Seeking treatment for a substance use disorder is an important step toward reclaiming control of your life. But selecting the right treatment option can be difficult, as the difference between offerings is not always clear.
How do you know which treatment to choose? Things you may want to consider include your substance of choice, duration and frequency of use, current health, work, and lifestyle goals, and your insurance benefits. This blog sheds light to help make your decision easier by answering the vexing rehab question: Do I need residential inpatient, outpatient, or a combination of both?
Residential Inpatient Addiction Treatment
What triggers the need for someone to attend residential inpatient drug and alcohol rehab? Residential inpatient addiction treatment – or residential rehab – is either the first step toward recovery or the next step after an intensive, multi-day inpatient detox. After detox withdrawal symptoms subside, patients often need help overcoming the mental, situational, behavioral, physical, and emotional ties to the substance(s) they used. Long-term recovery after detox is more successful if a patient has full-time comprehensive care in a professional clinic. Residential addiction rehab includes 24/7 monitoring and medical support, proper nutrition, exercise, arts opportunities, and counseling. The goal of treatment for substance use dependence is for patients to learn how to manage risk in their own environment after discharge.
Inpatient treatment is recommended when addiction patients have:
- Inability to focus on work and family due to substance use
- Relapsed after outpatient treatment
- Restricted access to healthy food and a safe environment
- Trouble sleeping
- Inability to avoid behaviors & locations associated with substance use
- Suffer from a co-occurring mental disorder
- No support at home
- Home support does not provide enough structure to prevent substance use
- Difficulty refraining from risky behavior (i.e., driving under the influence, sharing needles, etc.)
Residential inpatient treatment is available for patients suffering from chemical or alcohol dependency who need medication-assisted interventions at a live-in, safe, and secure facility where patients have daily access to licensed medical staff and certified recovery therapists.
Outpatient Addiction Treatment
For many people with a substance use disorder, outpatient rehab can be the right choice and offer the perfect amount of support. But what is outpatient rehab, exactly? Outpatient rehab services are for those patients who have already completed detox and/or residential inpatient treatment or whose dependency does not require intense, 24-hour residential care. Patients can attend treatment services virtually or visit a designated treatment location at an outpatient rehab. Sessions vary in length and frequency according to their individualized treatment plan, but never include overnight stays. When enrolled in an outpatient program, most patients maintain regular work and home life obligations while receiving substance abuse recovery support.
How does outpatient drug rehab work? Outpatient rehab programs offer professional addiction recovery in a safe, structured, welcoming environment that encourages patients to be accountable, participate in therapy sessions, learn coping mechanisms, and get the medical care they need to integrate recovery into daily life. Outpatient rehab allows patients flexibility and freedom to focus on recovery without putting personal responsibilities on hold.
During outpatient rehabilitation, you can expect intervention offerings to look like:
- Group therapy
- Peer support
- Relapse prevention education
- Individual counseling
- Family counseling
- Case management
- Trauma-focused treatment
- Psychiatric care
- Life skills development
If you’ve been or are diagnosed with a co-occurring mental disorder (like anxiety, depression, ADHD, or schizophrenia), an intensive outpatient program (IOP) might be the right choice for you. Intensive outpatient treatment is a structured, comprehensive program providing a greater degree of medical care than traditional outpatient treatment. In an IOP, patients commit to therapy for several hours a day, multiple times a week – evening IOPs are available for those who work or attend school.
Key Differences Between Residential Inpatient and Outpatient Treatment
So, what are the key differences between Residential Inpatient and Outpatient care beyond offering professional therapy in a supportive and non-judgmental safe space and Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)?
Residential Inpatient programs provide a higher level of medical supervision, a structured environment, healthy meals, exercise opportunities, private rooms, and daily interventions by a professional clinical and medical team. In many cases, residential inpatient treatment will consist of a 5–7-day medical detox followed by a separate residential rehabilitation program, which typically runs 30 days.
Outpatient programs offer greater flexibility for patients who have graduated from a residential inpatient program and/or are in a safe position to fulfill family, home, and employment obligations. Regularly attending outpatient therapies, including meeting with therapists, and receiving peer support, increases positive outcomes and reduces the chances of a setback. However, outpatient therapy is not the best option for patients suffering from dangerous withdrawal, with significant co-occurring symptoms, or who are unable to refrain from harmful activities like driving under the influence. Additionally, outpatient treatment typically lasts longer than residential inpatient programs.
Most insurance plans cover both residential inpatient and outpatient drug and alcohol rehab treatments.
How to Decide Between Residential Inpatient and Outpatient Addiction Treatment
If you are having trouble deciding which treatment is right for your situation, please call a licensed drug and alcohol rehab facility like Buena Vista Recovery. Our experienced Treatment Advisors can give you all the information you need to find the program. Each patient is unique in their need for treatment depending on their use history, life stage, family status, and willingness to commit to treatment. In certain cases, a complete medical detox is necessary before enrolling in a residential inpatient or outpatient program.
Addiction recovery is within reach. Explore what is possible by speaking to a Buena Vista Recovery substance abuse professional today. He or she can review your medical and substance abuse history, discuss your goals, and help you determine the best treatment plan based on your individual needs. No matter what rehab treatment you choose, make sure it is comprehensive, personalized, and focuses on your long-term health.
Call Buena Vista Recovery at (480) 999-0851 or contact us to get the support you need.
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