Inpatient vs Outpatient Drug Rehab

Deciding to get help with drug addiction is one of the hardest things you may have to do in your lifetime. Fortunately, there are many different options that can help, such as inpatient and outpatient therapies. By understanding the differences between the two, you can get a better feel for what type of program is going to work best for you.

Inpatient vs Outpatient Care: What Is The Difference?

When you do any initial research on rehabilitation facilities for drug and alcohol treatment, you’ll notice that they tend to offer two different types of rehabilitation programs. These include inpatient programs and outpatient treatment programs.

Inpatient programs are considered to be more intense and designed to treat serious conditions. Outpatient programs are regarded as part-time rehabilitation programs that allow patients to continue their regular school or work schedule while still undergoing drug rehabilitation treatment. These descriptions are meant to be a general overview of the inpatient vs outpatient programs available to you. Learning about each program more specifically can allow you to make a more informed decision regarding your treatment options.

What is Inpatient Care?

Also known as residential treatment programs, inpatient care options allow you to check yourself into a controlled environment. This will enable you to become free of any environmental restraints that can hinder your ability to overcome your existing addiction. You’ll stay at a licensed medical clinic that offers 24-hour medical and emotional support for every step of your treatment process, from initial admittance to full recovery.

Since you’ll no longer be positioned in an unhealthy environment when undergoing inpatient care, you can solely focus on getting sober and strong for the future. Most patients will spend anywhere between 28 days and 6 months at an inpatient rehabilitation facility for treatment. During this time, you’ll undergo a carefully scheduled treatment program geared toward helping you overcome your addiction.

There will be psychiatrists, psychologists, and counselors available at the facility that will help you along your journey to sobriety. You can expect to have both individual and group meetings to guide you through the recovery process. The initial detox period can be extremely difficult and often leads to relapse when not done under appropriate conditions. With an inpatient treatment center, you can guarantee that you’ll receive medically assisted detox to help with your cravings and ensure a safe withdrawal period.

The Advantages of Inpatient Care

If you’re suffering from a severe drug or alcohol addiction, then inpatient care can be your best option. This allows you to essentially get pulled out of a non-conductive environment and be put inside a safe place where you can solely focus on recovering. Addiction can be a tough battle for anyone. Having medical assistance at the facility can help to ensure that you get the help you need for a successful recovery.

With inpatient care, you can take a step back from your day-to-day responsibilities like work, parenting, and personal relationships. You’ll have time for self-care, which is such a vital part of any successful addiction recovery process. Highly trained staff members will construct a conductive treatment schedule that will ensure that you undergo the necessary building blocks to recovery without a relapse.

Inpatient care provides you with an official and structured treatment program. You can rely heavily on the experts to help you through the process and hold you accountable for your recovery. Instead of hoping that you make good decisions while in outpatient care, you can be assured that you’re on the right path as you undergo treatment in an inpatient facility. This can be extremely helpful when it comes to mentally overcoming your addiction. Additionally, you’ll be surrounded by others who are going through the same recovery process who can help make it feel more normalized.

What is Outpatient Care?

Outpatient drug rehab is completed in a less restrictive environment where you won’t be under constant medical supervision. These programs require you to spend about 10 to 12 hours a week visiting the outpatient care facility for treatment. You’ll undergo both individual and group counseling sessions to discuss your addiction and be educated about drug abuse and actively coping without drugs or alcohol in your life.

This type of detox program offers a safe and effective method for overcoming a mild to moderate drug addiction. This program can be used solely from the start, or you may enter into outpatient care after an inpatient stay. You can expect outpatient drug rehab to last anywhere between three and six months on average. In some cases, you may find that you’ll want to participate in outpatient drug rehab services for an even longer period to successfully cope and recover from your drug addiction.

Since outpatient care doesn’t offer 24-hour medical assistance as inpatient care does, you’ll be expected to visit a treatment facility or hospital for regular physical and mental check-ups. Your doctor or a clinician at your chosen outpatient treatment facility may opt to administer medications to help soothe your symptoms of withdrawal like depression, anxiety, or increased heart rate.

The Advantages of Outpatient Care

Probably the most significant benefit that patients note from attending outpatient care is that they can recover in the comfort of their own homes and around their friends and family. While moving to an inpatient care facility can help to put you in a secure environment, it can be very stressful to be removed from your normal environment.

With outpatient care, you can sleep in your own bed, enjoy doing activities that you love, and organize your time on your own schedule. You can continue to work and even attend school. If you have children, you can remain at home so that you can see them every day and be active in their lives.

When it comes to cost, outpatient care is going to be much less expensive. This is mainly due to the fact that you won’t be housed in a facility or have access to 24-hour medical assistance. Patients report a difference in cost of thousands of dollars when comparing inpatient vs outpatient treatment programs.

Which Treatment Option is Best For You?

Knowing that you’re ready to seek help with overcoming your addiction is a big step. Determining whether inpatient or outpatient therapy is right for you can have a significant impact on your overall recovery. Understanding your level of addiction and knowing your current accountability for your day-to-day actions can really assist in your decision of inpatient vs outpatient treatment.

In general, inpatient therapy is recommended for those who have severe addictions and those who are addicted to drugs that require medical withdrawal assistance, including heroin, opiates, benzodiazepines, and alcohol. Outpatient therapy is recommended for those who have mild to moderate addictions that don’t require medical withdrawal assistance.

However, these are general rules of thumb. Only you can really discern what type of treatment is going to be best for your recovery. Your support system, home environment, and mental health are going to play a big role in determining if you decide to undergo inpatient or outpatient addiction therapy. It’s important to remember that if you do opt for outpatient therapy and find yourself struggling, you may always opt for switching to an inpatient recovery environment.

Let Long Island Interventions Help You

If you’re ready to undergo the journey of recovering from drug addiction, then it’s time to contact Long Island Interventions today. Get the professional assistance that you need from people who understand the process you’re about to undergo.