90-Day Substance Abuse Rehab Centers

Written by: Editorial Staff

Last updated on February 1, 2019

Ninety-day drug and alcohol rehab can provide you with more time to develop coping strategies and relapse prevention skills, which is why the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) recommends at least 90 days in substance abuse treatment for those in recovery.¹

These programs offer many of the same services as 30-day and 60-day addiction treatment programs. But the longer stay allows you to form new sober habits and gives your body and brain time to heal from alcohol and drug abuse.

If you’re ready to reclaim your life, help is only a phone call away. Call us at 1-888-968-9816.

Treatment Process

You must clear your body of all substances so you can start recovery sober.
Ninety-day treatment centers generally follow a similar course across programs.

The first 30 days:

• Complete an assessment: Intake staff will provide an initial assessment. Additionally, they will conduct a thorough substance abuse history and medical examination that will determine the extent of your substance abuse and identify any physical or mental health issues.
• Create a treatment plan: After your assessment, you will meet with a program staff member to develop an individual plan for your treatment.
• Detox: After your plan is set, you must clear your body of all substances so you can start recovery sober. Detox can take varying amounts of time, as different substances get processed out of the body at different rates. While detoxing from particular substances, the withdrawal syndrome may require medical monitoring.
• Start counseling and therapy: Treatment will consist largely of therapy sessions, both in a group and individual setting. Some programs also involve 12-step meetings to help build a community of recovering peers that inspire one another to stay sober.
• Treat co-occurring disorders: If you are working through a mental health issue like depression or anxiety at the same time that you are working through substance abuse recovery, you will face additional challenges. This is known as a dual diagnosis, and it requires special care to address both issues at the same time.

The second 30 days:

• Adjust to being clean: Making the change to a sober life can be a strange transition, and it takes time to adjust. A person is most vulnerable to relapse in the beginning of recovery, and working through this stage in a safe haven like a treatment program can make a huge difference.
• Understand underlying issues: Many factors underlie drug abuse and mental health issues. During this time in the program, you will have time to more deeply explore these issues, which can prepare you to deal with temptations in the future.
• Hone relapse prevention skills: Preventing relapse takes practice and skill development. In longer programs, you have more time to strengthen these skills.

The last 30 days:

• Complete 12-step work: The 12 steps take time to complete. A 90-day rehab center allows you more time to work the steps and complete the process.
• Continue therapy and planning: The longer you engage in therapy, the better prepared you will be for facing the challenges of maintaining sobriety outside of the program environment.
• Look for jobs and housing: During the last 30 days of 90-day drug and alcohol rehab, you can look for jobs as well as the best housing option. For many, this may mean looking into sober housing options or leaving their old home, which can be rife with triggers and temptations.
• Discharge and set up aftercare: Once you complete the program, you will meet with a program director again to go over discharge procedures and review your plan for aftercare services. Using multiple approaches to aftercare can help you prolong abstinence.

Therapies

Some common types of therapy used in 90-day facilities include:²

• Motivational enhancement therapy:  You work on developing and acting on your internal motivation to get sober.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy: You learn how to recognize and avoid triggers that may make you want to use again.
• Motivational incentives/contingency management therapy: You receive rewards for maintaining sobriety and reaching goals.
• Community reinforcement therapy: You work toward sobriety using family, social, job, and recreation incentives.
• Family behavior therapy: Your family becomes involved in your recovery. Addiction is a family problem, and this therapy can help family members as well as the addict learn how to cope with difficult situations.
• 12-step groups: Many programs incorporate the 12-step approach into addiction recovery, which follows steps that guide the recovering addict through stages of acceptance and making amends with both themselves and their loved ones.

Medications

Ninety-day rehabilitation centers may use medications throughout the treatment process.
Ninety-day rehab centers may use medications throughout the treatment process. These medications are most effective when combined with other forms of treatment, such as psychotherapy and the 12 steps.

Treatment medications can include:³

• Methadone and buprenorphine: These medications help ease recovery from opioid abuse. They help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
• Naltrexone: This drug can help with recovery from alcohol and opioid abuse. It works by blocking opioid receptors.
• Antabuse (disulfiram): This medication is used to help people recover from alcoholism. It causes unpleasant symptoms, such as nausea, palpitations, and skin flushing, when a person drinks.
• Acamprosate: Another medication for alcohol addiction, this drug helps alleviate the discomforts of protracted withdrawal. It can help with the insomnia, restlessness, and anxiety that can accompany recovery from alcohol abuse.
• Antidepressants and antipsychotics: Many people become depressed or anxious or experience hallucinations during withdrawal. Antidepressants and antipsychotic medications can help control these symptoms and allow you to focus on recovery.

Aftercare

Recovery doesn’t stop once treatment ends, and the transition into day-to-day life comes with its own set of challenges. Aftercare services can help. In fact, aftercare engagement has been found to help addicts maintain sobriety and have lower rates of relapse in general.^{4, 5}

• An excellent free option for continuing care after formal treatment ends is attending 12-step meetings. Twelve-step programs are organized by others in recovery, and they can provide a social community of other abstinent individuals. The members all work to support each other’s growth and sobriety. Many people attend 12-step meetings for years after completing treatment.
• Sober living is a great option for easing the transition from treatment to daily life. These sober communities can help to drastically reduce triggers. Your housemates will understand the challenges that you are facing in your recovery and may even supply valuable support and friendships to help you maintain abstinence.
• The cessation of a formal treatment program doesn’t mean that you should stop engaging in therapy and counseling. These avenues of continued support will help you further develop your understanding of your substance abuse issues. You will continue to strengthen your skills to resist relapse and your own motivations for abstinence.

Our helpline staff can answer any questions you have about cost, insurance, or types of programs. Give us a call anytime at 1-888-968-9816 Who Answers? .

Finding the Right Program for You

Your examination of 90-day programs should include looking into the following factors:

• Cost: The cost of a program can make a big difference in where you want to go. But keep in mind that your own health and wellbeing matter more than money.
• Insurance: Make sure the programs you consider accept your insurance plan. If you do not have insurance, explore the many different ways that you can pay for treatment, such as crowdfunding, borrowing from friends and family, and taking out a loan.
• Amenities: Don’t underestimate program features. People leaving treatment reported that amenities, such as food quality, recreational options, and facility comforts, were one of the most important things to consider when looking at programs.⁶
• Location: Do you want to stay close to home or escape your using environment entirely? Bear in mind that the best program to meet your needs may not be in your hometown.
• Staff expertise: Facility staff should be both qualified and experienced in order to provide the best care.
• Policies: The program’s policies on visitors, free time, and phone or Internet use are also good to consider.
• Treatments: Some programs approach treatment through evidence-based practices, others through more holistic therapies. Make sure you agree with the approach of the rehab center.
• Online reviews: Alumni can offer valuable insight into the strengths and weaknesses of treatment programs. Check for any online reviews that may provide you with a better idea of what a program will be like and how effective it may be.

How Much Does It Cost?

On average, 90-day programs cost anywhere between $200 and $700 per day.
Every program will have a different cost that depends on many different factors. On average, 90-day programs cost anywhere between $200 and $700 per day.⁷ The per day cost is lower than 30- or 60-day programs. But because the stay is longer, the ultimate cost will be higher. Some factors that can affect the cost of a treatment program include:

• Length: The longer you stay in treatment, the more it will cost overall, though the per day cost will tend to be lower.
• Insurance: Your insurance plan may cover all or part of a 90-day center.
• Location: Urban programs tend to cost more than rural ones, and traveling out of state may add additional costs.
• Amenities: Ninety-day programs offer different levels of comforts and luxuries. The higher the quality of living and the more recreational and luxurious offerings a program has, the more it will cost.

Advantages of 90-Day Programs

Ninety-day drug and alcohol rehab centers have a number of benefits in comparison to 30- and 60-day ones.

• Ninety-day programs provide more time to work through the challenging transition to sobriety.
• They are great options for anyone with debilitating addiction and for those who have relapsed.
• They also allow you more time to adjust to your new abstinent lifestyle.
• You will have more time to practice relapse resistance and temptation refusal, work through any mental health issues, and gain a deeper understanding of your own drug addiction and any factors that underlie it.

Are you ready to start your own recovery? Call us at 1-888-968-9816 Who Answers?  to talk about your 90-day rehabilitation treatment options with a dedicated support advisor. It’s never too late to get help.

Sources

1. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2012). Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition). How long does drug addiction treatment usually last?
2. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2012). Behavioral Therapies. Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition).
3. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2012). Pharmacotherapies. Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition).
4. Moos, R. H. & Moos, B. S. (2006). Rates and predictors of relapse after natural and treated remission from alcohol use disorders. Addiction, 101(2). 212-222.
5. Ouimette, P. C., Moos, R. H., & Finney, J. W. (1998). Influence of outpatient treatment and 12-step group involvement on one-year substance abuse treatment outcomes. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 59(5). 513-522.
6. Recovery Brands. (2016).
7. American Addiction Centers. (2017).