The duration of any rehabilitation programme is an individual matter and it is determined according to the client’s life situation and rehabilitation needs. The average rehabilitation time is 3-12 months. The rehabilitation period comprises two or four stages, depending on its length. During the rehabilitation period, the client has the opportunity to participate in NA (Narcotics Anonymous) groups once or twice a week.

During the orientation stage, the client becomes attached to the community and commits to common rules, schedules and group activity. During the orientation stage, clients make their rehabilitation plans, participate in a rehabilitation programme and learn to handle their responsibilities. Clients prepare a social network map and commit to a rehabilitation agreement. At this stage, clients also have the opportunity to become acquainted with NA groups.

During the substance addiction recognition stage, clients study addiction phenomena and become able to recognise their own modes of thought and behaviour. Clients’ own social network maps are shaped to support a substance-free existence, and clients consider which activities support a substance-free existence and which ought to be discontinued to make a substance-free life possible. A substance-free lifestyle is practised in city training sessions. At this stage, clients plan their follow-up rehabilitation and agree on possible interval periods.

During the acting differently stage, clients identify their own risk situations in relation to the substance use and discover new modes of behaviour that support a substance-free lifestyle. Client’s own lives are assessed and clients are prepared to confront the challenges of everyday life. At the same time, clients plan what their everyday life will be like after their institutional stay is over, to ensure a meaningful life. During this stage, clients come to understand that they are responsible for their own actions and future. Clients may, if desired, begin meetings with a service supervisor. Training for a substance-free life is continued with the aid of city training sessions.

During the implementation stage, clients begin to implement their plans in practice. Clients gradually adopt a new lifestyle, and the implementation of their plans is assessed in the community. Clients present to the community the story of their rehabilitation. City training sessions are lengthened and interval periods and follow-up rehabilitation are jointly planned. When clients transfer to out-patient care, they already have a sense of what their substance-free everyday life will be like.