hi Kcwhite, I have been through a 30 day program so I will try and give you a little information on my experience. What kind of program are you checked into? Is it paid by your insurance or is it more of a charity care based hospital program?
I went through an insurance paid program which worked basically like this: The first 5 days consisted of an extreme detox where you stayed in the bottom (nurses) ward where they checked on you constantly taking vitals and such. Opiate patients were given a 5 day suboxone taper and the rest of the new patients were put on a strong benzo (and I mean strong I didn't even know where I was). You weren't required to attend the daily schedule and you could take showers and eat whenever you wanted. After the 5 days you were then moved up into the dorms with everybody else for the rest of the 30 days.
The program I went through had a daily schedule that accounted for 15 hour of the day. Most of it was taken up by AA and NA meetings. The other majority was filled with classes much like a high school class. With an instructor (one of the councilors) and the classes ranged from teaching you about how AA or NA came about and why it works and encompassed a lot of topics about addiction. We were required to work the steps of AA. We had to give our story to the rest of the group and do other exercises to help us get to know our addiction and ourselves better. The program I went through was extremely thorough. We also received one on one attention with a counselor. The food was divine. The chef was actually a recovering addict just like the entire rest of the staff. All of the counselors, dean, cleaning crew, etc. Many of these people shared there stories with us in the meetings. It was very strange to see somebody who now has complete control of their life and basically your life (in the program) tell you a story about the dark days of their addiction. It was an overall very difficult experience but the teachings they instilled in me were very good.
As for the hospital type programs I had friends who attended those and they were a bit less luxurious. No cigarette breaks and no daily schedule (you sat around instead of going to meetings and classes, kind of like a school day). If you are going through a "clinic" type program do not let me deter you. I fully support these programs and they do work. It sounds like you need it, and want it too.
Both programs definitely will get you clean for 30 days and hopefully can plant a strong seed from which your sobriety can grow. So much luck to you. Your daughter, your husband, and most importantly you deserve this.
and also
Hi Trish and welcome. You have definitely come to the right place for support. So glad to have you with us!
a lot less sucky, but still. Sucks. 