Why Long-Term Addiction Treatment Works: Outcomes That Prove It

When people think of addiction treatment, a 30-day program is often what comes to mind. While that’s long been a cultural standard, the data tells a different and more hopeful story: lasting recovery takes time, and longer, more structured treatment programs like those offered at Bridging The Gaps consistently lead to better outcomes.

We’re Not Just a 30-Day Program and Here’s Why That Matters

At Bridging The Gaps (BTG), we believe in treating the whole person, not just the symptoms. That’s why we offer a comprehensive continuum of care that supports clients through Residential Treatment, Partial Hospitalization (PHP), Intensive Outpatient (IOP), and continuing care.

We know that addiction is a chronic, relapsing condition, and research confirms that longer engagement in treatment significantly improves success rates. In fact, our latest outcomes data, collected by the independent third-party research firm Vista Research Group, proves it.

The More Time in Treatment, The Better the Outcome

According to the 2024 Bridging The Gaps Outcomes Report:

1. Only 40% of clients who stayed in treatment 45 days or less were abstinent six months after discharge.
2. That number jumped to 53% for those who remained in treatment more than 80 days. (Vista Research Group, p. 9)

Recovery isn’t linear. Our multi-phase model provides the structure, education, neurobiological support, and therapeutic integration clients need to develop lasting tools for sobriety and emotional healing.

 Completing Treatment = Higher Success Rates

Clients who completed their full recommended treatment plan had significantly better outcomes:

1. 64% were sober one month after discharge
2. 54% were abstinent six months later (for at least the last 30 days) (Vista Research Group, p. 8)

Those who left early had lower success rates:

1. 51% sober at one month
2. 43% sober at six months

This reinforces what we already know: when clients commit to the full journey, they experience greater transformation—and that’s what our program is designed to support.

BTG Performs Above National Norms

Vista Research Group compares outcomes from treatment centers across the country, and Bridging The Gaps consistently outperforms even the best.

1. 55% of BTG clients were abstinent at one month
2. 47% were abstinent at six months (for at least the last 30 days) (Vista Research Group, p. 5–6)

These rates surpass Vista’s national norms, which already reflect only the highest-quality programs that track outcomes. As Vista notes in the report:

1. 42% of Vista Research Network Norm were abstinent at one month
2. 37% were abstinent at six months (for at least the last 30 days) (Vista Research Group, p. 5–6)

"Vista's norms are probably well above the average for the entire addiction treatment industry today… the only treatment centers likely to invest in tracking post-treatment outcomes are top-quality programs that are confident their outcomes are very good." (Vista Research Group, p. 6)

It’s Not Just About Sobriety—It’s About Life Transformation

Our outcomes show progress in far more than abstinence:

1. 82% of clients reported feeling “excellent or good” at 6 months (compared to 29% at intake)
2. 71% had strong family relationships at 6 months (vs. just 24% at intake)
3. 100% lived in stable housing at 6 months (vs. 88% at intake)
4. ER visits dropped from 53% before treatment to 12% after (Vista Research Group, p. 14–17)

These results prove that our model fosters emotional stability, community connection, and real-world functionality—the keys to sustained recovery.

The BTG Difference

At Bridging The Gaps, we blend cutting-edge neuroscience, holistic care, and trauma-informed therapy to address not just addiction, but its underlying causes. Our team meets clients where they are and walks with them through every phase of healing.

We’re not a one-size-fits-all, 30-day solution—we’re a comprehensive treatment center with a track record of results.

Ready for Real Recovery?

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, know that lasting change is possible. Our data-backed, compassionate approach is helping people rebuild their lives, and we’d be honored to help you, too.

📍 Contact us today to learn more about our program or schedule a confidential assessment. 

Bridging The Gaps | Winchester, VA | www.bridgingthegaps.com | (540) 535-1111

These results reflect data collected by Vista Research Group for BTG discharges between Nov 2023–Nov 2024.

Not all clients could be reached; stats represent those who completed post-treatment surveys.