Short-Term Drug & Alcohol Rehab in Tampa, FL

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are treatable conditions. Effective addiction treatment will be tailored to specifically address problems and adequately meet someone’s individual needs. ¹ This means the setting, duration, and methods of treatment often vary for different individuals.¹ Whether you choose a short – or long-term program, any choice to get help is the right one.

This page will provide an overview on short-term rehab, what to expect, and how to get admitted.

What Is Short-Term Drug & Alcohol Rehab?

At River Oaks, short-term addiction treatment often lasts between 7 and 30 days, though specific treatment lengths vary. There are various settings in which rehabilitation can be performed. For example, River Oaks provides a full continuum of care that includes the following types of addiction treatment:

• Medical detox.
• Residential treatment.
• Partial hospitalization (often called “day treatment”).
• Intensive outpatient care.

The ideal treatment setting(s) will vary based on a patient’s individual needs.^{1, 2}

What Happens in Short-Term Addiction Rehab?

Varying lengths of treatment programming, including short-term rehab, month-long rehab, and long-term rehab programs, all involve evidence-based therapies for addiction treatment.

When a patient begins a short-term rehab program, staff performs an evaluation to find out important information about the patient to tailor treatment accordingly. This includes learning:³

• Which substances the patient has been using and to what extent (this may involve a drug screen).
• The patient’s general state of health, including any pertinent mental and physical health conditions.
• Relevant details about their living environment and social situation.

Patients often start their program with a period of medical detox. This phase of treatment focuses on ensuring patients safely and comfortably withdraw from substances under medical supervision. Depending on the substances of dependence and the potential severity of withdrawal, medication may need to be administered to mitigate withdrawal symptoms and cravings.³

While detox is an effective initial part of treatment, detox alone is often not sufficient in helping someone maintain their sobriety once they leave the facility.¹ Many patients benefit from the more comprehensive treatment provided through rehab to promote lasting recovery from a substance use disorder.^1,3 During rehab, participants engage in individual and group therapy to build motivation and self-esteem, positive thought and behavioral patterns, and skills to recognize, avoid, or overcome the triggers that may lead them to drink or use drugs.¹

It’s also important that patients with co-occurring disorders are simultaneously treated for these conditions. An integrated approach that simultaneously treats both addiction and other mental health conditions may be more effective than treating co-occurring disorders separately.⁴ River Oaks provides co-occurring disorder care to effectively treat the whole patient with all of their treatment needs.

Is Short-Term Rehab Effective for Treating Drug & Alcohol Addiction?

While there is evidence indicating that longer lengths of treatment may be more effective,¹ short-term rehab still provides an excellent starting point for recovery.

Case managers at River Oaks will work with patients to ensure that they aren’t alone when they complete a short-term program. They will help patients to put their aftercare plan into practice and encourage participation, provide any necessary referrals, and encourage engagement with the Recovery App.

Does Health Insurance Cover Short-Term Rehab & Detox?

Yes, most insurance plans are required by law to cover addiction treatment services.⁵ The extent of this coverage, however, will vary between policies. Many insurance plans require or incentivize customers to use facilities that are within their care network. These treatment centers contract with the insurance company to provide care at lower costs.⁶

River Oaks is in-network with many major insurers, including:

• Aetna.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield/Florida Blue.
• Humana.
• Ambetter.

Out-of-pocket costs associated with addiction treatment may include:

• An annual deductible.⁷
• Co-payments.
• A co-insurance percentage.

Each health insurance policy will have an out-of-pocket limit. When this is reached, the insurer will cover 100% of the remaining costs.⁸

The cost of rehab should not prevent someone from getting treatment, however, patients may find addiction treatment difficult to afford with or without the help of insurance. Fortunately, there are several ways to pay for rehab that make costs more manageable. For example, many facilities like River Oaks offer financing options for patients that need them.

River Oaks makes it simple to verify insurance benefits with a quick and confidential .

Getting Admitted to Rehab & Starting Treatment

Addiction treatment can change your life. Call a River Oaks admissions navigator at to begin. Admissions navigators can answer questions about the facility, help you with travel logistics, and assist you in obtaining pre-authorization from your insurer.

Staff at River Oaks will help you through the rehab admissions process, ensuring you get the right form of care, whether that is inpatient or outpatient, short-term rehab, or long-term addiction treatment.

You can also confirm your insurance coverage before calling by filling out the confidential form below.