When seeking help for substance abuse there are some important options to consider. One of the initial decisions involves weighing up the pros and cons of inpatient vs outpatient treatment programs. This will allow you to decide which one best suits your personal needs. Both types of programs focus on rehabilitation but have some key differences.

What’s The Difference Between Inpatient Vs Outpatient Care?

The difference between inpatient vs outpatient care is significant, but not difficult to understand. Inpatient care is an intensive, full-time recovery program that requires the patient to check into a controlled setting. Inpatient programs may also include a detox program to take before inpatient care begins. Both of these are for addictions that are more serious.

Outpatient programs, on the other hand, do not require the patient to stay at a facility. They are part-time programs that give the patient the freedom of being able to continue going to work or school. Some options that are very effective in this case are our evening intensive outpatient programs.

Pros and Cons Of Inpatient Care

Inpatient care is generally used to treat serious addictions and manage potential complications from withdrawal symptoms. Patients are then monitored and medical supervision is on hand. Patients are totally immersed in the program and activities are much more structured than outpatient care.

The pros of inpatient care are:

• A stable, controlled environment
• Reduced risk of relapse
• Intensive support
• Reduced exposure to triggers

Some potential cons of inpatient care may be:

• Expense
• Limited family support
• Need to take time off work or other daily responsibilities

Pros and Cons Of Outpatient Care

Outpatient care allows patients to maintain a level of independence while undergoing treatment. While not as intensive as inpatient programs, they remain highly effective. These can be combined with a partial inpatient program under some circumstances.

Some of the pros of outpatient care are:

• Reduced cost
• Can attend to daily responsibilities
• Access to support from family and friends
• Ability to practice relapse prevention techniques during treatment

Cons of outpatient care may include:

• Potential access to substances
• Higher risk of relapse
• Less professional management of withdrawal symptoms

How To Determine If Inpatient Or Outpatient Care Is Best For You

Deciding between inpatient vs outpatient care can feel overwhelming. If this is the case, it’s always best to speak to a medical professional about which option best suits your needs. You will need to consider the physical dependence and psychological aspects of your substance abuse before you make a decision.

Other important aspects are how triggers of substance are managed, daily and family commitments, and the cost of treatment. As you can see, there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution and personal circumstances should be taken into account.

The Next Step

Addiction is a very treatable condition. Don’t allow substance abuse to control your life any longer. A quality treatment program will allow you to take back control. Contact us at 855.478.3650 to begin the first step to alcohol or drug-free life. We’ll explain inpatient vs outpatient programs, and figure out which one is the best choice for you.