Drug Rehabs, Alcohol Rehabs, Drug Rehab Programs and Alcohol Rehab Programs; All the Same Team 

Drug rehabs, drug rehab programs, alcohol rehab programs, drug treatment programs, drug rehab centers and alcohol rehab centers are all terms used to describe the same addiction treatment service- a treatment environment for recovery from drug addiction and/or alcoholism, with a primary emphasis on drugs and alcohol rather than mental health. The addiction treatment centers mentioned are usually designed as residential addiction treatment programs, but can also be outpatient addiction treatment or partial hospitalization (also called day/night) treatment programs. Drug rehab and alcohol treatment centers, whether they are residential treatment centers or day/night addiction treatment programs, provide a supportive setting in which to recover from drug addiction and alcoholism. 

Outpatient addiction treatment programs and intensive outpatient addiction treatment programs are more aptly suited to individuals who have already completed inpatient drug rehab or a primary residential alcohol treatment program. Individuals who hope to find success in an outpatient addiction treatment setting must already have some distance from drug use or alcohol abuse and must be stable and have the ability to function in an uncontrolled environment when not at the addiction treatment center for rehabilitation services. 

Drug rehabs have existed since the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, however at that time they were not called drug rehabs or alcohol treatment centers. The disease of drug addiction and alcoholism (as defined by the American Medical Association) was not seen as being a disease or an illness. It was wrongly categorized as a disorder no different from schizophrenia or other psychoses, which is why many drug rehabs and alcohol treatment centers began as what would have been considered at the time mental health hospitals and mental health treatment centers. The disease concept of alcoholism and drug addiction has only existed since the 1950’s, and even then took some time to become widely accepted, it’s growth coinciding directly with the growth of twelve-step programs, the first and most well known of which being AA or Alcoholics Anonymous. 

Today, drug rehabs, alcohol rehabs and drug treatment centers have become available nationwide. There is no one drug rehab that is right for everyone, so before choosing a particular drug rehab or alcohol rehab, educate yourself about the different types of drug rehab programs available and their particular addiction treatment philosophy.