Medically reviewed by Dr. Ariella Morrow, MD, Medical Director · Last reviewed October 27, 2026
Most people spend about 3 to 10 days in medical detox, followed by 30 to 90 days of residential rehab. The exact length depends on the substance, your health, your history and how you respond to treatment, so there is no single number that fits everyone.
This guide is for anyone trying to plan around treatment: the person who knows they need help but is worried about work, rent or kids, and the family member trying to figure out what “going to rehab” actually involves. We will walk through how long each stage usually lasts, what changes between a 30, 60 and 90-day stay, what decides your length of stay, and what happens once residential treatment ends. If you are looking for rehab in Los Angeles, you will also see how it works at Numa.
Quick answer: typical length of rehab
Rehab is not one program. It is a series of levels of care, and you may move through several of them. The ASAM Criteria, the most widely used framework for placing patients in addiction treatment, describes treatment as a continuum in which people move to more or less intensive care based on their progress and needs.
Here are the typical ranges:
- Medical detox: usually 3 to 10 days, depending on the substance and your individual needs.
- Residential (inpatient) rehab: usually 30 to 90 days. At Numa, residential length varies with your substance use history and can last up to 90 days.
- Partial hospitalization (PHP) and intensive outpatient (IOP): outpatient levels of care that usually run for several weeks, with you living at home or in sober living. Schedules and lengths vary widely by program.
- Aftercare and ongoing support: no fixed end date. This can include therapy, support groups and sober living for months or longer.
Think of these as starting points. A good treatment team will reassess you as you go rather than hand you a fixed date on day one.
How long detox takes
Detox is the stage where your body clears the substance while a medical team manages withdrawal. At Numa, this phase typically lasts several days to about 10 days, depending on your substance use history. Some substances take longer: the timeline for short-acting opioids is different from methadone or benzodiazepines, which can need a slower, more carefully managed taper.
It helps to know what detox is and isn’t. SAMHSA’s TIP 45 on detoxification describes detox as three parts: evaluation, stabilization, and helping the person move into ongoing treatment. NIDA’s Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment is just as clear: medically assisted detox is only the first stage of addiction treatment, and on its own it does little to change long-term drug use.
For a substance-by-substance breakdown, read our guide on how long detox takes, or learn about medically supervised drug detox in Los Angeles at Numa.
30-day vs. 60-day vs. 90-day rehab
These numbers describe the residential stage of treatment, after detox. None of them is “the right one” in general. Each one fits a different situation.
30-day rehab
A 30-day stay gives you time to get physically stable, settle into a routine, start individual and group therapy, and build a basic relapse-prevention plan. It is often a fit for people with a shorter history of use, strong support at home, or limited time away. The trade-off is that a month goes quickly, and deeper work on trauma, mental health or relationships may only be getting started.
60-day rehab
A 60-day stay adds room to practice. You have more time to use new coping skills in real situations, work through what drives your use, and adjust treatment for co-occurring anxiety, depression or trauma. It often suits people who have tried shorter treatment before, or whose first few weeks showed there was more to address.
90-day rehab
A 90-day stay gives the most time in a structured, supportive setting. It is often recommended for longer or more severe substance use, several prior attempts to stop, significant co-occurring mental health conditions, or a home environment that makes early recovery hard. It also lines up with NIDA’s guidance on total time in treatment (more on that below).
| 30 days | 60 days | 90 days | |
| Main focus | Stabilizing, starting therapy, building a basic plan | Practicing skills, addressing underlying issues | Deeper work, stronger routines, planning the transition home |
| Often a fit for | Shorter history of use, solid support at home | Prior treatment, co-occurring mental health needs | Long or severe use, several past attempts, unstable home setting |
| Trade-off | Less time to practice before going home | More time away from work and family | Most time away; needs the most planning |
What decides how long you stay
Your length of stay is set by a clinical assessment and then adjusted as you progress. The ASAM Criteria say patients should be reassessed regularly and moved to a more or less intensive level of care based on their progress and changing needs. In practice, these are the factors that matter most:
- The substance. Some substances, like alcohol, benzodiazepines and long-acting opioids, carry more withdrawal risk or take longer to taper, which can extend detox.
- Severity and length of use. Heavier, longer use often calls for more time in a structured setting.
- Co-occurring mental health conditions. Anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD and bipolar disorder often travel with addiction. Treating both at the same time, which is what dual-diagnosis care means, can take longer, and it is worth it.
- Prior treatment. If you have been through shorter programs before and returned to use, a longer stay may give you a better foundation.
- Insurance authorization. Insurers usually approve treatment in blocks of days and review progress before approving more. Your admissions team and clinicians handle much of that communication.
- Your progress. How you are doing physically, emotionally and in therapy is reviewed throughout. Stays can be extended or shortened based on that.
Why longer treatment often works better
Addiction is a chronic condition, and lasting change takes time. In its Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment, NIDA says that staying in treatment for an adequate period of time is critical, that most people need at least three months in treatment to significantly reduce or stop their drug use, and that the best outcomes come with longer durations of treatment.
Two things are worth knowing about that guidance:
- It refers to total time in treatment, not only residential. Three months can be made up of detox, a residential stay, and then step-down care and ongoing support. That is what a continuum of care means.
- Relapse does not mean treatment failed. NIDA notes that substance use disorders are chronic illnesses and that some people need long-term or repeated episodes of treatment to reach lasting recovery. Returning to treatment is part of the process for many people, not a sign that they can’t recover.
So if 90 days in residential treatment isn’t realistic for you, that does not rule you out. A shorter residential stay followed by consistent ongoing support can still add up to meaningful time in care.
Taking time off work for rehab
Worry about work is one of the most common reasons people put off treatment. A few things can help:
- You don’t have to share details. In most cases, you can tell your employer you need medical leave without naming the condition. HR typically needs paperwork from a provider, not your full story.
- Look into job-protected leave. The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) gives eligible employees of covered employers unpaid, job-protected leave for qualifying medical reasons. Whether you qualify depends on your employer and your situation.
- Ask the admissions team for documentation. Treatment centers are used to helping with leave paperwork.
What happens after rehab
Finishing residential treatment is a transition, not an ending. The plan for what comes next is built while you are still in treatment, so you don’t walk out the door with nothing lined up. Depending on your needs, the next steps may include:
- Stabilization care. At Numa, the stabilization level of care is a bridge between structured treatment and everyday life. You begin to take on work and family responsibilities again while continuing individual sessions, group sessions and support groups.
- Step-down outpatient care. Some people continue with a partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient program closer to home. Numa does not run these programs, but will refer you to outside providers for this next step.
- Sober living. A structured, substance-free home can help you practice recovery skills before living fully on your own.
- Ongoing therapy and peer support. Regular therapy, 12-step meetings or other mutual-help groups give you support with no end date.
Learn more about what the research says in our post on aftercare programs, or see how detox, residential and stabilization fit together on our treatment programs page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 30 days of rehab enough?
For some people, 30 days of residential treatment, followed by strong ongoing support, is enough to build a solid start. For others, especially people with long-term use, co-occurring mental health conditions or prior relapses, more time helps. NIDA’s guidance is that most people need at least three months of total treatment, which can include care after a 30-day stay.
Can I leave rehab early?
Yes. Voluntary residential treatment is your choice, and in most cases you cannot be forced to stay. If you are thinking about leaving, talk to your clinical team first. They can help you understand the risks and make a safer plan, including what support to have in place if you go home.
Does insurance cover 90 days of rehab?
It depends on your plan and on medical necessity. Many insurers approve treatment in stages and review progress before approving more days. Numa works with many PPO plans and also offers private pay. Numa does not accept Medi-Cal or Medicare. The fastest way to know what your plan covers is to verify your insurance.
How long is detox at Numa?
Detox at Numa typically lasts several days to about 10 days, depending on your substance use history. Your clinical team will give you a realistic timeline after your intake assessment, and most clients move directly from detox into residential treatment.
Get help at Numa Recovery Centers
You don’t need to have every detail figured out before you call. Numa is a private detox and residential rehab founded by people in recovery, with three Los Angeles locations: La Brea, 826 Mariposa and 832 Mariposa. We are accredited by The Joint Commission, licensed by the California Department of Health Care Services, and offer dual-diagnosis care, private and semi-private rooms, and chef-prepared meals.
Our admissions team can talk through what a realistic length of stay might look like for you or your loved one, confidentially and with no obligation.
Call (888) 991-6862, verify your insurance online, or start the admissions process.
Sources
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition).
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Treatment.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). TIP 45: Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment, Chapter 1: Overview, Essential Concepts, and Definitions in Detoxification.
- American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). About the ASAM Criteria.
- U.S. Department of Labor. Family and Medical Leave Act.
