Regardless of the orientation of the treatment program, treatment strategies designed to bring about changes in the lifestyle of the patient are essential. For example, if the patient returns to the same friends and activities that were a part of their lives prior to treatment, relapse is highly probable. The need for long term drug rehab for alcoholic and drug addicted individuals is the most effective way of addressing these life style changes.

The issues of friends, lovers, family members, and acquantices are a focus of an effective long term drug rehab. If a patient has close associations with individuals who abuse drugs and alcohol, some difficult and painful decisions must be made. These topics will be discussed in residential drug rehabs that offer counseling, social skills, and life skills therapy in order to enhance their ability to make new friends. Many alcoholics and drug addicts have used mind altering substances to feel comfortable in social situations or as a common bond between other drug or alcohol abusers. This difficulty of life skills is more prevalent in adolescent drug rehab facilities.

Since most people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol have used these substances to avoid negative emotions or to manage stress and pain, alternative drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers provide methods of dealing with common life problems. These life skill therapies include stress management techniques, relaxation procedures, and assertiveness training. The intent of such therapy, training and counseling is to provide the patient with skills to use in situations or in response to situations where drugs or alcohol use was the only solution.

An effective long term residential facility will develop new goals that help a person obtain positive activities during free time. This is based on the fact that many people who abuse alcohol and drugs start because of boredom, too much free time, and lack of self esteem and confidence. Therefore if a person is taught healthy, productive, and fun drug-free activities, than a person will participate in these positive activities rather than abusing alcohol or drugs. For this reason most long term drug rehabs have weight room facilities, full court basketball, volleyball, swimming, art classes, music classes, yoga, palates, bicycling, softball, pool, and table tennis.

You can easily see why some drug rehabs are more effective than others. These practical but life saving training procedures is only offered in some forms of alcohol and drug treatment centers. A drug rehab program that offers long term treatment, cognitive counseling, life skills therapy, and an intensive aftercare is by far the most effective in ending drug or alcohol addiction.