therapist explaining inpatient vs outpatient care to woman with substance abuse problem

Inpatient vs Outpatient Care: Which Do You Need?

What’s the difference between inpatient vs outpatient care? Both inpatient and outpatient drug rehab centers are important parts of the recovery process. Which is right for you depends on your personal recovery journey.

Inpatient Care: Rigorous and Controlled

If you’ve struggled with your substance abuse for some time, inpatient care like the residential alcohol treatment center can help. An inpatient care program is a rigorous, highly controlled program. During an inpatient program, you’ll stay within the clinic itself. You’ll receive tools and structure, and you’ll often attend both individual and group therapy sessions. Inpatient care targets making sure that you’re able to get and stay sober.

Many people have environmental triggers that cause them to relapse. Starting recovery with an environment filled with triggers is very difficult. Inpatient care removes these variables. Many care centers also focus on co-diagnoses, under which substance abuse could be triggered by other issues like chronic pain or depression.

Of course, not everyone can attend an inpatient care program. Inpatient care means that you will be away from your family and your job for some time, which isn’t feasible for everyone. And it’s not always a strict inpatient vs outpatient care choice: inpatient care is usually still followed by outpatient care, to improve the chances of continued recovery. Drug rehab centers for professionals offer a viable option for those with demanding careers.

While inpatient care does help individuals during the program, it can be difficult for patients to go back to their previous environment and continue along their recovery journey. The other option of outpatient care is usually still necessary to help support them during their recovery, and prevent them from the potential for relapse.

Outpatient Care Services: Support and Tools

Outpatient care services can range from being extremely rigorous to supportive. A rigorous outpatient care program may have individuals meeting multiple times a week or even every day of the week. The difference is simply that the individual is only there for their program meetings and sessions, and otherwise are living their regular lives.

An outpatient care service is not necessarily less effective than inpatient care. Though inpatient care can yield more controlled, consistent results, it’s not feasible for everyone. Outpatient care gives individuals the support they need for their recovery without otherwise disrupting their life. Many people only need outpatient care.

Moreover, inpatient care tends to be more expensive than outpatient care, which is a consideration. Individuals should check with their insurance company before they make large decisions, which is something that the care center itself can help them with. Let Promises Behavioral Health check your insurance verification for rehab.

Inpatient vs Outpatient Care: How Can You Choose?

If you’ve previously found it difficult to recover through outpatient care, an inpatient care service may be better. If you’re currently struggling to detox and need help, an inpatient care service is usually safer. When it comes down to inpatient vs outpatient detox, it should be kept in mind that detoxification can be medically dangerous. Inpatient care services do help with issues of withdrawal.

For many people, starting out in inpatient care and then transitioning to outpatient care can provide for a stable, reliable treatment plan. But not everyone is able to commit to something as rigorous and intensive as inpatient care. Not everyone needs that level of care.

The best way to choose between inpatient and outpatient care is actually to go in for an assessment. A professional will be able to tell you whether inpatient or outpatient care is preferable for your unique needs. A professional assessment will go through your current environment and your on-going struggles to determine whether you might need inpatient care, or whether outpatient care is sufficient.

At Promises Behavioral Health, we can help you develop a recovery plan that’s right for you. Not every patient needs inpatient care, and not every patient will thrive with outpatient care. Call 844.875.5609 today to get started.

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