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Is 28 Days of Treatment for Opiate Addiction Enough


Many people who enter opiate addiction treatment have certain end goals in mind. They expect their brain’s to be rewired, their cravings to stop, and to finally have come to terms with sobriety. Most of them are sorely disappointed. Research has been dedicated to the necessary duration for treatment for opiate addiction and scientists have not determined 28 days to be the perfect length of time to remain in rehab.


Why Is the 28 Day Length So Popular?


Insurance companies. Yes, that’s it. For most people, insurance coverage runs out after 28 days. Therefore, the majority of people only receive that level of treatment for opiate addiction.


This trend can be traced back to the recovery programs used in the military. The first addiction program was created by the US Air Force in the 1970s. Because military personnel could only be absent from duty for four weeks before they were reassigned, that was the standard treatment length. A 28-day opiate addiction treatment program was established to allow men and women with substance use disorders to get the care they needed and to return to their duties without being reassigned.


Soon this model was adopted across the board and insurance companies accepted it as the standard length of treatment for opiate addiction.


How Long Does Research Indicate Treatment Should Last?


The 28-day model does not have roots in science. In fact, quite the opposite. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, participation in treatment that lasts fewer than 90 days is of limited efficacy. Research recommend one stay at least that long, but preferably longer.


When Will Insurance Companies Change Their Coverage?


There is little to indicate they ever will. There is always the option of funding the extra opiate abuse treatment yourself, but most people can’t manage that. Nonetheless, any treatment is better than no treatment, so people should use the excuse that 28 days isn’t enough to get out of it.