By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    What Are the Benefits of CBD?
    November 27, 2021
    How to Measure Adult Diapers- The Ultimate Guide to Picking the Right Size
    March 8, 2022
    medicine cabinet
    The Effect Of Finished Dosage Form Manufacturing In New Drugs
    July 5, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Medical Negligence
    The Impact of Medical Negligence: How Claims Can Help You Move Forward
    January 6, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
    PPACA: “It’s in there!”
    September 9, 2017
    Latest News
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Understanding the Differences Between Inpatient and Outpatient Treatment
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Addiction > Understanding the Differences Between Inpatient and Outpatient Treatment
Addiction

Understanding the Differences Between Inpatient and Outpatient Treatment

Ryan Kh
Ryan Kh
Share
7 Min Read
Outpatient Treatment
Shutterstock Licensed Photo - By ibreakstock
SHARE

Struggling with addiction can often prove to be a long and winding road. For many, the journey to recovery has a lot of false starts along the way. This is largely due to the fact that all addicts respond differently to different treatments. When you’re trying to find help in the battle against drugs and alcohol you may not be thinking scrupulously about your options. The desire to get help can often outweigh the need to find the right help. Understanding your options can help you make an informed decision in regards to getting the right help.

Contents
The Severity of Your AddictionInpatientOutpatientTransitioningFind Your SupportGet Involved

The Severity of Your Addiction

From the outside, addiction may seem like it impacts every person in the same way. While there is overlap, the severity of each person’s addiction will vary. This is a big reason why people struggle with finding success with their recovery. Someone with a lifelong dependence on alcohol is going to have unique needs when compared to a person who has been drinking for a shorter amount of time. The severity of your addiction can make a big difference in whether inpatient or outpatient is a sensible fit for your recovery.

Inpatient

Knowing what to expect in inpatient treatment can help you see if it is the best fit for coping with your addiction. With this type of treatment, a patient is required to live in a rehab facility for the duration of his or her treatment. This type of program is geared toward people who are seriously struggling with their addictions and need to be removed from familiar surroundings in order to prevent themselves from being enabled. This option also allows addicts the opportunity to get the substances out of their systems and deal with withdrawal. While this type of treatment has been known to have a high success rate, it won’t work for everyone. This option is disruptive to daily life, requiring participants to walk away from responsibilities like work and family. Still, this removal from everyday life is exactly what makes the treatment useful in the first place. Programs can run anywhere from 30 days to six months, depending on the specific needs of the person seeking treatment.

Outpatient

Some people do not require the same level of treatment to find help recovering from their addictions. For someone with a mild addiction, it can be beneficial to look into understanding outpatient treatment. Unlike the inpatient option, outpatient programs do not require a participant to live in a designated facility. Instead, he or she is allowed to live at home while going to the rehab facility for a set amount of time each day. This is ideal for someone who is not grappling with an extreme level of addiction, as the participant is allowed to go about daily life as usual. One of the main reasons people attend outpatient programs is for the support system found there. When you are given the opportunity to share with and learn from other addicts, it can create a sense of community. Knowing there are other people who can relate to your struggles can be a huge help with finding the stable ground you need. Outpatient programs also tend to be a bit more affordable than other options, which can be a big benefit to those who are not able to afford more elaborate solutions.

More Read

substance abuse and criminality
The Link Between Substance Use and Criminality
12 Steps of Drug Addiction Rehabilitation
6 Signs Someone You Know Is Struggling With Addiction
5 Types of Treatment for Substance Abuse
5 Huge Ways Technology Has Revolutionized Recovery

Transitioning

Depending on which option works best for your needs, you are going to need to make a few decisions before starting your program. If inpatient is your choice, you’ll want to get all of your affairs in order. Before entering a rehab facility, inform your employer of your move, as well as any regular appointments you might miss while away. Speak with friends and loved ones about the decision, and designate one or two people to act as your contacts. Setting loved ones as contacts can help hold you accountable during the recovery process. For those exploring outpatient options, there is a bit more freedom involved. You will be required to attend roughly 10 to 12 hours of counseling a week at the rehab facility, which will include educational seminars and group sessions. Outside of this, you can go about your life as normal. Some people may require outpatient detox, which involves strict monitoring during daily visits to the rehab to ensure the participant is adhering to the detox process.

Find Your Support

While rehab programs are crucial to the recovery process, additional steps need to be taken by addicts who want to ensure their success. Addiction can be an isolating experience and finding a support group is quite encouraged. You’ll want a mixture of people you’ve known for a long while, as well as people you know are going through their own recovery processes. Studies have shown that people with support networks to turn to are much more likely to stick with recovery compared to those without anyone to turn to.

Get Involved

Getting involved with larger communities can also boost your odds of success. There are a number of ways you can find help at different points during your recovery. A few options include:

  • Attending meetings of recovery groups like AA and NA
  • Going to regular religious services at your center of worship
  • Committing time to a charity or nonprofit

When you are searching for a way to beat addiction, you need to take a moment to think about the options that are in front of you. Though making a snap decision can seem appealing when you are in need of help, learning about your choices can increase the likelihood of success.

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By Ryan Kh
Follow:
Ryan Kh is an experienced blogger, digital content & social marketer. Founder of Catalyst For Business and contributor to search giants like Yahoo Finance, MSN. He is passionate about covering topics like big data, business intelligence, startups & entrepreneurship. Email: ryankh14@icloud.com

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

car accident lawsuit
Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
Policy & Law
July 6, 2025
women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025
recovering from injury
Rebuilding After Injury: Path to Physical and Emotional Recovery
News
June 22, 2025

You Might also Like

AddictionAddiction Recovery

How to Avoid or Manage Common Temptations After Rehab

November 19, 2019
choosing a sober living center
Addiction

How to Choose a Sober House: Tips to Focus on

July 3, 2023
Addiction

7 Reasons Why Junk Food Mimics Drug Addiction

May 16, 2020
rehabilitation services
Addiction Recovery

A Guide to Health Insurance and Rehab: Coverage Essentials

August 24, 2023
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?