Safe & Intensive Inpatient Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment

• Inpatient rehab means living at a treatment facility full-time, with 24/7 medical and therapeutic support, so you or your loved one can focus entirely on recovery.
• Programs typically run 30, 60, or 90 days. The National Institute on Drug Abuse recommends at least 90 days for lasting results.
• Most major insurance plans are required by law to cover inpatient addiction treatment. Medicaid and Medicare also cover it in many cases.
• Inpatient care is especially effective for people with severe addiction, co-occurring mental health conditions like PTSD or depression, or those who have tried outpatient treatment before without success.
• Veterans, first responders, seniors, and families all have access to programs designed specifically around their needs and circumstances.

— National Institute on Drug Abuse

When you arrive, a clinical team conducts a thorough evaluation. They review your medical history, the substances involved, how long use has been occurring, and any co-occurring mental health concerns. This is not an interrogation — it is the foundation of a treatment plan built entirely around your needs. Everything you share is confidential.

If your body is physically dependent on a substance, medical detox is the first step. Under 24/7 medical supervision, you are guided through withdrawal as safely and comfortably as possible. Medications are used when appropriate to ease symptoms. Detox typically takes 3 to 7 days, depending on the substance and the level of dependence.

One-on-one sessions with a licensed therapist are at the heart of inpatient care. Common approaches include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), trauma-focused therapy, and motivational interviewing. These sessions help you understand the roots of your addiction and build the skills to stay well.

Daily group sessions bring together people who share a similar journey. The research is clear: peer support is one of the most powerful elements of recovery. You are not alone in this room, and the connections formed in group therapy often become some of the most important relationships in a person’s ongoing recovery.

Understanding addiction as a medical condition, learning relapse prevention strategies, developing healthy coping mechanisms, and rebuilding life skills are all part of inpatient programming. These sessions prepare you to live well after treatment ends.

A good inpatient program plans for what comes after from day one. Your team will work with you to create a personalized aftercare plan that may include a step-down to a partial hospitalization program (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), sober living, and ongoing therapy. Recovery does not end when you leave.

You Served. You Deserve the Same Level of Care You Gave.

Veterans face addiction at significantly higher rates than the general population, and for reasons that make complete sense. Combat exposure, moral injury, traumatic brain injury, chronic pain, and the isolation that often follows service all create conditions where substances can become the only thing that quiets the noise. That does not make you weak. It makes you human.

Inpatient treatment programs that specialize in veteran care understand military culture. They know that the way you process trauma, build trust, and respond to authority is shaped by your service. Effective programs honor that.

Internal link: Veterans Rehab Program  |  TRICARE Coverage

When Trauma and Addiction Happen Together, They Need to Be Treated Together.

Many people develop substance use disorders as a direct response to trauma. When the brain has been wired by frightening or painful experiences, substances can feel like the only way to feel safe, or simply to feel nothing at all. This is not a character flaw. It is a predictable neurological response to unpredictable pain.

The clinical term is co-occurring disorder, and treating it requires that both the trauma and the addiction receive simultaneous, coordinated care. If you have been told that you need to be sober before you can address your trauma, or that you need to address your trauma before you can get sober, please know that the most effective approach treats both at the same time.

Internal link: PTSD and Addiction: Co-occurring Disorder Treatment

If Someone You Love Is Struggling, You Are Not Powerless.

Loving someone with addiction is one of the most exhausting and heartbreaking things a person can go through. The hope and the fear, the broken promises, the sleepless nights, the not knowing whether today will be the day something terrible happens. You may be reading this page because you are trying to understand what is available, and whether it will actually help.

Inpatient treatment works best when families are involved. Most programs offer family therapy sessions, family education days, and resources to help you understand addiction as a disease rather than a choice. Research is clear that family participation significantly improves long-term recovery outcomes.

Internal links: Codependency Resources  |  Admissions Process

Addiction in Older Adults Is More Common Than Most People Know, and Fully Treatable.

Alcohol and prescription drug misuse among adults aged 65 and older is a growing and often invisible public health issue. Retirement, grief, isolation, chronic pain, and the accumulation of medications can all contribute. Recovery at any age is not only possible — it is profoundly life-changing.

Internal link: Senior and Elder Addiction Treatment

— NIDA Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment, 3rd Edition

Typical range for a 30-day private inpatient program

Average daily cost of private inpatient care

Out-of-pocket for many in-network patients with insurance

Inpatient drug rehab, also called residential treatment, is a form of addiction care where a person lives at a treatment facility 24 hours a day, typically for 30 to 90 days or longer. 

During that time, they receive medical supervision, individual and group therapy, evidence-based behavioral treatments, and skill-building support. Unlike outpatient programs, inpatient care removes the person from their environment and creates a fully structured, sober setting focused entirely on recovery.

Inpatient and residential treatment are often used interchangeably. There is a technical distinction: inpatient treatment typically refers to hospital-based care with intensive medical oversight, often right after acute withdrawal. Residential treatment refers to non-hospital live-in programs in a more home-like setting. At most American Addiction Centers facilities, the two terms describe the same level of care.

The most common program lengths are 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days. Some programs extend to 6 months or longer. The National Institute on Drug Abuse recommends at least 90 days in treatment for meaningful and lasting outcomes. The right length depends on the type and severity of addiction, any co-occurring mental health conditions, and individual progress in treatment.

A 30-day program at a private facility typically costs between $6,000 and $30,000. State-funded programs can be much lower cost or free for eligible individuals. Most private insurance plans cover inpatient addiction treatment, and Medicaid and Medicare also cover it in many cases. Verifying your insurance is the fastest way to understand your actual out-of-pocket costs.

In most cases, yes. The Affordable Care Act requires most health insurance plans to cover substance use disorder treatment, including inpatient rehab, as an essential health benefit. American Addiction Centers is in-network with Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Health, Humana, and many others. You can verify your coverage at no cost using our online tool or by calling our admissions team.

Inpatient rehab is recommended for people with moderate to severe addiction, those who have tried outpatient treatment without success, those with co-occurring mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD, people whose home environment is not supportive of recovery, and those who need medical supervision during withdrawal. It is appropriate for all types of substance use disorders.

A typical day includes wake-up, communal breakfast, individual therapy, group therapy, personal or recreational time, lunch, an afternoon education session, dinner, and an evening support group meeting. Structure replaces the unpredictability of addiction with calm, purpose, and rhythm.

Most inpatient programs allow family visits after an initial stabilization period of one to two weeks. After that, most facilities have scheduled visiting hours and may offer family therapy sessions. Contact the facility directly for their specific visitation policy.