One of the most commonly asked questions about treatment is regarding the choice between Inpatient vs Outpatient rehab programs. When an individual, or their family, is ready to commit to seeking sobriety, choosing a program that best accommodates and addresses individual treatment needs can seem overwhelming. Considering all the different elements to a specific program, and each program’s advantages or disadvantages can take some time. It is important that this choice is carefully made, as choosing a program that is a good fit can aid recovery.
Almost all alcohol and drug treatment programs are divided into inpatient and outpatient. Both focus on rebuilding lives broken and needing restoration from addiction, but each has specific benefits and goals. Choosing Inpatient vs Outpatient can be a daunting prospect because there are so many factors to consider. For families with questions regarding any type of rehab program, we advise speaking with one of our counselors today.
How To Determine Your Addiction Treatment Needs.
Your specific needs and severity of your addiction issues will probably direct your choice when considering inpatient vs outpatient rehab. However, before making this important decision, it is good to have a better understanding of what is entailed in each before committing to one over the other.
Inpatient Addiction Treatment always involves checking into your center of choice for the duration of your treatment program. This will probably include isolation from family and friends while your initial intake and treatment program begins. This is common for a multitude of reasons, most of which are to protect you as you begin what can be a difficult process to get clean.
Outpatient Addiction Treatment programs allow clients to remain at their homes or sober living facility each day during the week, enabling clients to stay involved in their family and friend circles. This can prove to be a difficult choice for clients who have trouble avoiding triggers and associations that pull them back into their drug and alcohol worlds. Your ability to accurately examine your personal pitfalls before choosing outpatient treatment over inpatient can make the difference when seeking full recovery from substance abuse and addiction.
Questions about Inpatient Vs Outpatient?
Inpatient Addiction Treatment.
For most individuals with alcoholism and opiate addictions, the choice to check into a facility for the duration of rehab is often a result of long-term abuse issues and cycles that must be broken. The length of inpatient treatment programs varies from 28-day to 90+ days. This time will vary based on the length of addiction, type of substances abused, and the ability to afford long-term treatment programs.
Inpatient programs consist of several steps, beginning with admission and evaluation. During this initial step, clients fill out required health information, undergo physicals, and speak with intake counselors. This is often immediately followed by participation in group meetings, even before bags are searched and unpacked. This first step requires clients to accept responsibility for their addiction issues, and begin to confront their abuse with the help of a professional support system. The next step is often detox, which can be quite uncomfortable without medical intervention provided at inpatient facilities. Some drugs have painful, lasting, and even dangerous withdrawal symptoms which must be managed 24/7 for the client’s welfare and safety.
Once detoxification is done, clients move into the next phase of inpatient treatment. This can include experiential therapies, CAM treatments, and other group activities that help recovering addicts gain the confidence needed to reengage the outside world once their scheduled admission is over. Sometimes medication remains part of a recovering addicts long-term care. Certain addictions are much easier to beat with the help of Naltrexone or Methadone.
Some of the more popular inpatient rehab programs available are Luxury Rehab facilities, Professionals Rehab Centers, and Teen Rehab Programs. To find out more about different inpatient rehab programs, click here.
Outpatient Alcohol and Drug Treatment Programs.
Unlike Inpatient Treatment, Outpatient is much like the name implies; treatment that allows clients to reside outside the treatment facility. This can be an appropriate choice for some individuals who need to remain engaged in their work or school programs, and who’s addictions allow for less intense treatment. When clients are not dealing with co-existing disorders, such as mental health issues, this can be an appropriated solution for rehab.
Outpatient programs differ in style and intensity, but most offer clients the same basic therapies, counseling opportunities, access to psychiatrists and medications to help control the effects of withdrawal. The specific hours spent during any given week will vary depending on the individual’s addiction history and specific drug of choice. For many, this programs requires daily treatment hours, often full-time, in order to offer clients a real chance at successful recovery. For others, the programs may be much less intense, and only require a few hours a day, or week for individual therapies.
There are three main types of outpatient rehab programs offered by most treatment centers. These are IOP (Intensive Outpatient Programs), Day Programs, and Continuing Care programs.