Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic relapsing disease which can occur after prolonged alcohol use. AUD means that you continue to drink despite knowing the negative effects it has on your life.¹Luckily, 30-day rehab programs and other forms of treatment can help you stop the cycle of addiction. Even though longer periods of treatment may be linked with better treatment outcomes, shorter programs such as 30-day inpatient rehab for alcoholism can still help people begin their alcohol recovery journey towards long-term sobriety.

What is a 30-Day Alcohol Rehab Program?

A 30-day rehab program is a short-term inpatient form of treatment that can help you get started with the recovery process. Generally speaking, addiction treatment programs have different lengths, including 30-days programs, 60-day rehab programs, or 90-day addiction treatment programs.^2,3Patients who attend a 30-day rehab, however, live onsite for the duration of the program and receive around-the-clock monitoring, support, and various forms of treatment. Thirty days can be a beneficial way to start recovery, but it’s important to note that the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) says a longer treatment stay is associated with greater success for most individuals.³ Studies show that most people need at least 90 days to substantially reduce or stop substance abuse.³

Before entering a 30-day treatment center or program, a medical professional will perform a comprehensive evaluation during your intake to help determine which treatment program is right for you. In addition, other factors such as your insurance coverage may play a role in the length of your residential stay. No matter what type of program you enter, your treatment plan will be tailored and adjusted to your needs as required to help you abstain from drinking and return to a more functional and productive life.³

What Happens During a 30-day Alcohol Rehab Program?

Effective treatment at a 30-day alcohol rehab program involves adjusting your treatment plan as your needs change.³ It can therefore look different from person to person because not everyone has the same needs or recovers at the same rate.

The different levels of rehab available range in intensity, with some programs requiring more participation (and even residential stays) and longer hours than others. In order, these include:

The level of care that you enroll in will be based on your needs at the time of admission. If it is determined that you require a higher level of care, you might “step up” to a more intense form of treatment, or, if you require a lower level of care, you may “step down” to a less intense form of treatment.^3,4

Through these levels of care, behavioral therapies are provided and medications may be prescribed on an as-needed basis.³This combined approach is especially beneficial for patients with co-occurring disorders.

A co-occurring disorder means that you have a mental health condition (like depression or anxiety) along with a substance use disorder. It’s proven effective to treat both disorders at the same time to have better outcomes.³Many facilities offer different approaches and services, so if you suspect that you have a co-occurring disorder, it’s advisable to consult the rehab you are considering about dual diagnosis recovery options before you enter treatment.¹

What Are the Benefits of 30-Day Alcohol Rehab Programs?

The benefits of a 30-day alcohol rehab program can be many, but generally will include the perks of attending evidence-based addiction treatment in a supportive, inpatient environment. Of the many benefits of this length of rehab, some include:^3,5,6

Receiving medical detox. An inpatient 30-day program can offer a safe place for you to undergo detox, as you will receive constant medical support, monitoring, and medication to help avoid potential complications that can occur during alcohol withdrawal. It also offers the best continuity of care, which means that in most cases, you can transition to treatment at the same facility.
Removing distractions. An inpatient setting allows you to fully focus on recovery in a safe and supportive environment by removing the distractions of everyday life.
Obtaining support. Living among others in recovery and receiving peer support in a residential setting can help you engage more fully in treatment, lessen feelings of isolation, and begin building a a strong recovery community for yourself.
Learning skills. While in treatment, you will not only begin learning skills that can help you cope better and avoid relapse, but you will also be able to put them into action in real time, all while being supported by staff and other patients.

Therapies Used in 30-Day Alcohol Addiction Treatment Programs

A 30-day inpatient rehab program can also be a beneficial way of getting started on your recovery without a long-term commitment to a lengthy stay in treatment. You’ll still receive the same treatments offered at longer-term facilities, which includes medications and behavioral therapies such as:¹

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps you transform unhelpful and unhealthy thoughts and behaviors that contributed to your addiction into positive and healthy coping skills that can build your relapse prevention skills.
Motivational interviewing (MI), which helps increase your motivation to stop drinking and make positive changes to your life.
Family therapy, which can help strengthen your relationships and address issues that may have developed as a result of your addiction.
Mutual support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), which provide an extra form of support to help you stay sober.

Remember that a longer treatment stay can be beneficial for many people. If you complete a 30-day rehab, discuss with your treatment team if transitioning to another form of care to continue your recovery journey would be valuable for you.³

How to Choose a 30-Day Alcohol Addiction Treatment Program

When determining which 30-day rehab programs may be best for you, it can be helpful to consider certain features and characteristics of these programs, including:⁷

Accreditation: Look to make sure that the rehab facility has a license(s) and accreditation(s) from an independent review board.
Amenities: Ask about the amenities offered; this can include private rooms or features such as a spa or massage treatments, or just the general surroundings and environment of the rehab.
Specialized groups and tracks: Specialized programs or groups in a month-long rehab program can be especially beneficial for people who have specific needs, such as members of the LGBTQ+ community, Veterans, or those who may prefer a gender-specific program.
Aftercare services: Aftercare refers to the plan that is put in place to help prevent relapse once treatment is completed. Ask the facility if they work with you to develop a plan to transition to another form of treatment (such as outpatient treatment or a sober living home) once formal treatment is complete or what kind of services they offer post-treatment.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has also provided a list of questions you may consider asking the 1-month rehab programs you are looking into prior to your admission. These include the following:⁸

Are you licensed and accredited?
Do you have onsite doctors or other professionals who can prescribe medications?
Do you offer medication-assisted therapy (MAT)?
Do you offer treatment for co-occurring disorders?
What is your treatment approach?
How soon can I start treatment?
How do you develop a treatment plan?
Is the treatment plan personalized and adjusted throughout the course of treatment?
What are your expectations of patients and their families during treatment?
What types of aftercare or support do you offer once treatment has been completed?

Does Health Insurance Cover 30-Day Alcohol Addiction Programs?

Yes, insurance typically offers some level of coverage for all types of addiction treatment programs, including 30-day programs. This is because of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which requires all health insurance plans to provide some degree of coverage for the medically necessary treatment of alcohol use disorder.⁹ While treatment should be covered by most insurance plans, the degree of health insurance coverage for rehab can vary based on your specific plan and additional factors such as:

Where you attend treatment.
How long you remain in treatment.
The level of intensity of treatment.

The most effective way to get the most from your insurance is to reach out to your insurance provider directly. They can give you the details of your individual benefits plan, including what your options are for addiction treatment coverage. Dong this can help alleviate any issues you may stumble upon while looking into any type of addiction treatment program, including 30-day rehab programs.

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