Choosing Your Treatment: Inpatient or Outpatient

Sean Levine wrote this in Alcohol Addiction on Wednesday, May 7, 2014

If there is one common theme in stories of people who have struggled with drug or alcohol addiction, it is the idea that addiction is terrifying, both for the addict as well as their friends and family. No one wants to be addicted to drugs or alcohol, but many find themselves powerless to resist the drug.

Still, for many who wish to overcome their addiction, there will come a time where a choice must be made. That choice relates to treatment options. Specifically, it relates to whether or not a person would like to receive treatment in an inpatient facility or an intensive outpatient treatment program.

Inpatient or Outpatient?

Fundamentally, both inpatient and outpatient treatment programs are very similar. This is because they share a common goal: helping an addict get sober and commence living a sober life. Although the goals of the two are the same, they have two very different approaches.

If you have been grappling with the decision between inpatient or outpatient treatment programs, read on to get the information you may need to help you make this very important decision:

Inpatient treatment programs are able to completely isolate a person from drugs and alcohol, which may help them get sober more quickly.
There does not necessarily have to be “more temptation” associated with an intensive outpatient treatment program, especially in cases where the addict has a strong support system at home.
Both treatment types will require extensive therapy for the addict as well as their families. This therapy is necessary to ensure that the addict has all the tools that they will need to experience true sober living after their treatment is over.
Both treatment types also require extensive aftercare. Again, the purpose of this aftercare is to ensure that the addict has access to whatever tools they need to continue to live in sobriety after the treatment has been completed.
Intensive outpatient treatment programs may not be the best choice for addicts whose detoxification process will require constant medical supervision. However, only a medical professional can tell you whether or not you will require such supervision while you are getting sober.

Addiction is scary, but you are not powerless. In fact, you have many choices available to you when you decide that it is time to get clean. Consider your options carefully and make the commitment to your good health and sober lifestyle.