Inpatient vs. outpatient treatment and the benefits and drawbacks of both should be in the forefront of your decision making process when attempting to choose the right treatment program for your needs. In general, it is often much safer and more beneficial to begin your addiction treatment in inpatient care and then to transition into outpatient treatment afterwards.

Call 888-810-3710 Who Answers? to learn more about which option would be best for your situation and to find treatment centers that will cater to your needs.

Inpatient Treatment

Inpatient care centers provide 24-hour supervision and treatment for individuals who require more intensive care. These programs often provide multiple treatment options to patients, including medications, behavioral therapies, and holistic methods.

Doctors, nurses, counselors, and other staff members provide an individualized treatment program that specifically targets the needs of each patient, and after one’s program is complete, these healthcare providers will ensure that they are able to attend an aftercare program to make their transition out of inpatient care even easier.

To learn more about inpatient care, call 888-810-3710 Who Answers? now.

Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient centers vary widely in the treatment options and intensity of care they provide, but these programs do not have accommodations for patients to stay overnight. Some facilities offer more treatment options than others, while certain outpatient centers will refer patients to outside facilities in order to receive additional medical services, HIV testing, and residential, vocational, and educational help.

While these programs are still medically sound options for addiction treatment in many cases, some do not offer much more than drug education or access to support group meetings. To learn more about outpatient care, call 888-810-3710 Who Answers? .

Is One Better?

The appropriateness of a certain treatment option depends largely on you, the patient, and your particular needs as well as the facility and whether or not it can meet these. Though both options can be beneficial under certain circumstances, it is usually better for you to begin treatment in an inpatient facility and then to transition to an outpatient program.

Why is Inpatient Treatment Better?

Usually, inpatient treatment is a better option because the program is safer, more effective, and more reliable in many ways.

• Inpatient treatment programs often offer on-site help for medical issues as well as other problems with which you may require help. Outpatient centers are not usually able to offer the help patients need for other issues associated with their addiction treatment because they do not have the money or resources that other centers do.
• Inpatient care is safer for and better at treating co-occurring disorders. Outpatient centers have the same problems in this vein with being able to treat additional issues you may be suffering from due to lack of funds and options. Dual-diagnosis is extremely common, and if you have issues with this, you will need to be treated for addiction and your mental illness(s) simultaneously, causing inpatient care to be a better option for you.
• Inpatient centers provide a controlled environment in which patients can convalesce and begin their recovery from addiction. It might be very helpful to you to be in this type of environment because it will take you away from the stresses of your daily life and the other issues that may have helped lead to your addiction and allow you to focus solely on your recovery. It can also protect you in your early recovery from the possibility of relapse because you will be in a restricted setting.
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  Inpatient centers provide more treatment options than outpatient facilities.

  You will have 24-hour access to treatment, which is incredibly important during severe withdrawal from certain substances as well as for anyone suffering from co-occurring disorders. Still, this type of well-rounded treatment can be just as helpful to you if you have many questions about your recovery, are experiencing severe cravings, or are undergoing another issue that, if you were not in this controlled environment, might lead you to relapse. Being in an environment where you always have access to professional, medical help is incredibly supportive during such a difficult time.

• Sometimes, a loving group of family and friends supporting you in your effort to recover from substance abuse isn’t enough to allow you to make the change. You can benefit in many ways by being surrounded by the new faces of doctors, nurses, therapists, volunteers, and even other patients who will all support your recovery and want to help you create a better life for yourself. In addition, if you do not have a strong support group at home, this option is essential to your improvement. Support is extremely necessary during early recovery.
• Inpatient centers are not only more likely to offer more options to patients including housing, vocational, educational, and legal help, but these facilities usually provide more treatment options as well. Many holistic methods (such as acupuncture, massage therapy, pet therapy, nutrition classes, hypnosis, meditation, yoga, and music/art therapy) are offered by inpatient programs while outpatient centers cannot usually provide these options.

You can usually expect to rely on inpatient more than outpatient programs to provide additional options as well as safe and reliable treatment. Call 888-810-3710 Who Answers? now to discuss the differences between these two types of programs in more detail.

Which Option is Best for Me?

Although some outpatient centers can be beneficial at certain times in recovery, it is always better to start with the more intensive program first. It is usually better to attend outpatient care once you have been in recovery for a while and mastered your inpatient program, showing that you were able to attend the treatment consistently and safely and that you benefited from it. Then, you can consider moving on to less controlled program, as you will have learned all you needed to from inpatient care.

However, it is still important to consider all your needs and to ensure that the treatment option you choose can meet them. Call 888-810-3710 Who Answers? to find the best rehab center for your needs as well as a program that will take your insurance, allow you to recover at your own pace, and ensure that you are ready before you are able to move on to your next phase of treatment. Call today, and let us help you find the right program for your needs so you can begin your journey of recovery.