Addiction is a very serious disease that requires treatment as soon as possible to prevent the problem from getting worse. The two main treatment options are inpatient treatment and outpatient treatment. If you’re wondering which one might be best for you or your loved one, here are the pros and cons of both options.
Inpatient Vs Outpatient Addiction Treatment
Inpatient treatment involves going into a facility for a specific amount of time to get around the clock treatment. Outpatient treatment involves going to a facility for meetings several times throughout the week. Both options are valid treatment methods. However, a patient may respond better to one treatment option than the other. It’s important to know the difference to choose the best one.
Pros of Inpatient Treatment
The main advantage of inpatient treatment is that you take time out of your life to focus exclusively on your sobriety. You won’t have daily distractions getting in the way of your journey to sobriety. This is especially important for people with severe problems or who have tried to get sober before but have failed. Your days are filled with individual and group therapy sessions. In between therapy sessions, you have a structured day. Many people with addiction feel out of control, and this structure can help make you feel more in control of your life.You spend your day under the care of doctors. This is extremely important for people who might go through withdrawal. People who don’t know how to handle a difficult withdrawal can turn to drugs to relieve the pain. In an inpatient facility, this isn’t a possibility. Furthermore, the staff will know how to care for a patient going through withdrawal properly. Going through it yourself can result in physical damage or even death. They will keep you as comfortable and healthy as possible while looking for signs of a serious problem.
Cons of Inpatient Treatment
While there are advantages to inpatient treatment involving 24 hour care, that’s also one of the disadvantages. Going into inpatient treatment means you may have to make arrangements with work or childcare. In some cases, this may automatically disqualify you as a potential patient.The next reason inpatient care might not be for everyone is the cost. Frankly, inpatient care is more expensive than outpatient care. In most cases, insurance won’t cover it, either. Talk to your insurance to find out if it’s covered under your plan.
Pros and Cons of Outpatient Treatment
The main advantage of outpatient care is that the schedule allows you to continue handling your daily responsibilities. Many of us can’t take off of work or find childcare. Outpatient care gives you more flexibility since many meetings are at night and on weekends. While the treatment isn’t as intensive, you still get the care and support of therapists and other people going through the same problem. Another main advantage is that outpatient treatment is much more affordable. Furthermore, insurance is way more likely to cover outpatient treatment than inpatient treatment. Many people with an addiction have money problems, and you won’t have to get any deeper in the hole than necessary.
Cons of Outpatient Treatment
The main disadvantage of outpatient care is that the patient doesn’t have someone helping them at all times. Even people who truly want to get clean can find this to be a difficult task. In some cases, people in outpatient care might slip since they have access to friends who still use. In inpatient, a person can’t call their dealer or hang out with people who have drugs.
The other disadvantage to outpatient care is that you don’t have the ability to speak to your therapist as often as you do in inpatient care. If you’re having a bad day, you may have to wait until your next meeting to get help. You also might not be able to develop bonds with people who are going through the same thing since you won’t spend as much time with them.
Getting help is extremely important for anyone struggling with addiction. Getting the right help can make the difference between a successful recovery and a relapse. Now that you know the benefits and disadvantages of both types of treatment, you can make the right decision. Call a counselor today at 844-639-8371.