Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Inpatient Treatment: Involves living at the rehab center for 24/7 care.
- Outpatient Treatment: Allows you to live at home while attending therapy during the day.
- Choosing the Right Program: The best choice depends on your addiction’s severity, home life, and personal needs.
- Virtue Recovery Center Offers Both: We provide inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment to help your addiction recovery.
Introduction
When you are prepared to enter a program for addiction treatment, one of the first choices you will have to make is whether to go for inpatient or outpatient treatment. Each of the two options has its benefits in the treatment of addiction, and the best one for you will depend on your circumstances. In this article, we will be comparing and contrasting inpatient and outpatient rehab so that you can determine which one is right for you.
What is Inpatient Treatment?
Inpatient treatment, or residential treatment, involves staying at the rehab center and receiving treatment. This means you can be in the facility at all times, and all your time is dedicated to recovery. Inpatient treatment is a highly controlled environment where you can get a lot of help quickly without being distracted by the outside world.
You’ll follow a daily schedule during your stay, including therapy sessions, group counseling, and other activities to help you recover. You’ll also have access to medical care if needed.
Why Choose Inpatient Treatment?
This type of rehab is ideal for those who have very severe addictions or those who need to be protected from situations that may make them use drugs again.
What is Outpatient Treatment?
Outpatient treatment allows you to live at home while attending therapy sessions at a rehab center. You’ll still receive professional care but don’t have to stay at the facility full-time. Instead, you can continue going to work or school, caring for your family, and keeping up with daily responsibilities.
Outpatient programs are more flexible and may include a combination of individual therapy, group counseling, and educational sessions. You’ll attend these sessions during the day or evening and return home afterward.
Why Choose Outpatient Treatment?
This option is excellent for those who have a supportive home environment and don’t require around-the-clock care. It’s also helpful if you have responsibilities that make it difficult to commit to living at a facility full-time.
Key Differences Between Inpatient and Outpatient Treatment
The main difference between inpatient and outpatient treatment is where you live during rehab. In inpatient treatment, you stay at the rehab center full-time, while in outpatient treatment, you live at home and attend treatment sessions.
Here are some other key differences:
- Supervision: In inpatient treatment, you have 24/7 support and medical supervision. In outpatient treatment, you visit the facility for scheduled sessions but spend most of your time outside the rehab center.
- Structure: Inpatient programs have a very structured day schedule, which may be helpful for those requiring a lot of structure. Outpatient programs are less structured and can be easily incorporated into one’s daily schedule.
- Cost: Outpatient treatment is often less expensive than inpatient treatment because you’re not staying at the facility full-time.
Benefits of Inpatient Treatment
There are several reasons why people choose inpatient treatment for their addiction recovery:
- 24/7 Care: You’ll have constant support from medical and mental health professionals, which is especially important during the detox phase.
- Safe Environment: Staying away from home is a way of avoiding situations and people that may lead to relapse to the substance use disorder.
- Structured Schedule: Inpatient treatment is a more structured setting where you must follow a specific routine and can, therefore, focus on your objectives.
Inpatient treatment is usually suggested for those who have very intense addictions, those who have failed to be treated through outpatient services, or those who have no robust support system at home.
Benefits of Outpatient Treatment
For others, outpatient treatment may be the better option:
- Flexibility: You can continue with your job, education, or even look after your family during treatment.
- Lower Cost: Outpatient programs are often more affordable than inpatient rehab because you’re not paying for full-time housing at the facility.
- Support System at Home: If you have family or friends who can support you, outpatient treatment will enable you to receive support from them while also receiving treatment.
Outpatient treatment is best suited for people with mild addiction, people with strong family and friends support, or people with other responsibilities to attend to.
How to Choose the Right Rehab
Inpatient and outpatient treatment are other important decisions that have to be made, and the choice depends on the patient’s needs. Here are a few things to consider when making your decision:
- Severity of Addiction: If your addiction is severe or you’ve relapsed before, inpatient treatment may be the best option for you.
- Home Environment: Are you living in a safe and supportive home environment? If not, inpatient treatment can offer a more structured and predictable one.
- Work/Family Commitments: Outpatient treatment is ideal if you have other responsibilities at work or home since you can still attend the sessions while attending other duties.
- Cost: Outpatient treatment is usually cheaper. However, many insurance policies will cover both inpatient and outpatient treatment.
Talking to a treatment professional can help you decide which program is best suited to your needs.
Conclusion
Inpatient and outpatient treatment are two effective ways of treating addiction, but the type of treatment that will work for you depends on your circumstances. Inpatient treatment is more comprehensive and has a stricter schedule, while outpatient treatment allows you to continue your normal activities. Knowing the differences between these options will assist you in the decision-making process of your recovery process.
For more information about Virtue Recovery Center and our inpatient and outpatient treatment programs, please call 866-461-3339.
FAQs For Outpatient vs Inpatient Addiction Treatment
What’s the difference between inpatient and outpatient treatment?
Inpatient treatment involves admitting you to the rehab center and making you stay there for some time. In contrast, outpatient treatment consists of attending therapy sessions while living at home.
How long do inpatient and outpatient programs last?
Program lengths vary depending on individual needs. Inpatient treatment can last anywhere from 30 to 90 days, while outpatient programs may last several months or longer.
Which treatment is better for severe addiction?
Inpatient treatment is often better for severe addiction because it offers 24/7 care and a structured environment.
Can I keep working while doing outpatient treatment?
Yes, outpatient treatment allows you to continue working, attending school, and taking care of other responsibilities while getting treatment.
How does Virtue Recovery Center help me choose the right program?
At Virtue Recovery Center, our experts will evaluate your needs and recommend whether you should go for inpatient or outpatient services.
Resources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64088/
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- About the Author
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Nicki Lugo is currently employed as Clinical Director at Virtue Recovery Center in Las Vegas. Nicki is a licensed clinical professional counselor (CPC) in the state of Nevada and a licensed associate counselor (LAC) in the state of Arizona. She is also a licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor (LCADC) in Nevada. Additionally, Nicki has specialized training in treating trauma and is a certified clinical trauma specialist (CCTS).
Nicki has earned a Master of Science degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Behavioral Health from the University of Phoenix and a Master of Science in Professional Counseling from Grand Canyon University. Currently, Nicki is pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Counseling Education and Supervision at Grand Canyon University. Nicki’s research interests include the use of Positive Psychology interventions with dual diagnosis clients. Nicki hopes to contribute to the body of knowledge in treating substance use disorders.
Nicki’s long-term career goals include advancing in leadership roles within Virtue Recovery Center which is a quickly growing substance use disorder treatment facility. She hopes that one day her research and advocacy will help to save the lives of those who have been affected by substance use. She likes to say that advocacy is her passion and leadership is her superpower.
