An estimated 19.7 million American adults battled a substance abuse disorder in 2017. Those who are battling addiction and want to get help must decide whether they will choose an inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation facility.
It’s important to understand the difference between the two and the advantages of each before making a decision.
Inpatient Rehab
An inpatient facility is, essentially, a residential rehab. Patients are treated and live at the facility until they complete the program.
Inpatient programs typically include medically supervised detoxification, which can last up to a week and is generally the most difficult part of recovery.
The length of the stay will depend on the program. Many programs last 28 days, but a long-term rehab program may last up to six months.
There are many different types of inpatient programs, including:
- 12-step
- Therapy-based
- Multimodality
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Generally, long-term rehabs that last at least three months are more effective than outpatient programs or shorter inpatient programs.
Many inpatient programs also address secondary mental health issues, which – studies show – makes treatment more effective.
Of course, inpatient programs aren’t the right choice for everyone. Those suffering from long-standing or severe addiction often stand a better chance of recovering when participating in a long-term rehab program, as stated by scottsdalerecovery.com. However, those with milder addictions may fare better in an outpatient program that allows them to maintain their normal life.
A few drawbacks of an inpatient program include:
- You’ll need to leave your job for the duration of your treatment
- Your daily schedule is dictated by the program
- You are not free to come and go as you please
- Your treatment may not be covered by insurance
However, with an inpatient program, patients can focus solely on your recovery for an extended period of time. Long-term programs offer patients the ability to change habits and forge new, healthy patterns. Additionally, more intensive counseling sessions allow patients to develop the right tools to cope with stressful and difficult life situations. Many in-patient rehabilitation centers also offer patients a chance to address the root cause of their addiction problem and learn ways to cope with it without substance abuse. This holistic approach has been proven the most successful, especially for relapsing patients. There are various treatment centers like this one in Oklahoma that take this approach and have a fairly good success rate.
Outpatient Rehab
An outpatient program allows you to continue with your normal daily life and attend treatment programs during off-hours. These programs provide the most flexibility while still providing a high standard of care.
Outpatient treatment programs may include:
- Cognitive therapy
- Professional psychotherapy
- Vocational therapy
- Informal peer discussions
- Peer group support
- Marital therapy
- Counseling services
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Outpatient rehabs are generally less expensive because patients don’t have to pay for room and board. Patients may also continue working or attending school during treatment, and they may rely on the support of friends and family members.
There are also some drawbacks to choosing an outpatient program. For starters, it’s easier to relapse because patients have easy access to substances. Patients also remain in their old environment, which puts them at risk of falling into old habits. Managing withdrawal symptoms can also be challenging in an outpatient program.
Inpatient and outpatient rehabs both offer help to those in need, but it’s important to weigh the pros, cons, and offerings before making your final decision. Finding the right type of rehab program is just as important as deciding to get help.
