Treatment options
There is no single path to recovery. Different people need different kinds of help, and most people benefit from more than one type of treatment over time. This page explains what the main options are, who they tend to work for, and what to expect from each.
How treatment is organized
Addiction treatment is usually described as a series of 'levels of care,' from most intensive to least. The right starting point depends on the substance involved, how severe the addiction is, what other medical or mental health conditions are present, and what the person's life situation looks like. A doctor or licensed counselor can help match a person to the right level. The American Society of Addiction Medicine maintains the standard guidelines clinicians use to make this match.
Many people move through more than one level of care during recovery. It's common to start with detox, move to inpatient or outpatient treatment, and then continue with ongoing support. Recovery is rarely a single step.
Detox
What it is
Detox, short for medically supervised withdrawal, is the process of safely clearing a substance from the body. It is the first step for many people, especially those with physical dependence on alcohol, opioids, or benzodiazepines. Detox is usually short, typically 3 to 7 days, and is meant to stabilize the body, not to treat the underlying addiction.
Who it's for
Detox is appropriate for anyone with significant physical dependence, particularly when withdrawal could be dangerous. Withdrawal from alcohol and benzodiazepines can be life-threatening and should always be managed medically. Opioid withdrawal is rarely fatal but is severe enough that many people relapse without medical support.
What to expect
Detox can happen in a hospital, a dedicated detox facility, or as part of an inpatient program. Medical staff monitor vital signs, manage symptoms with medication when appropriate, and address any complications. Detox alone is not addiction treatment. People who go through detox without follow-up care relapse at very high rates. Detox should always be followed by ongoing treatment.
Inpatient and residential treatment
What it is
Inpatient treatment, sometimes called residential treatment or rehab, means living at a treatment facility for a period of time. Programs typically last 28 to 90 days, though some are shorter and some longer. Residents follow a structured daily schedule of individual therapy, group therapy, education, and supportive activities.
Who it's for
Inpatient is often recommended for people with severe addiction, those who have tried outpatient treatment without success, those with unstable home environments, or those with co-occurring medical or mental health conditions that need close monitoring. Removing a person from their everyday environment can help them focus on recovery without immediate triggers.
What to expect
Programs vary widely. Some are highly clinical, hospital-style settings. Some are more like recovery communities. Costs range enormously, from publicly funded programs to luxury private facilities. Insurance coverage depends on the plan, the diagnosis, and the program's accreditation. The Joint Commission and CARF are the two most respected accrediting bodies for treatment facilities; programs without one of these accreditations are worth questioning.
Outpatient treatment
What it is
Outpatient treatment means receiving care while continuing to live at home, work, and maintain everyday responsibilities. There are different intensity levels:
- Standard outpatient: typically 1 to 2 sessions per week, often individual therapy plus optional group therapy.
- Intensive outpatient (IOP): 9 to 20 hours per week of programming, usually evenings or mornings to accommodate work or school.
- Partial hospitalization (PHP): 20 or more hours per week, the most intensive outpatient option, often used as a step down from inpatient.
Who it's for
Outpatient works well for people with stable home situations, supportive relationships, and addictions that haven't fully derailed daily life. It's also a common next step after inpatient treatment. People with severe addiction, unsafe home environments, or co-occurring conditions that need close monitoring usually need a higher level of care first.
What to expect
Most outpatient programs combine individual therapy, group therapy, and education about addiction. Some include medication management. The advantage is the ability to apply what you're learning in real life as you go, instead of returning to your everyday environment after a residential stay.
Medication for addiction
Several medications are FDA-approved for the treatment of addiction. They are evidence-based, well-studied, and substantially improve outcomes. Despite this, they remain underused, partly because of stigma in some recovery communities.
For opioid use disorder
Three medications are approved: buprenorphine (often combined with naloxone, sold as Suboxone), methadone, and naltrexone. Buprenorphine and methadone reduce cravings and prevent withdrawal by activating opioid receptors in a controlled way. Naltrexone blocks the effects of opioids if a person uses them. Decades of research show that medication for opioid use disorder reduces overdose deaths, reduces relapse, and improves the chances of long-term recovery.
For alcohol use disorder
Three medications are approved: naltrexone (which reduces cravings and the rewarding effects of alcohol), acamprosate (which helps stabilize the brain after stopping drinking), and disulfiram (which causes unpleasant reactions if alcohol is consumed). These medications are most effective when combined with counseling or therapy.
Common myths
Two myths about medication for addiction are worth addressing directly. First: medication is not 'replacing one drug with another.' These medications work differently than the substances they treat, do not produce the same effects, and are taken under medical supervision. Second: needing medication does not mean a person isn't 'really' in recovery. Recovery means living a full, functional life. Medication that helps a person achieve that is part of treatment, the same way insulin is part of treating diabetes.
Therapy approaches
Most treatment programs use one or more evidence-based therapy approaches. The names can be confusing. Here are the main ones, in plain language.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT helps people identify the thoughts, feelings, and situations that lead to substance use, then practice different responses. It is the most-studied therapy approach for addiction and has consistent evidence behind it. Sessions focus on practical skills and homework between meetings.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Originally developed for people with severe emotional dysregulation, DBT has been adapted for addiction. It teaches four skill sets: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. It can be especially useful for people whose substance use is closely tied to overwhelming emotions.
Motivational Interviewing
A counseling style that helps people work through ambivalence about change, rather than telling them what to do. Particularly useful early in treatment, when a person isn't yet sure they want to stop. Often combined with other approaches.
Contingency Management
A behavioral approach that uses small, tangible rewards (often vouchers or modest cash incentives) for verified abstinence or for meeting treatment goals. The evidence for contingency management is very strong, particularly for stimulant use disorders, where no FDA-approved medications exist. It is underused in the United States despite the evidence.
12-step facilitation and mutual-help groups
Many programs incorporate or refer to mutual-help groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, or Refuge Recovery. These are not therapy in the clinical sense but provide ongoing peer support. Different groups suit different people; AA's spiritual framing works for some and not for others, and there are several alternatives for people who want secular or different-philosophy support.
Sober living and recovery housing
Sober living homes are residential settings where people in recovery live together in a substance-free environment. They are not formal treatment, residents are not in clinical care, but they provide structure, accountability, and peer support during the transition from inpatient treatment back to independent life. Most have house rules (no substances, regular drug testing, attendance at meetings, contributing to household chores) and a length-of-stay expectation.
Quality varies widely. Reputable sober living homes are certified by organizations like the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR). Unregulated 'sober homes' have been the subject of fraud investigations in some states, particularly around insurance billing schemes. If you are considering one, ask about NARR certification and how the home is funded.
How to choose
Choosing the right treatment is rarely a single decision. A doctor or licensed clinician should be involved in the assessment if at all possible, and the SAMHSA helpline (1-800-662-4357) can connect you with assessment resources at no cost.
When evaluating any treatment program, here are reasonable questions to ask:
- Is the program accredited by The Joint Commission, CARF, or an equivalent recognized body?
- What clinical credentials do the staff hold? Are licensed clinicians directly involved in care?
- Does the program offer or coordinate medication for addiction when appropriate?
- What evidence-based therapies are used?
- How does the program handle co-occurring mental health conditions?
- What does aftercare look like? How does the program support recovery after the formal treatment ends?
- What does it cost, and what does insurance cover?
- Are outcomes tracked? Are they shared honestly?
Programs that resist these questions, or that promise specific outcomes ('we have a 95 percent success rate'), should be approached with caution. Honest treatment programs acknowledge that recovery is hard, that relapse is common, and that long-term outcomes depend on many factors beyond any single program.
About this site
TreatAddictions.com is an informational resource. We are not a treatment provider and we do not provide medical advice. The information on this page is meant to help you understand options, not to recommend any specific program or course of treatment. A qualified clinician should be involved in any actual treatment decision.
Information on this page reflects guidance from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). Last reviewed: May 2026.