Important Benefits of Long-Term Treatment
Hope offers 30-day intensive treatment programs; that is to say, we pack in a lot of activities, therapy and learning – as much as is healthy. This is because many people simply do not have the option to stay longer. For some drugs such as opiates and Benzo’s, we require a minimum 2-month commitment due to a longer detox period. For clients with the time and the resources, we also recommend staying as long as possible. This is why Hope has developed a second stage program.
Why Residential Rehab?
Important benefits of long-term treatment have been evidenced in reports and research on treatment timeframes. These have for a long time confirmed the effectiveness of residential treatment programs such as ours. This is indicating that Rehab is more effective than any other method of treatment and that a client’s length of stay is also a factor in succeeding – National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
How Long Should You Stay?
Residential treatment-timeframes often last between 28 days and a few months, however clinical wisdom suggests the time required for permanent behaviour change is 90 days even though 28 days is the most commonly offered globally due to child care, insurance company pay structures, costs, annual leave allowances, family commitments, business and education priorities.
What To Expect?
The healing process comes from an internal shift called pro-addictions or healthy daily rituals, developing new neural pathways in your brain. After approximately 12 weeks of neurological pacification the reoccurring compulsion or obsession to use a substance is relieved. This is accomplished through a neurological re-wiring by working a program.
Treatment Time Frames
The length of primary treatment is between 4 weeks and 8 weeks depending on your motivation and ability to change. If you have a long detox then that may be a factor. We are often busy and demand is you may have a short wait, but it is worth it if you want the best treatment. We also offer long-term programs at our second stage center which can include learning teaching English as a foreign language to Thai children.
What about staying 28 days?
You can learn and experience a lot in 28 days, cleanse you body physically and get a healthy structure established if you work hard. It is a positive start away from the usual stressors and triggers in your life i.e. people, places and things. Also, being around other recovering people and a clean environment are extremely important for motivation.
Can I not only do a detox?
A quick detox, known as the acute phase, is unlikely to be a lasting answer, it is usually a quick fix like the using itself, or as we say “Flight to Health”. The user in the long term is like a rat that has become habituated by a scientist to choosing the drug or alcohol overeating and other healthy activities. The rat cannot control the neurological impulse to choose the substance – the same applies to those caught up in addiction.
Long-term treatment for long-term success.
As we all know addiction isn’t conquered overnight. For many, it took time to develop the habits and behaviours that feed addiction. So it stands to reason that it will take time to change. A simple detox or quick fix is a “flight to health” and rarely achieves lasting results. Some people complete a month and then continue the recovery therapy in their community which is challenging and only successful for some.
What to consider?
With all this in your mind, it is important to allow for up to 3 months initial rehabilitation, whether it’s in Hope Rehab or at home or somewhere else. Early feelings of stability can be positive. However, they are misleading and leave one unprepared for inevitable difficulties. They are sometimes called the honeymoon period.
It is after the initial adjustment period that you really begin to deal with underlying emotional and social conflicts – you do this by working a program. Remember that stress causes cravings, so you should resolve issues and conflicts as soon as safely possible. You do this by accepting responsibility for past behaviour, and by facing and resolving the deepest anxieties, eventually making amends to yourself, to family, and to society. When conflicts are resolved, peace and serenity become possible.
Most addicts are not consciously aware of many of the conflicts from which they actually suffer. This is where residential treatment and the professionals can help.
What to consider?
Addiction is a consuming and powerful condition. However, it is treatable with the right help and program. At Hope, we achieve a state of lasting wellness by incorporating evidence-based cognitive psychology with holistic disciplines and a recovery program. We also include the universal spiritual practices of mindfulness and meditation. These are proven coping techniques for some triggers, such as anxiety, stress, and depression. Even our beach activity weekends provide a chance to relax and enjoy time off without using alcohol or drugs.
Residential Rehab is proven to be the best way to overcome addiction issues. Alcohol Rehab Programs and Drug Rehab Programs do vary according to individual needs. So whether you want to stop drinking or stop anything, or you are experiencing difficulties coping with issues such as stress, depression and anxiety, we can help. We suggest you read our website carefully to get more of an understanding of our treatment methodology.
The Warehouse Effect
This is one of the most successful elements of a long-term rehab program. It refers to the idea that it takes around 90 days for a person to “break a habit”, practise new behaviours and to extinguish the old, destructive behaviours and dependencies. In general, the idea works by “warehousing” addicts in a safe place that provides therapies and education. This is why Alcoholics Anonymous has the historic slogan “90 Meetings in The First 90 Days”. According to NIDA research, those who complete 90 consecutive days of residential treatment are 35% more likely to maintain 5 years of unbroken recovery than people who do not. Of course, it still requires a careful and well-managed lifestyle after treatment but can be achieved.
Important Benefits of Long-Term Treatment
The highest chance of achieving long-term freedom from addiction is with long-term treatment. There are a whole lot of benefits that clients gain by committing to long-term treatment. I will outline the main ones below:
- The amount of knowledge about addiction learned from both primary and secondary stage treatment is huge. After long-term treatment clients use the lessons learned much more effectively.
- A ‘quick fix’ doesn’t exist, especially after years of substance abuse. It is addict behavior to look for a ‘quick fix’ and it has a much small(er) chance of succeeding.
- Physical health improves much more. In the first weeks, exercising goes slowly for most clients because most addicts aren’t in a good physical health. After a few weeks exercising starts to become a habit and then health and well-being improves enormously.
- Detachment from life issues that seemed very important when entering rehab seems much less important after a few months.
- Most addicts have developed unhelpful negative habits (responses, behavior, thoughts, etc.) so to combat this effectively the person needs sufficient time and support to change.
- It might be obvious, but the success rate is much higher when a client leaves being 110 percent ready instead of 80.
- Clients feel more secure and confident after leaving long-term treatment because they know they now have the knowledge and experience combined with all the behavior changes they have already made.
- ‘Breaking the denial’ is an important part of treatment, and it takes time and effort to see your reality free from the addicts distorted thinking.
- Psychologists agree that the time to create effective changes in behavior takes a minimum of three months.
- It also takes time for people to emotionally stabilize after years of addiction. Many clients experience an ‘emotional rollercoaster’ when they stop using their drug of choice, and it can take weeks, sometimes months, for someone to get comfortable in their own skin.
Costs of treatment: Discounts on longer-term stays
Cost of treatment is an important factor, and we are determined to keep prices at a reasonable level to make treatment available. In fact, to encourage clients to commit to longer stays at Hope we offer substantial discounts. We have created a personal and homely atmosphere, providing a sanctuary for our clients to make positive changes in their lives.
Thailand is a country that can be visited all year round, particularly in our area. Our location has the most number of sunny and dry days with the occasional refreshing tropical shower that keeps a fresh and healthy environmental balance.
Feel welcome to contact us via the form below to enquire about prices and availability or ask any questions you might have.
What a morning. I woke up in floods of tears reflecting on 90 days clean and sober today. I just had tears of joy pouring out of me. I literally cannot believe it. I didn’t think it was possible. I found myself a sponsor. She is amazing! She’s a hard ass who seems to know how to communicate with me so that I don’t shut down. I’m excited to start step one with her. And I feel like I can’t take any credit. I found myself thanking God. So how’s this for cool: I accidentally read June 10 of the just for today book yesterday, so I decided to read June 9 today. And how perfect. My higher power did a magic little switcheroo on me!! It says, just for today I will acknowledge the miracle of my recovery and be grateful that I’ve found it. I got down on my knees for the first time this morning, since I begged God to help me before I went into rehab. And I prayed. I’m really overcome today. I couldn’t have done any of this without you and everyone at Hope. I love you all so much. 90 days isn’t a lot of time, but you know this has already been beyond my wildest dreams so I can’t even imagine what the future holds. Thank you so much for your ongoing support. All in all, feeling good!! Hope you are all also well. Thank you for letting me share that with you!
– K___ NZ
“Benefits of Long-Term Treatment” by Henk Nagel
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