Is three months too short of a time to keep someone in a substance abuse treatment program ?
It seems that the federal programs are longer then most state programs when being referred by the P.O.. Most state programs use 3 month programs, is this too short ?

I really benefited from a 3 month program back in 1997. An even longer program would have been even better.

The two that have impressed me the most were Jefferson House in Detroit which is a min of a year long and included life skills, money management, employment and various levels of responsibilty as well as substance abuse treatment. They also continue to follow up on you after the year and you can still come to all their meetings, even daily. By the way, they do except criminal justice clients which means you can go to one of the 1 month ones and from there go to Jefferson house on referal by a PO.
The other one I cant remember the name of but it was very much the same except for women and was in the Ottawa, Canada area. The employment was in womens shelters which really helped the addict to feel like a worthwhile person. It was also long term and continued with follow up after release from the program.

I really wish states would adopt longer rehab/drug treatment inpatient programs, as you have mentioned, that involves all aspects of life skills and responsibilities. Its especially good to have that "continued" follow up being available after release too.

Rehab should be minimum 6 months followed by an additional 6 months in a sober home. If the disease is profoundly progressed, a 2 year program like TROSA in North Carolina would be better. Life skills, job skills, coping skills, daily meetings, private and group therapy, education, anger management, parenting classes should also be very available.

My oldest son is waiting to get into a inpatience rehab center for 90 days. He also was recommended after this to go to a half way house but we are going to have check on this for he is disable and draws a very small disability check. He was caught for drug possession and needles,pipe and some other items. He called us late one evening after being in jail for a wk and ask us to help him. First thing I did the next morning was started calling to see if I could get help for him and I found this one place that would go to jail and give assement test. We proceeded to get him out and the county would only let him out thru bailbondsmen which it costed
quite a bit to put up 10 percent on bond....but since we were also dealing with another son in correctional facility due to drugs and spend money on him to get help and out of jail few times we knew we had to help this son...As of now the son that is waiting to go to rehab has been clean the past 3 wks and has been out of my sight for maybe 3 hrs....I just hope soon both of my sons will get better....I think my oldest one will need more than the 90 day program.....I am so sick of drugs and what they have done to so many families and how they have destroyed
people.....God Bless All........mother1952