You’re tired of the hold that drugs have over you. Now, you’re thinking of checking yourself into rehab.
Smart thinking. Research shows that more than 41 million people needed substance use disorder treatment in 2020. However, only 6.5% of them got treatment at specialty treatment facilities during the previous 12 months.
The question is, should you choose outpatient or inpatient rehab?
Here’s a rundown on everything you need to know about outpatient vs inpatient rehab and what both types of rehab have to offer.
Let’s get started!
Outpatient vs Inpatient Rehab
Outpatient rehabilitation involves facility or clinic treatment offered daily. This treatment may be in the form of group sessions, counseling, or therapy.
With outpatient treatment, you may reside at home during your recovery process. You may start with frequent and intensive sessions. Then, your sessions may become less intense, and you may meet less often as you grow.
The goal of outpatient treatment is to help you to overcome your alcohol or drug dependence. Then, you can maintain your recovery long term.
Inpatient rehabilitation, on the other hand, allows you to receive treatment while residing at a rehab facility. This can especially be helpful if you’re dealing with severe alcohol or drug problems. It may also be helpful for you if you’re facing mental health problems.
In an inpatient rehab program, you will receive support around the clock. This support focuses on detoxification and then reflection followed by growth. Your goal during this process is to eventually transition to outside group or individual counseling.
During short-term residential rehab treatment, your program might last 3-6 weeks. Meanwhile, a long-term rehab program may last between six months and one year.
Benefits of Outpatient Rehab
One of the biggest benefits of outpatient rehab is that you’re able to stay at home during the treatment process.
This means you can continue to care for your family members or children while going through rehab. It also means you can keep up with your job or schoolwork during treatment. You can make appointments on the weekends or in the evening, thus accommodating your work schedule.
Yet another benefit of outpatient rehab is that this type of treatment is usually less expensive than inpatient treatment.
With outpatient rehab, you can also choose the care intensity level that best fits your needs. You may also be able to receive treatment for co-occurring disorders or problems.
These disorders may include depression and PTSD. They may also include eating disorders and bipolar disorder.
Cons of Outpatient Rehab
One of the disadvantages of outpatient rehab is that you may not receive 24/7 support. This may be a major problem if you’re experiencing repeated urges to drink alcohol or take drugs.
Outpatient rehab may also not be the best fit for you if you think you’ll have a hard time showing up to your group sessions. That’s because your outpatient rehab’s success is contingent on your ability to attend sessions regularly. You’ll also need to be an active participant in these sessions.
Inpatient treatment may be the better option if you’re looking for a more monitored and structured treatment option.
Finally, outpatient rehab might not work for you if you have multiple disorders and require medical attention. That’s because some outpatient treatment programs can’t administer medications. Likewise, some may not offer multifaceted, intensive recovery programs targeting complicated addictions.
Benefits of Inpatient Rehab
A major benefit of inpatient rehabilitation is that you’ll be immersed in your recovery environment. You’ll never be by yourself when working on your recovery.
Also, you’ll receive the support you need no matter the time of day. This includes regular medical attention, which is particularly invaluable if you have severe issues that other mental health disorders may be complicating.
This will make it easier for you to resist drug- and alcohol-related temptations. It can also help you to steer clear of daily influences that may trigger your drug use.
Simply put, the healthier your living environment is, the easier your recovery will be.
Yet another advantage of inpatient rehab is that the treatment is extremely structured.
During treatment, you’ll focus on every aspect of addiction. For instance, you’ll concentrate on social factors, like your lifestyle and relationships. You’ll also focus on psychological factors linked to your situation and personal history.
Cons of Inpatient Rehab
The main drawback of inpatient rehabilitation is that you’ll have to pull yourself away from your normal daily life. As a result, you may need to secure care for the kids. In addition, you may need to take time off from work or school.
Inpatient rehab may also be a problem if you can’t handle a highly structured environment. The staff will decide your schedule, and you can expect the agenda to be rigid and intense.
Finally, the cost of inpatient rehab is generally higher than that of outpatient treatment. So, outpatient rehab may be a better option if cost is a factor.
How We Can Help with Substance Abuse
As you compare outpatient vs inpatient rehab, keep in mind that outpatient rehab offers greater flexibility but doesn’t provide around-the-clock support. Meanwhile, inpatient rehab offers constant care but will require a bigger commitment from you.
At Altitude Recovery Committee, we take pride in offering personalized, high-quality, and accessible inpatient treatment and aftercare plans. We help clients struggling with drug and alcohol addiction.
Get in touch with us to learn more about our treatment services, learn how insurance can help cover the cost of treatment, and start your recovery journey today.
