BENEFITS OF LONG-TERM TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Overcoming the ravages and devastation of addiction and alcoholism is an arduous process and requires more than a handful of pat phrases and canned suggestions. It requires constant vigilance and awareness of the conditions that contribute to relapsing into old behaviors. Long-term treatment, as offered first in a residential treatment facility and then through its extended care programs, is the most effective form of therapy for individuals struggling with substance abuse as it combines the best practices of all other forms of substance abuse therapy.
Long-term treatment for addiction or alcoholism from a substance abuse treatment center provides immediate and direct care for the individual. Once a treatment program has been completed and the individual is released, he or she is enrolled in a number of post-treatment programs. This two-pronged approach gives the recovering addict or alcoholic the opportunity to inculcate and practice the new skill sets acquired during rehab while being monitored and guided through the process of returning to life in society. While there may be many different components, the ones selected are those that will give the individual the best chance of remaining sober.