Last Updated on January 29, 2017 by Morris Green

Making choices about substance abuse recovery care can be the most stressful and difficult decision-making you’ll ever do. Not only are the treatment options varied and intricate, but you or your loved one is also going through an undoubtedly difficult time, making the process even more complex. Fortunately, the decision between short-term and long-term treatment can be easily simplified. Let’s take a look at the strengths of each treatment type to understand what goes into this important choice.

What Do They Have In Common?

Both types of treatment focus deeply on teaching clients how to deal with their substance use issues in a practical, pragmatic way. Things like coping mechanisms, relapse warning signals, and responsible decision making are addressed by long- and short-term programs alike. Counselors will work with clients to develop real-world strategies for maintaining sobriety even during challenging life periods. Developing boundaries and limits will be a large part of both program’s focus.

How Are They Different?

A long-term program will provide more time to understand the biological, psychological, and sociological causes of addiction and how the client can overcome them. This process is likely to include work to build support systems, recognize unhealthy relationships, and establish healthy boundaries outside of therapy. The long-term client will be taught to look within themselves for insight into the root of their substance use and to overcome the self-defense patterns that can keep them locked in a cycle of addiction. Long-term therapies take a more in-depth, holistic approach to recovery.

What Will Your Counselor Recommend?

There are many factors that go into determining which duration of care you or your loved one will need. The severity of substance use, support outside of therapy, and countless other factors should be taken into consideration. If a month of drug-free living will provide the perspective necessary to make more clear-headed decisions about further treatment, short-term care might be the perfect option. If the addiction is more long-standing and inter-woven into the client’s lifestyle, long-term care may be necessary to extricate the client from the web of bad habits they find themselves in.

Blending Benefits of Both Treatments

No matter which type of care you decide on, recovery is a lifelong process. If short-term care is the best option for you right now, you can strengthen its positive effects by incorporating more long-term techniques after the program has run its course. Continued participation in group or individual therapy, further education on the physiology and psychology of addiction, and a strong support network can drastically reduce the instance of relapse. Your substance abuse counselor will work with you to ensure you receive the most benefit possible from your individual program.

To make your decision as easy as possible, we recommend taking a three-step approach to reviewing your program options. Ask yourself these three questions:

• What does my counselor recommend?
• What resources do I have outside of the program?
• Which program will suit my particular life’s demands?

Your answers will help you make a strong, thoughtful decision about the best term options for your care.