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The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) describes substance use disorders as chronic but treatable. This page maps every stage of care from the first phone call to the support that continues after a program ends. Each stage below links to a complete guide so read carefully before making a decision.
Key Points About Addiction Treatment Options
- Treatment can move from assessment through detox, rehab and therapy to aftercare.
- Clinicians use standard tools like the ASAM Criteria to match each person to the right level of care.
- Three FDA approved medications treat opioid use disorder and three treat alcohol use disorder. All are used alongside counseling.
- Behavioral therapies are the most commonly used form of addiction treatment.
- Private insurance, Medicaid and Medicare all cover some addiction treatment. State funded programs and sliding scale fees help people without it.
In This Article
- Your Path Through Addiction Treatment
- Levels of Care: Comparing Your Treatment Options
- What Happens During an Addiction Assessment
- Medications for Addiction Treatment
- Behavioral Therapies for Addiction
- Aftercare and Recovery Support
- Treatment for Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions
- Helping a Loved One Get Treatment
- How to Choose a Treatment Center
- Myths About Addiction Treatment
- Addiction Treatment FAQ
Your Path Through Addiction Treatment
Addiction is “a complex but treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior,” according to NIDA. Care generally follows six steps, though no one has to complete all of them or follow the same sequence: NIDA is clear that “no single treatment is appropriate for everyone.” Your starting point comes out of an assessment, and as needs shift, people often move between levels of care. The steps overlap, too: medication can start during detox, and therapy often continues through rehab and aftercare.
1. Reaching Out
Asking for help is the first step, and it can start with one person: a doctor, someone you trust, or a free public helpline. You do not need a plan or a chosen program first: if you are wondering how to ask for help or what to say when you call a rehab, one honest sentence about what is happening is enough. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) runs a free, confidential National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP, open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, in English and Spanish.
Learn more: Find a Rehab Center Near You
2. Assessment
A doctor or addiction professional will ask about your substance use, your health and mental health, and your living situation to figure out which level of care fits which might be detox, residential care or outpatient care. Many clinicians use the ASAM Criteria, which the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) describes as “the most widely used and comprehensive set of standards for placement, continued service, and transfer” of patients with addiction and co-occurring conditions.
3. Detox
Detox, also called withdrawal management, means stopping use safely with medical staff there to manage withdrawal symptoms. According to NIDA, “medically assisted detoxification is only the first stage of addiction treatment,” and by itself it does little to change long-term drug use. It is the start of care, not the whole of it.
Learn more: Drug and Alcohol Detox
4. Rehab
Rehab is structured treatment that comes after detox, or instead of it. Care can be residential, meaning you live on-site, or outpatient, meaning you stay at home and attend sessions. Outpatient care is common: SAMHSA reports that “treatment in an outpatient location was the most common setting.” The levels of care table compares the full range of options.
Learn more: Inpatient Rehab and Outpatient Rehab
5. Therapy
Most treatment, in every setting, is built on counseling and behavioral therapy. NIDA reports that behavioral therapies including individual, family, and group counseling are the most commonly used forms of addiction treatment. Therapy helps you work on patterns around use, cope with cravings and stress, and rebuild relationships. Family members can participate in it.
Learn more: Addiction Therapy and Family Therapy
6. Aftercare
Recovery continues after a program ends. Aftercare can include ongoing therapy, medication, support groups and sober living. It can be adjusted as your needs change. NIDA describes substance use disorders as “chronic, treatable disorders that affect a person’s brain and behaviors.” In 2025, 73.0% (22.3 million) of adults who believed they had ever had a substance use problem “considered themselves to be in recovery or to have recovered” according to SAMHSA.
Learn more: Aftercare
Levels of Care: Comparing Your Treatment Options
Levels of care describe both the intensity of treatment and the setting, spanning round-the-clock medical care at one end and a weekly outpatient session at the other. A clinician matches you to a level through a standard assessment which is usually the ASAM Criteria.
The fourth edition, released in 2023, sets standards for “placement, continued service, and transfer,” and its continuum keeps four broad levels with decimal steps in between with medically managed care including withdrawal management (the medical name for detox) built in.
| Level of care | Setting | Typical intensity | Who it may fit | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detox (withdrawal management) | Hospital, inpatient unit, or an outpatient clinic with medical monitoring | Daily or round-the-clock medical monitoring over a short period | People at risk of withdrawal symptoms when they stop using | Drug and alcohol detox |
| Residential or inpatient rehab | You live at the facility | 24-hour structured care with therapy for most of the day | People needing a stable and substance free setting or those with greater medical or mental health needs | Inpatient rehab |
| Partial hospitalization (PHP) | Hospital or treatment center in the daytime; home at night | Full day treatment on most weekdays | People who need close support and have a safe place to live | Partial hospitalization programs |
| Intensive outpatient (IOP) | Clinic or telehealth | At least 9 hours a week for adults (6 for teens) split across several days (SAMHSA) | People who can manage work or school alongside structured support | Intensive outpatient programs |
| Standard outpatient | Office or clinic or telehealth | Scheduled sessions, often weekly | People with milder needs or those stepping down from more intensive care | Outpatient rehab |
| Medications (MAT / MOUD) | Doctor’s office or clinic; for methadone, a certified opioid treatment program | Ongoing, together with counseling, at any level of care | People with opioid or alcohol use disorder | Medication-assisted treatment |
| Sober living | Shared and substance free home | Peer support plus house rules; not clinical treatment | People leaving a program who want somewhere stable to live while they rebuild | Sober living and aftercare |
No level of care ranks above or below another. The right one for you is based on your assessment. People move between levels as their needs change and usually step down as they progress. Medication assisted treatment (MAT) is also called medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). It can be part of care at any level and the IOP hours above are a general standard since requirements vary by state and health plan.
NIDA says remaining in treatment for an adequate period is critical. Most people with a substance use disorder need at least three months of treatment to significantly reduce or stop their drug use. How long rehab lasts depends on your own plan and progress.
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Inpatient vs. Outpatient Rehab
Inpatient rehab, also called residential rehab, means you live at the facility with treatment and support around the clock. Outpatient rehab means you live at home and attend scheduled sessions. Which one fits comes down to your assessment, your daily responsibilities and your health and safety at home.
- Where you sleep: At the facility for inpatient care or at home for outpatient.
- Daily structure: An inpatient day follows a full treatment schedule; outpatient sessions take up only part of the day.
- Work and family: Outpatient care makes it easier to keep working, studying, or caring for family during treatment.
- Cost: Residential care tends to cost more because it includes housing and staffing around the clock.
Most inpatient stays are followed by outpatient care. Some elements of treatment including therapy and group sessions occur in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
What Happens During an Addiction Assessment
An addiction assessment is a conversation that occurs between you and a doctor or addiction professional. It will cover your substance use and your physical and mental health and your current life situation. The assessment will show whether you have a substance use disorder and how severe it is. It will also let your doctor know which level of care may fit so your treatment plan starts in the right place.
An assessment can be done by a primary care doctor, an addiction medicine physician, a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a licensed counselor, or a program’s intake team. If a mental health condition is also involved then the National Institute of Mental Health says accurate diagnosis is key for treating co-occurring substance use and mental disorders.
To gauge severity, clinicians use criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) describes how this works for alcohol: screening questions begin “In the past year.” The result is graded mild (two to three criteria), moderate (four to five criteria), or severe (six or more criteria). SAMHSA says the same DSM-5 approach applies across all substances, with some differences for specific substances, such as withdrawal. A clinician makes the diagnosis.
Many programs also assess you against the six ASAM Criteria dimensions and the ASAM says a standard assessment should cover all six dimensions:
Dimension 1
Dimension 2
Dimension 3
Dimension 4
Dimension 5
Dimension 6Whether you see your own doctor or go through a rehab program’s intake and assessment, intake may include:
- Questions about your substance use history, health, and current medications
- Questions about your mental health, safety, and housing situation
- A review of your insurance and payment options
- A physical exam and lab tests
- A treatment plan built from your answers
The National Institute on Drug Abuse says an individual’s treatment and services plan must be assessed continually and modified as necessary so you can expect the plan to change as your needs do. Part of preparing for rehab is knowing what to bring. This includes a photo ID, your insurance card, a list of current medications and any paperwork a court or employer has asked for.
Medications for Addiction Treatment
There are medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for opioid use disorder (OUD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD). They work best when counseling is part of the plan. SAMHSA lists five of them imcluding acamprosate, disulfiram, naltrexone, methadone and buprenorphine.
SAMHSA describes how these medications can treat substance use disorders, support recovery and help prevent overdose. Whether a medication fits, and which one, is a decision you make with a doctor. It can start at any level of care including during detox. You will also hear this called medication-assisted treatment and which medications are used in rehab depends on the substance involved.
Care centers on behavioral therapy and treating symptoms for substances other than opioids and alcohol. As of 2023, the FDA had not yet approved any medication to treat stimulant use disorders, and SAMHSA’s treatment guidance says there are no FDA approved medications to help prevent relapse from other problem substances.
Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD)
The FDA has approved buprenorphine, methadone and naltrexone for treating opioid use disorder, and it reports that all three have been shown to be safe and effective. They work in different ways and are given in different settings, so the choice is one you make with a prescriber. Methadone is dispensed only through a SAMHSA-certified opioid treatment program (OTP). Buprenorphine treatment is prescribed or dispensed in physician offices. Extended-release injectable naltrexone is approved for both OUD and AUD, and SAMHSA notes that any practitioner licensed to prescribe medications can prescribe and administer it.
One more medication is worth knowing about, because it works in an emergency rather than as ongoing treatment. According to the CDC, naloxone can bring back normal breathing in 2 to 3 minutes when an opioid overdose has slowed or stopped a person’s breathing, and in March 2023 the FDA approved the first naloxone nasal spray for over-the-counter sale.
If you think someone is overdosing then call 911 right away and give naloxone if you have it.
Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that three medications are currently approved by the FDA to help people stop or reduce drinking and prevent a return to drinking: naltrexone, in oral and long-acting injectable forms, acamprosate and disulfiram. They are used alongside counseling or mutual-support groups as part of alcohol addiction treatment.
Behavioral Therapies for Addiction
Behavioral therapies work on the thoughts, habits and situations behind substance use and programs often combine more than one approach.
| Therapy | What it does | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) | Helps you spot the thoughts and situations that lead to use and practice new responses | Cognitive behavioral therapy |
| Contingency management | Gives tangible rewards for progress such as staying abstinent | Addiction therapy |
| Motivational interviewing | Helps you resolve mixed feelings about treatment and stopping use | Motivational interviewing |
| Family therapy | Brings loved ones into treatment to improve support at home | Family therapy |
| 12-step facilitation | Helps you get involved with 12-step self-help groups | 12-step support groups |
NIDA notes that CBT “was developed as a method to prevent relapse when treating problem drinking” and was later adapted for other substances. It describes contingency management as “giving patients tangible rewards to reinforce positive behaviors such as abstinence,” and motivational enhancement therapy, the name its guide uses for motivational interviewing, as “a counseling approach that helps individuals resolve their ambivalence” about engaging in treatment and stopping drug use.
The National Institute of Mental Health names “cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management, and motivational interviewing” as behavioral therapies that help people build coping skills and says family based interventions can be “particularly effective.”
Twelve-step facilitation therapy “is an active engagement strategy designed to increase the likelihood” that a person joins and stays involved in 12-step self-help groups according to NIDA. Family Behavior Therapy “has demonstrated positive results in both adults and adolescents.”
Therapy can happen one-on-one, in group therapy, or with your family. Some programs offer trauma informed treatment that takes a history of trauma into account.
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Aftercare and Recovery Support
Once a structured program ends, the support that carries on from there is aftercare, and lasting recovery is common. Of the 30.6 million adults (11.6%) who perceived they ever had a substance use problem, 73.0% (or 22.3 million people) “considered themselves to be in recovery or to have recovered,” according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in 2026.
Aftercare can include ongoing therapy, medication management, alumni events and sober living with peer support at the center. Mutual-support groups “provide peer support for stopping or reducing drinking” and are often low or no cost according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in 2025. Many addiction support groups follow the 12-step model of Alcoholics Anonymous and you can usually find an AA meeting nearby. SMART Recovery is an alternative for people who want a different approach.
Sober living means housing built on peer support rather than clinical treatment. You share a substance-free home with others in recovery. House rules typically cover:
- Staying free of alcohol and drugs, often with regular testing
- Attending house meetings
- Following a curfew
- Paying rent and sharing chores
- Working or going to school or attending a program
When use resumes, it signals that treatment needs adjusting rather than proving it failed. NIDA said in 2018 that lapses “do not indicate failure.” They mean treatment needs to be reinstated or adjusted and addiction has “symptom recurrence rates similar to those for other well characterized chronic medical illnesses.” Knowing the relapse warning signs and having a relapse prevention plan help you respond early.
Treatment for Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions
A substance use disorder often goes hand in hand with a mental health condition like depression or anxiety. National guidance recommends treating both conditions together which is usually called integrated or dual diagnosis treatment. Ask any program whether it offers treatment for co-occurring disorders.
In 2025, 18.5 million adults had both a mental illness and a substance use disorder in the past year, and 57.4% (10.6 million) of them received either substance use or mental health treatment according to SAMHSA.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) notes that many people with substance use disorders also experience other mental disorders, and that integrated care combines mental health and substance use treatment. NIDA puts it plainly. When conditions co-occur, “treatment should address both (or all)” including medications where appropriate. Conditions that often overlap with substance use include depression, anxiety disorders and ADHD.
Helping a Loved One Get Treatment
If someone you care about brought you here then you can help. Learn the treatment options first so you can talk about them in plain terms. Name what you have seen and how worried you are. When family members take part, treatment is more likely to begin and to last. The NIMH reports that family based interventions can be “particularly effective” when they address family dynamics.
If your loved one refuses help then a professionally guided intervention is one next step. Helping a loved one with addiction also takes a toll on you so get support of your own. These resources for families are a place to start.
How to Choose a Treatment Center
Choose a licensed program whose level of care matches what your assessment points to. It should work from evidence based therapies and medications, treat co-occurring mental health conditions and build aftercare into the plan. Before committing, ask questions and weigh more than one option. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) suggests asking providers its “10 recommended questions” and choosing “quality care” over a program that cannot answer them. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) lists “state-licensed treatment” programs at FindTreatment.gov.
Ask each program:
Licensing
Levels of care
Medications
Co-occurring conditions
Family
Aftercare
Insurance
Your staySome programs serve specific groups, with support shaped to their needs:
Before you call, have your insurance card, a list of the medications you take, and your questions written down. Thinking through what to say when you call a rehab ahead of time makes that first conversation easier.
You can find a rehab center near you in the directory and start comparing programs.
The program that fits you will answer every question without pressure and will plan for your life after treatment, not just your first day.
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Myths About Addiction Treatment
Wrong ideas about treatment keep people from asking for help, so each one below comes with what the research says instead.
- “It’s just a matter of willpower.” NIDA calls addiction “a complex but treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior.” A disease that changes the brain does not respond to willpower alone which is why treatment exists.
- “You have to hit rock bottom first.” You do not. NIDA says treatment “does not have to be voluntary to work” so no crisis has to come before starting and getting help earlier means less to repair.
- “You have to do it alone.” Care, support groups and medication are available so no one has to. Mutual support groups help people in recovery encourage each other.
- “You’re fully recovered once you stop using.” NIDA describes detox as “only the first stage” of treatment and recommends staying in care for at least 3 months for most people.
- “Medication for opioid use disorder just trades one drug for another.” According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), buprenorphine, methadone and naltrexone are “demonstrated to be safe and effective” for opioid use disorder. Your clinician can explain more about how buprenorphine and methadone differ.
- “If you relapse then treatment failed.” NIDA says lapses “do not indicate failure.” They signal that the plan needs adjusting and building relapse prevention skills is a normal part of ongoing care.
Addiction Treatment FAQ
What are the main types of addiction treatment?
Treatment ranges from detox through residential (inpatient) rehab, partial hospitalization and can also include intensive outpatient programs and standard outpatient care. Many plans also include medication and recovery support such as sober living. The levels of care section explains what each one involves.
How do I know which level of care I need?
Your doctor will assess you to determine the level of care you need. Many clinicians use the ASAM Criteria. This framework is from the American Society of Addiction Medicine and weighs six dimensions of your health and daily life. Check out the assessment section to learn more about what to expect.
How long does addiction treatment take?
It varies by person and by level of care. NIDA says it takes at least three months in treatment for most people to significantly reduce or stop their substance use.
Can I keep working while I’m in treatment?
Many people do. Outpatient and intensive outpatient programs offer day and evening and telehealth sessions, so outpatient rehab can often fit around a job. Outpatient care was the setting most people used in 2025 according to SAMHSA.
Does insurance cover addiction treatment?
Many private plans cover some addiction treatment, and Medicaid and Medicare cover treatment too. Coverage varies by plan and state. Check to see how rehab insurance applies to your coverage before you choose a program.
What if I relapse after treatment?
A relapse does not mean treatment failed. NIDA describes a lapse as a sign that the treatment plan needs adjusting and your provider or support group can help you get back on track. Knowing the relapse warning signs can help you act early.
Does treatment have to be voluntary to work?
No. NIDA states that treatment “does not have to be voluntary to work,” which matters if a court, an employer or your family is asking you to go. An intervention is one way families help someone start care.
Where can I get free help finding treatment?
SAMHSA’s National Helpline is 1-800-662-4357. It offers free and confidential 24/7 treatment referrals and information in English and Spanish and FindTreatment.gov lists state licensed programs. If you’re in a crisis then you can call or text 988 at any hour. If someone may be overdosing then call 911. These and other emergency and crisis phone numbers are free to use.
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