Editorial library
Treatment guides written for the questions people actually ask
These guides are written in-house and reviewed against the public-health sources cited on each page. They cover how treatment is organized, what it costs, what the first weeks are like, and how to tell a serious program from a persuasive one.
Each guide shows the date it was last checked against its cited sources, and we update or correct a guide when material guidance changes. See our editorial standards for how that process works. These guides are general education, not medical advice.
Types of Care
2 guidesLevels of Care in Addiction Treatment, Explained Plainly
Detox, residential, PHP, IOP, outpatient, sober living — the words get used interchangeably, but they describe very different amounts of structure. Here is what each one actually means.
Read the guide 10 min readMedical Detox: What Actually Happens, and Who Needs It
Withdrawal can range from uncomfortable to genuinely dangerous, depending on the substance. Here is how medical detox works, which substances carry real risk, and what the days actually look like.
Read the guideGetting Started
2 guidesThe First Week of Treatment: A Realistic Walk-Through
The first week is the one people imagine least and worry about most. Here is what intake involves, what the days are built around, and how to handle the parts that feel hardest.
Read the guide 11 min readHow to Choose a Treatment Program Without Getting Taken Advantage Of
Treatment is a market, and not everyone in it is acting in your interest. These are the questions that separate a clinically serious program from a good sales operation.
Read the guideInsurance & Cost
1 guideFor Families
1 guideReady to look at actual programs?
Once you know which level of care you are looking for, browse published listings by state, city and treatment type — and confirm licensure, services and insurance directly with each provider.