Do inpatient drug treatment programs actually work?

Not very effective. Less than 50% of people who enroll actually complete the program. Effectiveness rates are between 2 and 20%. 5% is typically considered the spontaneous rate of remission (quitting with no treatment).

Where are you getting those numbers from? And how are you defining effective? I know an older study done in Ohio found that over 45% of users were clean at 12months compared to about 30% of users who quit on their own. Strong support through the process increases the likelihood of success. One problem with the numbers is that a significant number of patients in drug rehab are mandated there to avoid jail time. They don't have a lot of motivation to change for themselves so as soon as they are done, they go right back to their drug of choice.

Even for those who don't quit, rehab programs are what is called risk reducing. Meaning that after completion of the program patients will use on fewer days even up to a year after discharge from a program.

I did eleven days as an inpatient followed by a fairly standard 90 AA meetings in 90 days, getting a sponsor and working the steps, etc. I still go to at least two AA meetings a week, more when I can. I've been sober now for a little over 14 months. That said, I went into rehab as a 46 year old alcoholic who just couldn't take it anymore: I was ready to be done with my drinking and was what some people would classify a "highly motivated" alcoholic. I also had overwhelming support from my wife and family so I'm set up very well in my recovery. 90 days is a long time in rehab and some people, sadly, go in not wanting to stop drinking or using. I think some realize during the rehab that their lives will be better staying clean and sober and so they genuinely work at their recovery; others merely put in their time until they can go back to their old habits again.

Religious Bullshit Anonymous wrote:

My relative, a 25 year old meth addict, just checked himself into a 90 day residential treatment program as an alternative to being cut off and disowned by his parents. I read up on the facility website that it is a 12-step program replete with higher power, turn your life over to God and blah, blah blah. How can something so irrational actually work? Best case scenario is that it keeps him off the shit for three months, worst case is that he just befriends a bunch of drug addicts and goes straight back to it. Needless to say, I'm very suspicious. What do you guys think? Has anyone here or anyone you know ever done an inpatient rehab program and what were the results?

The idea that we need to purge religion from all of our recovery programs is just nonsense. Whether or not you believe in God, faith actually does help people who use it to overcome their problems. It's not superficial, although it may be to you simply because you are only looking at it from your reality. How can you claim your view is superior to theirs and that religion is a terrible tool? The fact is, whatever works in this society will be used, and whatever people strongly believe is the answer will be promoted. If you don't like it, start a program of your own, but many people genuinely believe this is the most effective way, and it has not failed to be effective for so many. Faith in a higher power is something that works and it is something that many believe is a necessity. You don't have to believe that, but if many people believe it is the best way to run a program, then many programs and businesses will be run in such a way in a capitalist system. Let it be, and I promise everything will be alright.

ex-xc chick wrote:

Where are you getting those numbers from? And how are you defining effective? I know an older study done in Ohio found that over 45% of users were clean at 12months compared to about 30% of users who quit on their own. Strong support through the process increases the likelihood of success. One problem with the numbers is that a significant number of patients in drug rehab are mandated there to avoid jail time. They don't have a lot of motivation to change for themselves so as soon as they are done, they go right back to their drug of choice.

Even for those who don't quit, rehab programs are what is called risk reducing. Meaning that after completion of the program patients will use on fewer days even up to a year after discharge from a program.

You've identified a huge problem in the field. There is not a really standardized definition to measure which programs are effective. Most programs define their own standards and report on that basis. I've seen success as high as 75% claimed in marketing material. Most in-patient programs lose touch with their patients long before 12 months after graduation.

I do agree tht it can help some people especially those who are highly motivated. Also that there may be benefits even for people who do not quit using entirely.

Good point. Since being discharged on November 5th or 2009 I have had no formal contact with the treatment program that I was in. I've received flyers from them in the mail announcing what are essentially alumni gatherings and I've attended 3, but they haven't contacted me once to ask how I'm doing. The inpatient component of their program was absolutely perfect: I couldn't have asked for a better program. And talking to individual counselors informally since being discharged has been really helpful. But I don't know what they would claim about success rates if they don't follow up to ask.

75% is unattainable unless what they consider "success" is so watered down as to be meaningless.