How Long Does It Take to Recover From Addiction?

Content medically reviewed by Vicky Magobet, PMHNP-BC, on August 10, 2020.

If you're thinking of starting addiction recovery, you might wonder how long the process takes. Everyone has a unique experience with recovery depending on personal factors, their life situation and the type of treatment they need.

With support from an addiction treatment center and your active participation, you can stay on the path to recovery. Find out how long it can take to recover from addiction and what you can do to begin and maintain your recovery.

Can Treatment Break My Addiction Habit?

As a chronic disease, addiction works like a mental disorder or asthma — it doesn't have a cure, but you can manage it in order to have a fulfilling life. With treatment and support, you can maintain your recovery and live without drugs. Treatment will help you manage addiction's physical and emotional effects to help you transition to drug-free living.

How Long Does Addiction Treatment Last?

The length of your addiction treatment will depend on the services you receive and the severity of your symptoms. Research shows that someone in recovery should stay in treatment for at least 90 days to get the best results. Your recommended treatment services will vary based on the type of addiction you have and your personal situation.

Each recovery treatment has a different duration:

  • Detox: Most treatment plans start with detox. This is the process of stopping your drug use and removing the drug from your system. Detox can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
  • Residential treatment: A residential treatment program, like the ones we have at Diamond House Detox, usually lasts 30 days. People who finish residential treatment can continue receiving other services for as long as they need.
  • Outpatient treatment: As an ongoing service, outpatient treatment can last months or years. Most of these programs require you to commit 10 to 12 hours a week, but this commitment can be flexible depending on the provider.

What Can I Do to Maintain Addiction Recovery After Treatment?

Staying in recovery after treatment involves getting the support you need to take care of your symptoms. After going through the intensive first phases of treatment, a person in recovery enters the maintenance phase.

For most people, maintenance lasts for the rest of their life. It involves integrating back into everyday society and using coping skills to manage symptoms. During maintenance, many people continue taking medicine or going to counseling to get ongoing support.

How Do I Start My Recovery?

You can begin your recovery journey by contacting an addiction treatment center near you. Each of these care providers has different treatment philosophies and program models, so you can look for a location that resonates with you. If you have any questions about a treatment center, you can contact them to get more information on their services.

Take the Path to Recovery With Diamond House Detox

At Diamond House Detox, we provide personalized addiction treatment in a compassionate, home-like environment. If you want to start your recovery in Northern California, contact our team today.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Diamond House Detox
Vicky is a board certified Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She began her nursing career in healthcare by working in the intensive care unit, and then an inpatient psychiatric hospital. After realizing the mental health needs of both the patients and the families she served, she became a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. Throughout her experience working with clients, she has developed a passion for those with dual diagnoses and specializes in helping individuals recognize the issues driving their substance use. This recognition has been crucial to the individual’s success in treatment. Vicky opened Diamond House Detox so that she can address these issues early on in a therapeutic environment to allow clients to transition to the next level in their recovery.
Vicky Magobet
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