This is one of the most difficult questions of all for many addicts, as there are those who feel after a specific amount of time that they are entirely cured from their addiction and are fully reintegrated back to normal life, but for others, then they consider themselves to be an addict for the rest of their lives, and are combating the temptation indefinitely.

Depending on the type of addiction that is being suffered, then the time that can be attributed to the addiction recovery can vary greatly, and for some it can be a case of riding out the withdrawal symptoms and cravings, while others may find themselves having counseling for the rest of their lives to help keep them away from addiction and on the straight and narrow.

For some people the physical draw of the addiction can be beaten in only a few months, and then it is the case of breaking the psychological cycle that brings the addict back to their fix. According to M. Ilstricevic - an addiction treatment expert - the symptoms can be overcome in a few months, but dealing with the psychological aspect is more difficult and will vary from patient to patient.

There are many programs that will have specific steps in their treatments, such as that suggested by redwagonweb.com, and the time of actually becoming fully treated from their addiction will depend on how quickly the addict can move through the various steps, and follow the road to recovery fully.

Being fully supported by friends and family can often be helpful for those recovering from addiction, and may help them return to a normal life quite quickly, but for many addictions it is an isolating experience, so his sort of social support structure may not always be available for the people who are suffering, which can sometimes prolong and hinder the recovery, and the motivation the addict has to recover.

Beating an addiction is never going to be easy, and those who say that an addict can be fully cured within a specific timescale will be unlikely to prove that theory, as evidence suggests that everyone who is suffering from an addiction will progress at their own pace in terms of their recovery.

Expectancy from others for having a full recovery completed by a certain date can also be an added pressure for a recovering addict, and for many it is natural to expect them to recover at a certain rate. The addict can often find this pressure to be stifling, and trying to progress quicker than they are happy with.

Ultimately, the pace of recovery will be entirely dictated by the severity of the addiction and how the addict feels that they can progress. There is no definable timescale, there are only certain steps and stages that the addict will progress through to their final recovery, and whether they will always fear a relapse or can embrace life without worry again, it will be much better than the addiction that can stifle and destroy their life without the possibility of their being a full recovery.