For many people this is one of the hardest aspects of choosing what sort of addiction treatment to engage with. Here we will look at the differences between inpatient and outpatient addiction support and who will benefit most from each.
Inpatient addiction treatment refers to a residential treatment programme, known as rehab. A drug rehab clinic is a facility where individuals live-in whilst getting support for their drug, alcohol or behavioural addiction. The advantage of a residential rehab centre is that the client is given round-the-clock care from qualified addictions professionals. At any time of the day or night, there will be someone available to work with them if they are struggling and in most cases, the staff at an addictions treatment centre will have personal experience of recovery. This enables the client to build a rapport with people that know exactly how it feels to be in this position.
Another advantage of a residential programme for addictions is that the person is given time. This time is fully dedicated to the person’s wellbeing and so they don’t have to think about anything other than getting themselves better. This time away can also be beneficial for family members which may be under extreme stress as a result of the addiction. Often this time gives the family opportunity to relax and prepare for the return of the client once they have started their recovery journey.
However, in some circumstances, the person may have commitments that mean they are not able to take time away. Whilst we would always encourage clients to give serious consideration to residential rehabs, we recognise that it is not for everyone. For those individuals who are not able to get addiction help on an inpatient basis, there is the intensive outpatient option. The advantage of this service is that it is completely bespoke and so can be tailored to each client’s needs. A typical programme may involve daily phone calls with an addictions counsellor, twice weekly meetings with them, and tasks set in-between. However, this can be adapted to suit the individual’s wants and needs.
Another advantage of outpatient addiction help is that it can be adapted to fit around work and family commitments, meaning that those who are unable to take time away from life still have an opportunity to achieve recovery.
Regardless of which addiction treatment programme is chosen, it is important to remember that people can recover, the millions of people in recovery in the UK today can testify to that. As long as the person is truly motivated to get themselves better, then any programme can result in success.