30-Day Drug & Alcohol Addiction Treatment Programs

Getting help for a substance use disorder (SUD) can be a life-changing experience. A 30-day rehab program is a common form of addiction treatment. Here’s how month-long rehab works.

What Is a 30-Day Addiction Treatment Program?

The goal of any drug or alcohol rehab program—whether it’s a short-term addiction treatment program, month-long, or long-term (60+ days) treatment plan—is to help someone not only leave treatment sober, but gain the skills needed to sustain long-term sobriety.

Considering that addiction is a complex medical disorder, treatment is individualized and may include different types of services or levels of care depending on each patient’s needs.¹ Desert Hope offers multiple services at varying intensity levels of addiction treatment, including:

• Medical detox.
• Residential addiction treatment.
• Partial hospitalization (“day treatment”).
• Intensive outpatient care.
• Standard outpatient rehab treatment.
• Sober living housing.
• Aftercare planning.

Which type of addiction treatment is right for the patient will depend on their individual needs and preferences. Patients may move through more than one level of care in their 30 days of treatment.

Does Health Insurance Cover 30-Day Rehab Programs?

Most insurers are required to provide coverage for addiction treatment due to federal mandates.² The extent of this coverage for 30-day programs, however, varies between insurers and policies.

Finding a facility in the plan’s network helps to keep the cost of treatment at a minimum. Some plans provide limited coverage for out-of-network facilities, while others may provide no coverage at all.

Those interested in checking whether their insurer covers treatment at Desert Hope can use the confidential .

For those who don’t have insurance or need help with the out-of-pocket costs, Desert Hope offers financing options and other ways to pay for rehab.

What to Expect at a 30-Day Addiction Rehab Program

Upon admission, staff will evaluate patients and help them decide on the right course of treatment. Medical and clinical staff will ask questions and perform tests to determine: ³

• Which substances the patient has been using.
• The concentration of substances in the patient’s system.
• Whether the patient has any co-occurring physical and mental health concerns.
• The patient’s home life and social situation.
• The patient’s medical and mental health history.

Many patients will begin their 30 days of rehab undergoing supervised medical detox. This phase of treatment is important because it allows patients to go through acute withdrawal under medical supervision. Experiencing certain withdrawal symptoms without proper monitoring or medical support can be extremely unpleasant and even dangerous in some instances.³

While medical detox is often a crucial first step in treating a SUD, by itself it may not be sufficient in helping someone achieve long-term abstinence from substance misuse.¹ Rehab, in either an inpatient or outpatient setting, is where patients develop skills they need to recognize and better cope with stressors and other triggers that resulted in problematic substance use. The evidence-based treatment methods used during rehab can help people to avoid relapse, support their efforts in achieving long-term sobriety, and steer them clear of substances and other threats to remission.^1,4 Desert Hope helps patients gain these skills through drug education, evidence-based behavioral therapies, medications, and training on life skills (such as setting boundaries, asserting oneself, and working toward forgiveness).

Therapies for addiction treatment are practiced both in group and individual settings during a 30-day rehab program.⁴ Common psychotherapy methods include, but are not limited to:^5-7

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps patients identify harmful thoughts, feelings, and patterns to prevent future self-destructive behaviors.
• Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), which helps patients come to terms with negative thoughts and behaviors and slowly create a plan for change.
• Motivational interviewing, which helps patients eliminate ambivalence and grow their motivation for recovery.
• Family therapy, which brings families together to improve their behavioral patterns and heal the family unit.

Desert Hope uses all of these evidence-based therapies, as well as certain  for opioid and alcohol use disorders.

What Comes After a 30-Day Rehab Stay?

When rehab ends, aftercare or continuing care helps patients maintain their recovery and form a support network of like-minded peers. Near the end of a month-long rehabilitation program at Desert Hope, case managers meet with patients to form an aftercare or continuing care plan. For some, this may mean extending treatment, stepping down to a less intensive program (e.g., moving from a residential program to an outpatient one), or moving into a sober living facility. Others may need less intensive aftercare, such as regular individual therapy sessions or attending weekly 12-Step meetings (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous) or joining another mutual help group.

Desert Hope also provides support after rehab by facilitating patients’ entry into a robust alumni program that includes quarterly alumni events, access to our Recovery App for staying connected to peers, and monthly in-person meetings.

Get Admitted to a 30-Day Rehab

If you are struggling with a substance use disorder, treatment can change your life. Call an admissions navigator at to learn about the rehab admissions process and the care options at Desert Hope. Our admissions navigators can help answer your questions and go over your insurance benefits with you.

To make sure your addiction treatment is covered at Desert Hope, complete the confidential benefits verification form below. We will email you the results within a matter of minutes.