10 Reasons to Go to Rehab
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction to drugs or alcohol, treatment can help. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, addiction treatment can help people stop using drugs, resume productive lives, and maintain substance-free lifestyles.1
That said, many people who need treatment don’t get it. The 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that while 54.6 million people needed treatment in the previous year, only 13.1 million people received it.2
People might opt out of rehab for different reasons, such as the cost or lack of insurance, issues relating to work or family life, feeling they can handle things on their own, stigmatization, or having previously tried treatment and experiencing a relapse.2 However, none of these issues need to be barriers to treatment, as rehabs offer numerous solutions such as payment options, an understanding and compassionate atmosphere, and flexible schedules including evening and weekend hours or even telehealth care. In addition, if you’re discouraged by a previous relapse, please know that relapse is a normal part of the recovery process. It can help you learn what didn’t work and how you can make needed adjustments. So it’s not a failure but rather a valuable learning opportunity.1
If you’re considering rehab, there are far more reasons to go to rehab than there are valid reasons to not seek treatment. Keep reading to learn why people go to rehab, the benefits that treatment programs can offer you or your loved one, and how to decide when to go to rehab.
1. Detox Safely and Comfortably
Medically managed detox is a valuable option that can provide the necessary support, and in many cases withdrawal-management medications, to help people stop using substances and undergo withdrawal as safely and comfortably as possible. Medical detox offers a set of interventions that are designed to manage acute intoxication and withdrawal, prevent potentially life-threatening complications, and help people achieve a medically stable, substance-free state.3
Detox can take place in inpatient or outpatient settings depending on a person’s unique needs and the substance used. Additionally, patients may receive FDA-approved medications to help treat withdrawal symptoms and associated concerns. Sometimes, medication is not used, but other supportive interventions can be provided.3
Withdrawal from some substances such as alcohol and benzodiazepines can be potentially dangerous. In other cases, such as with opioids, withdrawal is uncomfortable but not usually life-threatening.3 In either case, medically managed detox can help people through this challenging phase of drug treatment and help pave the way for ongoing recovery and further treatment.
2. Obtain Professional Support
It can be hard to deal with drug addiction and stay sober on your own, especially without a strong support system.1 A rehab offers professional support from trained, qualified staff, such as physicians, therapists, and counselors, who can offer medical assistance and psychological and emotional support during the entire recovery process. Often, these care providers have been in your shoes and have dealt with addiction themselves. So they can support you with empathy and understanding. It’s important to note that both rehab center staff and facilities should be accredited, certified, and/or licensed in their state.4
3. Develop a Daily Routine Within a Structured Environment
People struggling with substance use disorders often benefit from the structure and routine offered by rehabs, especially when substance use is no longer a part of their daily lives. Rehabs do not tolerate substance use, and they continually provide monitoring and support to ensure that people are adhering to their treatment plans.5 Cultivating new, healthy habits isn’t always easy, and the structured activities and daily routines offered by rehabs can help people make better choices and develop healthier daily routines.
To provide some perspective on what a day in rehab might look like, consider this schedule from Greenhouse Treatment Center, one of several fully accredited and evidence-based treatment centers offered by American Addiction Centers.
- 6:30 a.m.–7:50 a.m.: Breakfast.
- 7:00 a.m.–7:45 a.m.: Personal time, homework.
- 7:45 a.m.–9:00 a.m.: Recreational time to attend yoga, meditate, work out, or relax.
- 9:00 a.m.–11:40 a.m.: Groups.
- 11:50 a.m.–1:30 p.m.: Lunch/free time.
- 1:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m.: Groups or educational classes.
- 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.: Dinner/free or recreational time.
- 7:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.: AA or NA.
- 8:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m.: Big Book study.
- 10:00 p.m.–11:00 p.m.: Reading, homework, reflection.
- 11:00 p.m.: Lights out.
4. Enhance Mental and Physical Health
Many people with substance use disorders also struggle with co-occurring disorders, which means that they have both an addiction and a mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety. The advisable course of action is to treat both conditions at the same time, a practice known as integrated treatment.1
Some facilities, such as those offered by American Addiction Centers (AAC), offer integrated treatment to treat co-occurring disorders alongside addictions. Treatment focuses on whole-person care, which can include additional interventions paired with standard treatment, such as vocational therapy, nutritional therapy, exercise, mindfulness, and other complementary modalities, which can enhance a person’s overall mental and physical health beyond just treating the addiction and mental health condition.5
5. Foster Confidence and Personal Growth
Rehabs offer different forms of therapy that may include individual, group, and family counseling. Participating in counseling can help foster confidence, promote personal growth, and provide psychoeducation regarding different factors, such as addiction, nutrition, problem-solving and coping strategies, and relapse prevention.1 Achieving success in recovery can not only help improve a person’s coping and relapse prevention skills but also foster a sense of self-efficacy and confidence that they can step out of their comfort zones, face challenges, and accomplish important personal goals.5
6. Repair Relationships
Addiction doesn’t just affect the person with the SUD; it also has an impact on everyone in that person’s life, including family members.6 Treatment that includes relationship, couples, or family therapy can help repair relationships that may have been damaged by the addiction, help people develop healthier ways of relating to each other, restore a sense of trust, and create healthier relationships overall as a person moves forward in their recovery.7
7. Uncover the Roots of Addiction and Break the Cycle
Rehab can help people uncover and work through the underlying issues (e.g., emotional issues or trauma) that led or contributed to the development of the addiction.8 By addressing these issues, people may decrease the likelihood of their children or other important people in their lives being impacted by addiction and perpetuating the cycle of addiction.6
8. Receive Ongoing Recovery Assistance
Recovery is a lifelong process that doesn’t stop when a person completes treatment. Aftercare is an important component of a comprehensive recovery plan that can help support a person’s progress in treatment, address a return to substance use if it should occur, and help people re-engage in treatment when necessary.9
Aftercare can involve different interventions, such as individual therapy, support groups, and alumni networks and events that can help you stay connected to peers who are also in recovery. Rehabs can help craft a personalized aftercare plan that meets your needs and connects you to community resources so you have the optimal chance for long-term recovery success.5
9. Build a Strong Support Network
Social support is a crucial component of successful recovery. Associating with people who are also in recovery, who are working to improve their lives, and who know what it’s like to be in your shoes is positively correlated with sustained recovery. Working toward recovery in a group of peers via mutual support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA), can help you create positive, healthy, and lasting relationships; potentially decrease the risk of relapse; and obtain the tools necessary to build healthier relationships once you leave rehab.10
10. Transform and Save Your Life
Addiction can take an enormous toll on your entire life, including your physical, mental, emotional, and financial well-being.5 For example, people with addictions can experience an increased likelihood of incurring serious physical and mental health conditions that can result in numerous detrimental consequences, including a risk of suicide, overdose, coma, and brain damage.1,11,12 By removing substance misuse and addiction from this equation, rehab can save your life, potentially extend your lifespan, and help you sustain improvements in almost all areas of your life.13
AAC Substance Misuse Treatment
If you’re wondering “Do I need to go to rehab?” or if someone you care about is struggling, treatment can help. Reach out to American Addiction Centers (AAC) at for a free and confidential call. Available 24/7, admissions navigators can not only listen to your story but also answer questions about treatment and assist in locating a facility to meet your needs. If you’re not sure which rehab center is best for you, “How to Choose a Rehab Facility” provides a list of several factors to consider.
No matter which facility you choose, help is available whenever you’re ready. Reach out via or sign up for a 24/7 text support today.
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