Residential Substance Use Treatment

What is Residential Rehab?

Residential addiction treatment programs provide 24/7 support for people in a non-hospital setting. Patients in these programs may benefit from various forms of behavioral therapy, peer support, psychoeducation, medications for substance use disorder, and more, all in a safe, sober environment.

What Can Residential Substance Use Treatment Offer?

Many comprehensive residential drug treatment programs offer:

• Medical detox.
• Individual therapy.
• Medication management.
• Family or couples counseling.
• Addiction education.
• Skill-building sessions.
• Follow-up care.
• Referrals to support groups.

Personalized Care at American Addiction Centers

At American Addiction Centers, we offer both residential and outpatient treatment options to meet a range of recovery needs. If you believe you may need help for a substance use disorder (SUD), we encourage you to reach out to one of our admissions navigators at for confidential guidance.

The Benefits of Residential Rehab

Residential rehab programs offer structured substance use services, some of which include:

• A safe, supervised environment for detox and early recovery, with 24/7 care.
• Support for co-occurring issues such as mental illness/mental health conditions, trauma, and codependency.
• Access to a variety of evidence-based therapies.
• A peer community to process recovery alongside others on a similar path.

While residential treatment offers unique advantages, all levels of care can be helpful—depending on a person’s individual needs.

To learn more about residential and inpatient programs at American Addiction Centers, call for confidential support.

Residential vs. Inpatient Rehab: What’s the Difference?

The terms residential and inpatient are often used interchangeably. However, according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, there are various sub-levels within the umbrella term of inpatient care, ranging from Clinically Managed Low-intensity Residential Services to Medically Managed Intensive Inpatient Services.²

Inpatient treatment often refers to care provided in a hospital setting, whereas residential care refer to treatment provided in a hotel-like setting.

Exactly which services provided in residential or inpatient treatment will depend on the particular facility and the patient’s individual needs.

How Long Do People Stay in Residential Treatment?

Residential treatment services can vary significantly in length. However, research shows that a longer time spent in treatment (90 days or more) is generally associated with more successful outcomes. The length of stay for long term drug rehab programs will depend on your personalized situation and treatment plan. Patients often supplement residential programs or inpatient treatment with outpatient care.

Learn more about:

• Same Day Rehab Admissions
• 30 Day Rehab Programs
• 60 Day Rehab Programs
• 90 Day Rehab Programs
• Call us at

Medical Detox and Withdrawal Management

The physical components of treatment involve freeing the body of its dependence on the addictive substance.

When people enter drug treatment, one of the first crucial tasks is to detoxify the system and get through the often challenging, and sometimes dangerous, process of withdrawing from the addictive substances. In residential treatment, this is best performed through medically-supported detox and withdrawal that can help ease the symptoms of withdrawal while keeping individuals safe.

Withdrawal usually involves at least some discomfort, which can be lessened through various medications administered by doctors and other medical professionals.

In the case of addiction to certain substances, such as alcohol, opiates, and benzodiazepine drugs (benzos), withdrawal can be dangerous and even life-threatening.

Even low-dose benzos, if used over a long period of time, can result in severe withdrawal symptoms that must be managed under the care of a professional who can administer medications to help prevent the worst symptoms.³ In most instances, individuals addicted to alcohol, opiates, and benzos should not attempt to detox cold turkey on their own.

Medications for Substance Use Disorder

For some individuals, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) can be an effective component of addiction recovery—particularly withdrawal symptoms from substances like alcohol or opioids.

Maintenance medications can help reduce cravings and the need for the high that the substance provides. This can give the person more time to develop tools to avoid behaviors and situations that might trigger relapse.

Addressing Mental and Emotional Factors in Treatment

In addition to detox and medical support, effective treatment for substance use disorder often includes psychological and social therapies. These approaches help individuals understand and manage the underlying factors contributing to addiction, such as past trauma, emotional regulation challenges, or unhealthy relationship patterns.5

Recognizing Co-Occurring Disorders

For individuals with a dual diagnosis—when a substance use disorder occurs alongside mental health conditions like depression or anxiety—it’s essential that both conditions are addressed at the same time. This integrated approach improves treatment outcomes and reduces the risk of relapse.

A skilled treatment team that understands the interplay between mental health and substance use is key to providing the right level of care.

Why Individual Therapy Matters

Something as simple as a strong therapeutic relationship between patient and counselor can significantly impact a person’s recovery journey.⁴ While most programs include group therapy, individual therapy often allows for deeper, personalized work that supports lasting change.

Through therapy, patients learn to:

• Identify and understand emotional triggers.
• Explore and challenge thought patterns tied to cravings.
• Navigate relationships that may increase relapse risk.
• Build healthy coping mechanisms to support long-term recovery.

These tools can help individuals break the cycle of addiction and maintain progress after leaving treatment.

Comprehensive Therapy

Other components of treatment involve psychological and social therapies that help the person being treated to understand and manage contributing factors to the addiction. This can be especially helpful for those who have a dual diagnosis, such as addiction that occurs alongside other mental health disorders such as depression or anxiety.

In cases of dual diagnosis, all co-occurring issues must be treated simultaneously. Because of this, it’s important to have a treatment team that understands all the factors in play.

Something as simple as the rapport experienced between a counselor and client can contribute to a higher likelihood of continued recovery after treatment.⁴

As a result, individual therapy is essential to effective addiction treatment. While most programs incorporate some forms of group therapy, specific gains are often made in individual therapy.

Educating clients about the mental and emotional contributors to their addiction can help them recognize the triggers that might reignite the addictive cycle. It is also helpful to enable individuals to process the thought patterns that accompany cravings and the relationships that may encourage relapse, so they can develop coping mechanisms to help them work through, or avoid, certain thoughts or circumstances that might cause them to relapse. This can be accomplished through various forms of therapy.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Residential Treatment

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of counseling that helps a person learn to recognize the specific situations that cause addictive behaviors to occur, so the person can then practice strategies to avoid those triggers and behaviors. CBT is offered in most residential treatment programs and is effective for aiding in the recovery from substance use disorders.

A research review from The American Journal of Psychiatry cited a number of studies in which the effects of CBT were not only helpful while the therapy was in process, but were also effective, even sometimes growing more effective, after therapy was discontinued.⁵

One of these studies found that adding CBT to a slow taper of benzos for people with anxiety disorders was more helpful in reducing benzo use than the slow taper alone. Three months after treatment, 77 percent of those who had received both the slow taper and the therapy remained in recovery.⁵

Family or Couples Counseling and Education

During residential treatment, it’s helpful to get the individual’s family or partner involved in therapy. This can encourage family members to support the person’s new skills and behaviors after treatment is over.

As discussed in the Treatment Improvement Protocols from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), information about the substance use disorder and its implications can support the recovery person’s loved ones. This information includes:

• What the treatments are and how they work.
• What to expect after the person is released from treatment.
• How to support the results of treatment.
• Post-treatment programs and resources.

In many cases, it can also be important to provide counseling to the individual and loved ones together. This can help everyone involved learn how to build new patterns that support recovery rather than returning to old behaviors that could lead to relapse.

The family can begin to learn how to recognize and avoid codependent or enabling behaviors. This can build a healthier way of relating to each other and assist in preventing the thoughts and situations that may lead to relapse.

How Much Does Residential Rehab Cost?

The cost of residential rehab and inpatient rehab will vary based on your location, the particular services offered at your rehab facility, your insurance coverage or method of payment, and various other factors.

To discover whether your health insurance may cover the full or partial cost of treatment at any American Addiction Centers facility, enter your information in our form below.

Post-Residential Recovery Program Tools and Resources

A practical component of residential treatment is setting clients up for success after they leave their treatment program. If clients are able to practice and begin using skills and resources while in treatment, they are more likely to be able to maintain their recovery in the months and years following rehab.

These strategies can include follow-up interviews to check in and provide motivation for continued commitment or encouragement to join mutual recovery groups and fellowships, such as 12-Step or alternative support programs.

Finding an Effective Residential Treatment Program

Treatment is more likely to help those struggling with addiction when it is customized to meet the specific individual’s physical, psychological, and practical needs.

Residential treatment facilities that offer evidence-based treatments and therapies like the ones discussed above offer their patients a fighting chance at sobriety and recovery.

Call to speak to a compassionate admissions navigator and learn more about residential treatment at AAC facilities. You can also verify your insurance using the confidential form below.