It is often said that when all other forms of heroin addiction treatment in Washington fail, the one method that works is the residential treatment program. This is a very elaborate program that is designed in such a way that it will always work. The program is a community format of treatment in which patients with similar conditions of dependency are made to live in a shared environment. Here they undergo the various aspects of the treatment process so that they can collectively move towards recovery.

The residential treatment program in Washington is for people who have some health or psychiatric complications that make their addiction treatment difficult. Also people who have hit bottom in some manner owing to their addiction will be put in this format of recovery. People who have been convicted of offenses under heroin abuse in Washington are also ordered to use residential methods for recovery. Finally, every person who has been with the heroin dependency since a very long period of time will be put through residential treatment.

This residential heroin treatment in Washington begins with an elaborate detox program. This may take longer than usual considering the nature of the person's addiction. Once the detox is done, there will be a very comprehensive method of aftercare where the patient will be put through counseling and educational programs. They will be taught to live in a health lifestyle, which is of utmost importance when they are trying to break out from their addiction.

The patients may be made to stay with this program for even as long as a year. However, there are short term programs too that wind up in three months.