Long term drug treatment programs are more effective than short term programs for treating addiction. Addictions develop over long periods of time due to underlying trauma and insecurities, and short term programs do not provide enough time to overcome those factors. Long term programs allow individuals to develop coping skills, overcome fears and insecurities, and experience life without drugs or alcohol in a supportive environment. This gives them a stronger foundation for long term recovery compared to short term programs, which only provide an introduction without the ability to practice recovery skills in the real world.

1. Long Term Drug
Treatment

2. Drug and alcohol addiction and dependency did not
develop overnight or over a twenty eight day period. An
addiction is developed over a long period of time. It is a
slow gradual process. There is usually a lot of fear,
insecurity, and trauma that fuels addiction. Those
contributing factors are what keep the individual "sick"
and active in their disease. A short term program does
not allow the individual with the time to conquer those
contributing factors. It merely is a band aid for the
problem. It temporarily removes the addicted individual
from temptation.

3. Short term programs provide an introduction to recovery.
But that often is not enough. Once the individual returns
to society, they lack the skills and the confidence to
utilize the tools of recovery to stay sober. It is also not
uncommon for addicted individuals to enter treatment to
"run from their problems. It acts as a vacation from life.
However, life is waiting when they return they do not
have the ability to remain abstinent.

4. Long term programs allow for the individual to experience
recovery. The individual has the opportunity to develop
and learn the missing tools and coping skills that are
required to live a sober life. The new skills are like any
other skills; it takes time, focus, practice, and experience
support to master them successfully. The long term
setting provides addicted individuals with the time
needed to overcome their fears and insecurities while
coming to peace with past trauma. Chances for recovery
improve when distanced from addiction and using
associated "people, places, and things".

5. The resolve to recover and remain there is stronger when
residents are not only exposed to a new way of life but
they are having the opportunity to experience the
rewards of clean living and helping others. The key to
success is the addict/alcoholics desire to become sober
and achieve serenity. Having experience a period of
sobriety, people develop a willingness to maintain their
new lifestyle.

6. Over the past five years, I have been working in the drug and
alcohol treatment industry. My experience has shown that
the longer an individual is removed from temptation their
chances of recovery increase dramatically. Recovery is
more than just physically sobriety. It is about finding a new
way of living that allows for addicts to face life on life's
terms. Addicts always want the world to revolve around
their needs. Being in recovery, allows them to face the
challenges of life as they encountered without the need to
alter their mind and body with substances. Long term
programs give addicts an opportunity to do this in a safe
and supportive environment.

7. My sources:
http://www.non12steprehabs.org/long-term-drug-rehab.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?Long-Term-DrugTreatment&id=7119442