One of the most challenging choices a person may ever have to make is the choice to seek help for their addiction. This is especially true for long-term stays. The thought of relinquishing control can be intimidating, the thought of going through withdrawal can be daunting, and the thought of leaving the old life behind can, quite frankly, be terrifying. However, the truth is that it is that old life that is really holding people back from being who they are truly meant to be, which is why those that do make a move to get help also feel like it was the best thing they could have ever done for themselves.
The Prevalence of Relapse in the U.S.
There is a very real component of recovery known as relapse. While it certainly doesn’t happen to everyone, it does affect more people than many may realize. It is a reality of the recovery road and should not be minimized or ignored.
According to the clinical journal, Current Psychiatry Reports, “It has long been known that addictive disorders are chronic and relapsing in nature. Recent estimates from clinical treatment studies suggest that more than two-thirds of individuals relapse within weeks to months of initiating treatment.” Now, it is important to focus on that “chronic” aspect of this statement for a moment. That is because addiction is not a choice. It is a chronic disease. There is consensus among most of the recovery community about this.
Now, because addiction is a “chronic” disease, it must be treated as any other chronic disease, such as diabetes, cancer, or heart disease. Without professional intervention, it will only get worse, rarely better. Also, that intervention must be comprehensive, thorough, and ongoing for there to be the best chance for long-term healthy recovery.
Current Psychiatry Reports also reported that “For 1-year outcomes across alcohol, nicotine, weight, and illicit drug abuse, studies show that more than 85% of individuals relapse and return to drug use within 1 year of treatment.” Both these short-term and long-term relapse statistics are the reason why, if possible, long-term stays in rehab are recommended.
Why Long-Term Stays in Rehab Correlate to Long-Term Recovery
There is a saying that is often repeated in step-based recovery, “If it takes a certain amount of days to walk out into the woods, it is going to take the same amount of days to walk out.” What this means is that addiction causes a lot of havoc in one’s life, and it often occurs over a long period of time, so it may be unreasonable to think that a long stretch of active addiction can be resolved in a 28-day stay.
Now, that does not mean that a 28-day stay is not a huge accomplishment. Anyone that has experienced active addiction or is currently in recovery understands that for an individual struggling, even one day of sobriety is a win. However, if the option is available to engage in a long-term stay at a recovery center, it is highly advised that it be taken advantage of.
The reason for this is relatively simple, though, of course, recovery can be challenging and complex. It takes time to heal from addiction. The more time that is put into recovery, the more healing can take place. Also, the more “intensive” amount of treatment time that can be put into recovery, the better. That intensive type of treatment is most available in long-term stays.
What Do Long-Term Stays in Rehab Look Like?
Ultimately, long-term stays don’t necessarily look that different from short-term ones. There will be the same therapies, the same group work (potentially 12-Step work), and the same focus on cleaning up the “wreckage of the past” that addiction has wrought. However, what will be different is the amount of focus that can be directly given to these components.
More time spent working with the same professionals allows for a deeper connection and more time to get to the underlying core issues that often correlate to negative emotions and addictive behaviors. Long-term stays also allow for growth to happen for the families and loved ones of the individual that is struggling.
This will help ensure that everyone is on the same page and that there is a safe space to come home to after a long-term stay and makes more time to create an effective relapse prevention plan. Also, long-term stays help individuals integrate into local recovery communities while still in treatment. This will make a transition back into everyday life that much smoother.
Success for the Long Haul: Our Primary Purpose at Lantana Recovery
Here at Lantana Recovery, our goal is to help our clients achieve the healthiest and most successful recovery possible. We have found that long-term stays are one of the most effective ways to do this.
Our primary purpose is to help our clients prosper in the long term, not just “feel fixed” at the moment. Recovery is about the journey, not the destination, and we want to make sure that journey begins on the best footing possible.
We here at Lantana Recovery encourage our clients to engage in extended stays as they go through their recovery journey. The reason for this is that it has been shown that short-term stays (such as 28-day stays) have been proven not to work in terms of healing from addiction at the cellular level. Long-term stays facilitate long-term recovery, and that is our primary goal here at Lantana Recovery. If you feel like you or a loved one may be struggling with addiction, know that you are not alone. We are here to help you and your entire family get on the road to recovery. For more information on extended treatment stays, reach out to Lantana Recovery at (866) 997-2870.
