After you have safely gotten your loved one into detox and they have been calmed and sedated for several days your work is still plenty. Support is a main key here in helping them. As I have pointed out before do not be judgemental, you do not want to scare your loved one away from you. Whats important is taht they get the proper treatment while in detox, and that treatment includes a good calm rest so that they can gather their thoughts, they also need to make friends while in their so that they can get support from people just like them and they will need to get a proper education from the staff there as to what damage they are doing to their mind and body so hopefully they become a little frightened by the effects of addictive chemicals on their body. It would be really great to have you there always as a supportive as a supportive person they can depend on. Besides, they will really look forward to your regular visits as you drop off snacks, money for the vending machines and cigarettes if they smoke. You really should not be encouraging them to smoke cigarettes but now is not the time for you to preach to them. One addiction at a time for them to treat is a handful in itself, anyway they will start relying on some other ways of calming their stress and anxiety now that they can't use their favorite adictive drugs or any alcohol. The amount of time that they spend in detox will vary depending on the severity and length of time they were using drugs or alcohol. If they were veryunstable due to their addiction then recovery will take more than just 30 days in dry out. often times they may need 60-120 days in rehab and that may just be the beginning. Everyones addiction is different. If when they used they were just bouncing around the streets and friends couches for a good many years then they are going to need some long term care to re program their mind in order for them to join society again and become a productive member again. Tough love is one thing, but if they are not well then you have to understand that it will take retraing to get them stable and "normal" again. I'm sure you know other people who have have quit drinking or drugging and they have been just fine after they declared themselves clean and swore off their vices. Some people can quit in an instant and get back to normal just fine. Others are not as fortunate. A lot of addicts have underlying psychological disorders that needs treating also. So when your loved one goes into detox do not expect immediate miracles because often times you are kidding yourself. Again, every situation is different. And your support is very crucial for their well being. Also do not be under the impression that you alone are going to change them. There will not be one single person during their recovery process who will play the hero role in getting them permanently off their addiction. Addictionrecovery is only acheivable by multi persons and multi situations. Addiction recovery involves a system. Counselors and psychiatrists along with possible medications and other means of support. The addcit must be willing to want to make a change or their recovery will never occur. They have to be motivated and they have to seek out answers and be willing to make new friends and keep ways from old hangouts. They must be fully cooperative and seeking. Do not try to snoop and sneek around on the recovering addict. You will need to gain keep their full trust. The best thing that can happen is that they will want to go to thier regular group support meetings and make new friends. This is the first sign that they too want recovery. you cannot force nothing on them, they will learn through rehab and from other addicts what they must do to change. They will need at least one or two close confidants with whom they can discuss their deepest issues with. The confidants are referred to as sponsors. If you hear them talk about or mention that they have found a sponser then you can take that as a very good sign that they are seriously seeking what they need to gain a long term recovery. After their stay in detox, they very well may be transferred to a halfway where they can learn to get re-integrated back into society. If an addict has been using for a very, very long time then it is not uncommon for this transitional period of halfway house living and mental health follow up to last 3-5 years.