60-Day Rehab Programs

According to research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the best outcomes occur with longer durations of treatment, with 90-day and up treatments being shown as statistically the most successful options. However, not everyone is able to sacrifice three months to attend rehab, and it might not always be necessary for those with comparatively mild addictions.

60-day treatment is largely the same as 30-day rehab but with more recovery and aftercare preparation time. Two-month rehab options can be a good middle ground for those who have less than severe addictions but still need more time in a sober environment than a 30-day treatment program can offer.

Rehab programs offer different treatments to patients based on their level and type of addiction. Most employ a combination of evidence-based medical and behavioral therapies to address both the physical and psychological causes of addiction. They include:

• Detox services
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Contingency Management Interventions
• Community Reinforcement Therapy
• Motivational Enhancement Therapy
• The Matrix Model
• 12-Step Facilitation Therapy
• Family Behavior Therapy
• Medication-Assisted Therapy
• Individual and Group Counseling

For more information on the various types of therapy, read our guide on The Addiction Rehabilitation Process

Two month, or 60-day rehab programs that offer these types of treatment are either inpatient residential treatment or outpatient intensive day treatment. Both of these environments provide intensive therapy and require a significant commitment from the patient.

Inpatient residential treatment requires patients to live full-time at the rehabilitation center and have constant access to both medical professionals and a sober environment at all time. Outpatient intensive day treatment offers 2-4 hours of focused intensive care, but allows for the patient to return home after each session.

90- and 120-180 day programs tend to focus the most on positive individual lifestyle changes for the patient, including dietary changes and daily exercise to naturally improve mood and avoid a backslide. On the other hand, 30-day programs tend to focus more intensely on detoxing and treating the addiction and its immediate effects.

60-day programs are different from longer term programs because they don’t have the same holistic approach. Instead, they focus on treating the addiction itself. While 60-day programs have a similar approach to 30-day programs, they allow more time to focus on therapy and preparing for aftercare.

• There’s more time to focus on what comes after rehab. Although 30-day rehab offers focused care for the addiction at hand, it doesn’t leave much time to prepare for what comes after. 60-day rehab allows for a smoother transition to “normal life.”

• 60-day rehab is the least time consuming of the long-term treatments. Long-term rehab can run from 60 days to 180 days. For most, 60 days is the easiest to manage.

• It’s the most affordable long-term rehab. If long-term care is required, 60-day treatment is considerably cheaper than 90-180 day options.

• 90 to 180-day treatments are more effective for severe addiction. Treatments less than 90 days have been shown to have lower recovery and higher relapse rates than treatments lasting 90 days or longer.
• 60-day treatment is less likely to be covered by insurance. While insurance policies often cover 30-day treatments, anything longer than that is less likely to be covered by the average insurer. If you’re considering enrolling in a 60-day treatment program and believe finances may be an issue after the first 30 days, check with the rehab facility to see what type of payment assistance they offer.

Rehab is never a one-size-fits-all situation. Every person and addiction requires a different level of care to best ensure rehabilitation. A trained professional can help you decide if a 60-day program is the best option for you. In general, 60-day treatments are best for those with a moderate level of addiction.

Here are some of the most important factors to consider:

• Evidence-Based Treatment Options: It’s important that the facility you choose utilizes extensively-researched treatments that have been shown to be effective in fighting addiction. These evidenced-based therapies represent your best chance at maintaining abstinence after your 30-day stay. Also, every person responds differently to treatment, so a clinic that offers the most treatment options is more likely to have one to fit your needs.
• Staff Credentials: You shouldn’t expect all of the staff at a rehab facility to be medical professionals, but because of the physical symptoms and possible health risks associated with substance withdrawal, a quality center should have at least one licensed medical practitioner on-hand. Likewise, a significant portion of rehab is dedicated to counseling, so it’s also important that the facility employs well-trained counselors and a licensed psychologist or credentialed mental health professional. Not only do credentials make a facility more credible, but they are also often critical to insurance companies covering treatment costs.
• Arranged Aftercare and Support Systems: Patients who enroll in aftercare programs are more likely to maintain abstinence than those who don’t. Aftercare programs include ongoing counseling, 12-step meetings, and sober living homes. The best rehab facilities will arrange aftercare for their patients before completing treatment (either at the same facility or through an affiliated program) to help ensure their success.

For more information, read our full guide, “Choosing the Right Rehab” 

The cost of treatment varies by facility, especially among residential programs. In addition to professional treatment, the price of residential rehab also includes room and board, food, and amenities. Therefore, factors like location, the level of luxury, and treatment services offered can increase the cost.

Completing a rehab program isn’t the end of addiction recovery. Studies show that aftercare is one of the most critical aspects of successful rehabilitation and is one of the biggest deterrents to relapse.

If you’ve decided that a 60-day treatment program is the best path forward for you, use our directory (above) to find a facility. Be sure to consult with addiction professionals before making a final decision on which rehab length and service setting is appropriate for your unique situation.

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