When it comes to addiction recovery treatment, the available options can first be divided into two distinct categories. You’ve certainly heard of both.

Inpatient rehabilitation centers treat participants on site. They live at the facility for several weeks or months while getting help. Outpatient rehab centers, on the other hand, help their clients on an outpatient basis. Participants visit the center to get support every day or weekly, but they go home and to work as well.

These two types of rehab treatment are very different from one another. But, they both try to help people reach the same exact end goals.

If you or someone you love needs treatment for addiction, you may be contemplating which of the two types is best. The answer to this question is personal to each individual. What may work well for some may not work at all for others.

To help gain an understanding of the pros and cons of each type of rehab, read on. After reading this informative post, you’ll likely have a better idea of which option is better for you or for someone you love.

Advantages of Inpatient Rehab

Inpatient rehab treatment is residential for the duration. This is necessary to give the individual a good, strong headstart on his or her path to recovery. For many people, this immersive type of treatment is very effective.

Inpatient rehab participants receive support and supervision twenty-four hours a day for their entire stay at the facility. This can be especially helpful for people who need to remove themselves from the environment in which they abuse drugs or alcohol.

Participants in inpatient treatment leave their lives behind for a while. They benefit from around the clock treatment and support. This gives them the opportunity to focus all of their time and energy on getting well. They can work on breaking free from their addiction. They can learn how to stay clean and sober for the rest of their lives.

Outpatient rehab gives people in recovery all of the tools that they need to move forward on a healthy path. During their stay, they will have access to support. They can speak to and work with medical professionals, counselors, and others who understand them.

Disadvantages of Inpatient Rehab

However, inpatient rehab has some disadvantages, too. First of all, it can be very expensive. Even the less expensive facilities are often cost-prohibitive to many of the people who need help.

Some people are unable to leave their lives behind for even a short time. Many single parents cannot or will not leave their children. Most people are unable to take a leave of absence from their jobs.

Furthermore, some people may shy away from the idea of inpatient rehabilitation simply because they don’t like the idea of living in a communal environment. This type of rehab is not right for every individual.

Advantages of Outpatient Rehab

Unlike inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient addiction recovery treatment consists of treatment and support sessions to which the individual must travel. They visit on a daily, weekly, or another frequent basis. Participants may attend group counseling sessions, individual counseling sessions, and support groups over the course of any given week.

This type of treatment allows the participant to continue participating in his or her responsibilities like parenting and work while working on recovery. This can be a great relief to many people who want to break free from their addiction but who do not have the time to dedicate every hour to treatment.

Outpatient rehabilitation is often more affordable than inpatient rehab as well. Support groups are free. Most medical insurance plans will cover a series of individual or group counseling sessions, and many providers offer payment plans or sliding-scale payment for the underinsured or uninsured as needed.

Disadvantages of Outpatient Rehab

Outpatient rehabilitation is not right for everyone either, though. If you feel that you need a great deal of constant support and supervision to remain clean and sober, outpatient rehab will offer you too many opportunities to slip and possibly even relapse. You would benefit from the structure and security of inpatient rehab more.

If your addiction requires a period of detoxification at the beginning of your treatment, outpatient rehabilitation simply won’t do. Anyone going through detox should do so under the supervision of medical staff; this is only possible at an inpatient facility.

When comparing these two types of rehab treatment, you may also find that outpatient falls short for you when it comes to thoroughly addressing the causes of your addictions. The intensive, full-time therapy offered in inpatient rehab can be more effective for treating individuals with a dual diagnosis such as addiction and depression, addiction and PTSD, addiction and trauma, or other co-existing disorders.

Both Types of Rehab Treatment Save Lives

Both types of rehab treatment, inpatient treatment, and outpatient treatment save many lives every day. They are both highly effective ways of treating addiction, but every person who suffers from addiction is different.

Determining which of these two types of treatment is right for you or for someone you love is a very personal decision. What works for some may not work for others. Many people who seek treatment must try different things before finding success.

However, when it comes to addiction recovery treatment, it’s worth it to stick with it, no matter how many times you fail and no matter how long it takes. Use of several different programs may be necessary before breaking free.

If you or someone you love suffers from addiction, reach out for help and support. At Addiction Answers, we want to help you find the aid that you need. We want to help you to connect with providers who can assist you or your loved ones with taking the first steps along a clean and sober path.

Contact us today; we can’t wait to hear from you.