Centers (AAC) is a leading provider of inpatient treatment and operates 8 facilities across the nation so there’s always a local option available.

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Personalized care to fit your needs

Our team of doctors, clinicians, and counselor create a one-of-a-kind, constantly evolving treatment plan designed to help you get the most out of your recovery experience.

Frequently asked questions

What makes an effective treatment program?

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  • It’s important to understand that no single treatment type is appropriate for everyone.That is why it’s crucial that every treatment program has a mental health or addiction professional conduct an intake evaluation before creating an individualized treatment plan according to the patient’s unique needs.

What happens in inpatient drug and alcohol rehab?

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  • In inpatient drug and alcohol rehab, patients are placed in a structured environment. This consists of daily therapy (group and individual), activities, being administered prescribed and/or over-the-counter medications as needed, eating meals with other patients, getting sufficient sleep, and possible private time. Patients tend to be placed within the same groups with similar substance abuse experiences. Facilities may provide family visitation days as well.

How does detox work?

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  • Medical detox, or withdrawal management, is a process by which the body is cleansed of toxins and wean off drugs and/or alcohol that has been abused. There are both inpatient and outpatient medical detox. In inpatient detox, patients are gradually weaned off of substance(s) methodically under medical supervision. In outpatient detox, patients come to detox at scheduled appointments and return home at night.

How does outpatient treatment vary?

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  • The schedule of intensive outpatient programs may resemble that of an inpatient program, just on a shortened time schedule. For example, clients may show up to treatment around 10 a.m. and begin with an individual therapy session. After lunch, they may participate in group therapy followed by a complementary therapy. After that point, they return home for the day.