The Difference Between Inpatient and Outpatient Rehab

Outpatient care typically costs less than inpatient rehab, but the level of support may be less intensive. A residential treatment program also differs from a standard inpatient addiction treatment program in residential treatment facilities that function like apartment-like communities. Thus, it’s easy for residential treatment patients to bond with one another.

As such, this type of treatment program is best for those who need intensive care and supervision. It enables individuals to have access to around-the-clock professional and medical treatment and resources. That means education and counseling in the form of individual therapy sessions, group therapy sessions, and family therapy—all tailored to address addiction and mental health issues. Also, like standard inpatient treatment programs, residential treatment programs still have 24/7 supervision and care. In fact, most of the treatment and therapy practices that standard inpatient treatment programs use, residential treatment programs use as well. Thus, although slightly less intensive and structured than standard inpatient treatment, residential treatment is still helpful for patients with severe drug abuse problems or dual diagnosis.

Alcohol Cravings: Effective Tips to Help Curb Your Cravings

An estimated 22.5 million people in the United States needed treatment for drug or alcohol misuse in 2014, but only about 4.2 million received that treatment, according to SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Treatment is significantly less expensive for outpatient programs – even up to one-half the cost. As you can imagine, successfully completing treatment was also a factor. This final stage often begins after approximately five years of abstinence. During advance recovery, you apply all the tools and skills you learned during your rehab treatment to live a satisfying, fulfilling life.

This means that you might have to find care for your children or family members. You’ll most likely have to take leave from your job or school while you are in a facility. Residential facilities provide care 24 hours a day, usually in nonhospital settings. Our science-backed approach boasts 95% of patients reporting no withdrawal symptoms at 7 days. The intensity of treatment slowly lessens over time as you grow more stable in your recovery.

Inpatient vs. Outpatient Rehab Success Rates

When it comes to addiction recovery, rehabs usually divide patients into two main groups “inpatients and outpatients”. Inpatients are those that will be treated while they stay inside a center, whereas outpatients will not be required to stay in the center during their treatment. Outpatient treatment can involve therapy, group counseling, or a 12-step program.

Whether outpatient or inpatient treatment is more effective for a particular person can depend on a few factors as well as on their specific and individual needs. However, “how much time someone needs inpatient rehabilitation will vary by the person and the severity of their alcohol use disorder. The initial phase of inpatient treatment is detoxification and stabilization which usually takes a few days but can extend for 7-10 days depending on any complications. After stabilization, treatment duration will be based on clinical and medical progress,” Ludwig says. One con to outpatient programs is its lack of around-the-clock care and supervision.

Let Us Provide Your Outpatient Rehab

During an inpatient treatment stay at RCA, patients who are dependent on drugs or alcohol typically start with a medical detoxification process. This process works to detox the body from drugs and alcohol the fastest and most effective ways to curb alcohol cravings in a comfortable manner with 24/7 round-the-clock support. Depending on what drug you are detoxing from, your clinical team may suggest you receive medically assisted treatment for a specific time.

It offers around-the-clock medically directed evaluation, care, and therapy. Level 4 institutions are usually equipped with mental health services, providing substance abuse treatment that also treats co-occurring disorders. Patients undergoing outpatient treatment must attend regularly scheduled meetings. This level of care allows patients to go about their daily lives while receiving in-person therapy from addiction or mental health professionals. Outpatient treatment is suitable for those who work or have a strong support structure at home and is often less expensive than other kinds of care.

Discussing the Pros and Cons of Outpatient Treatment

This is because standard outpatient treatment programs only require a couple of hours of treatment a day, once or twice a week. Despite being slightly less structured and intense than standard inpatient treatment, residential treatment programs last the same amount of time. This means residential treatment programs also tend to last 30 or more days. When you’re in outpatient rehab, you will continue to live at home so you can continue to work and take care of your family. Some patients begin with outpatient care, whereas others may start with inpatient treatment and transition into outpatient care so that they can receive ongoing support during their recovery. Inpatient vs outpatient substance abuse treatmentNot everyone needs inpatient care for addiction treatment, although many facilities would have you believe they do.

As early as March 2002, 90% of patients were in an outpatient treatment, according to the annual National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services. Outpatient treatment was found to be the most “widely available” level of care for drug and alcohol addiction by the survey, the risks of mixing alcohol and summer heat with 81% of facilities offering it. Just as with inpatient rehab, the length of time you spend in outpatient care will depend upon your needs and situation. Outpatient care tends to last longer than inpatient rehab, and outpatient care may become less intensive over time.

Outpatient Drug and Alcohol Rehab

Before making a decision about inpatient vs outpatient, check with your insurance provider to see which types of programs are covered. Either way, outpatient treatment offers unparalleled convenience and flexibility. Patients live at home or at a sober home and continue to work or go to school, all while getting treatment for addiction. Not everyone who enters a drug and alcohol addiction treatment program will be homeless, jobless, or without a family. In fact, functional addiction is exceedingly common, which means many people continue to hold jobs that they may need to maintain during a rehab program. If this is the case, you may be better served by an outpatient treatment program that can allow you to continue to work while still getting treatment.

It is never too late to make a positive change in life when it comes to addiction—a new day is always right around the corner. After continued use of drugs or alcohol, chemical changes occur in a person’s brain. The search and need for alcohol and drugs can become a compulsive and uncontrollable need, leading many people to spiral out of control. If you’re having trouble stopping or controlling your drinking, you may be considering different treatment programs.

• If you are considering addiction treatment of any kind – inpatient or outpatient – you will need to be evaluated by a qualified professional.
• WebMD does not endorse any product, service or treatment referred to on this page.
• That’s why we offer residential treatment along with standard outpatient treatment, partial hospitalization program treatment, and intensive outpatient treatment.
• First, they leave their homes and enter a safe and caring environment 24/7.
• While inpatient, you can start medications for addiction treatment under close monitoring, and you can also receive intensive daily behavioral health treatments including individual and/or group therapy.
• As briefly mentioned earlier, there are three forms of outpatient treatment.

If you think that you can really commit to your sobriety, whether you’re at home or at the center, then you should be able to succeed in an outpatient care program. These programs usually offer patients flexible schedules and those participating are able to continue living at home, go to work or school, while also benefits from rehab. In order for outpatient treatment to be successful, however, you will need a strong support system to help you conquer drug cravings. These residential programs provide highly structured 24-hour care and are usually run by licensed alcohol and drug counselors and mental health professionals. Short-term programs can last 3 to 6 weeks, followed by outpatient treatment. Standard inpatient treatment is slightly more intensive and structured than the residential form of inpatient rehab.

If you’re new to addiction treatment, the extra freedom can also be an extra temptation to use drugs again. Our programs include one-on-one and group therapy sessions,12-step study, educational workshops, one-on-one, and group therapy sessions, 12-step study, as well as wellness andrecreational activities. For many, however, the real benefit of outpatient care is the cheaper price tag. The lower price makes sense because they don’t live at the facility during treatment. No matter if you choose between in-person or digital outpatient services, you can be confident in the quality of care you’ll receive. And, with either choice you will benefit from same day assessments, flexibility in scheduling appointments, and the fact that because RCA is in-network with most major insurance plans, treatment is affordable.

The exact length of your time in inpatient rehab will depend upon your situation, as well as how long of a stay your insurance will cover. Some may require intense inpatient care, while others may benefit from part-time outpatient treatment. Choosing between inpatient and outpatient programs can be difficult, but there are ways to make it easier. drinking too much alcohol can harm your health learn the facts Read on to learn the difference between inpatient vs. outpatient rehab. At RCA we believe our comprehensive treatment and various levels of care will help those suffering from addiction finally achieveand maintainrecovery. For inpatient treatment this could mean 30 days and for outpatient treatment it could mean up to a year or longer.