By Dave Cox
Outpatient Vs. Inpatient Drug Rehab Centers: Which is Best for Me?
If you or your loved one is suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction and the time has come to select a rehabilitation center, one of the first decisions many families have is choosing the type of program that best suits the needs of all involved. There are numerous rehab centers across the United States, including Reflections Recovery Center, which treat drug and alcohol abuse. Some facilities offer both inpatient and outpatient treatment, while others provide only one or the other. It is important to understand the difference between outpatient vs inpatient drug rehab, as although the kind of treatment is typically very similar, the way in which that treatment is provided is drastically different. This can have a substantial impact on the long-term efficacy of the recovery of the sufferer.
About Inpatient Drug Rehabilitation Centers
Inpatient drug rehab centers provide 24/7 care and treatment for those suffering from addiction. Individuals move into a facility on a full-time basis, away from home and their families; access to the outside world from that point forward is somewhat restricted. This is done in order to ensure that the individual can focus exclusively on his or her recovery, as well as minimize negative outside influences that may have contributed to the addiction in the first place.
Inpatient treatment plans can range anywhere from about one to several months. The facility will sit down with the patient and his or her family to determine the best plan of action at the time of admission to determine the best course of action at the time of intake. Day-to-day activities at an inpatient treatment facility will vary, depending on the center. Activities range from individual and group therapy sessions to art therapy, outdoor activities, and more.
About Outpatient Drug Rehabilitation Centers
Outpatient drug rehab centers are an option for those individuals who cannot, or those who refuse to, commit to a full-time inpatient treatment program. The patient does not stay full-time at the facility but instead travels back and forth from home at specific times for therapy or other activities. Like inpatient programs, outpatient rehab provides access to counseling and other benefits. In some instances, outpatient treatment is a necessity for the patient. This could be because he or she cannot afford to quit working, because medical insurance does not cover inpatient treatment, or because the individual does not have medical insurance at all.
However, it is a matter of money or insurance coverage, it is important to double-check with the particular facility prior to opting for outpatient treatment. Addiction treatment centers are experts at dealing with insurance companies and may know how to obtain additional coverage for treatment from your policy that you may not be aware of.
Outpatient Vs Inpatient Drug Rehab Centers: Pros and Cons
In the majority cases, once an individual has progressed to a point of needing to consider a drug or alcohol rehabilitation center, inpatient treatment is strongly recommended by many professionals. In the majority of instances, it is imperative that the person is temporarily removed from the surroundings that led them to their current state. It can often be rightfully assumed that by the time a person has reached this heightened state of addiction, quitting of his or her own will has become next to impossible. Furthermore, bringing the person into a foreign, neutral environment where they can relax and fully concentrate on themselves and their treatment program allows them to gain a new, positive perspective on life. This, in turn, can dramatically improve his or her chances of permanent recovery once supervised treatment is over.
However, outpatient treatment is not without its merits. Many individuals simply cannot or will not commit to inpatient treatment for a variety of reasons. Some are unable to support themselves or their families if they enter an inpatient facility, while others are fully ready to beat their addictions and wish to do so on their own “home turf”, so to speak. While this is certainly not possible for everyone, some individuals who are truly ready to make a change in their lives are indeed able to achieve clean and sober living through outpatient treatment. As such, outpatient treatment should not be disregarded—indeed, it is a critical tool for many who suffer from addiction. It is ultimately up to the sufferer, the family, and the facility to determine the best path. You can discuss these options with the staff at Reflections Recovery Center.
If you have any questions about which treatment program is right for you, please call us at 801-784-9455.
Reflections Recovery Center is a residential drug treatment program located in beautiful Utah valley. Our programs vary from to 30-90 days, depending on each client’s particular needs.
At Reflections we understand that determining how the cost of treatment for you or a loved one will be covered can be a daunting and confusing task.