Call 888-647-0579 to speak with an alcohol or drug abuse counselor.

Who Answers?

Is Inpatient Treatment Better than Outpatient Treatment?

When you finally do decide to seek help for yourself or a loved one who is addicted to drugs or alcohol, the growing concern may be what type of treatment is going to be most effective—is inpatient treatment better than outpatient treatment? The answer to this question depends on a variety of different circumstantial factors that will differ from one individual to the next. For instance, some may not be able to go directly into an outpatient program because their addiction level is too severe, in this case, inpatient treatment would be better.

Each circumstance is slightly different but generally, if you:

Are heavily addicted physically to a drug or alcohol
Have been using for a very long time
Have tried outpatient treatment and not seen success
Have tried group support
Have co-occurring addiction or mental health conditions
Have dual diagnosis such as other health conditions
Do not have support at home

Then you will need to seek inpatient treatment. In any of the above cases, it will generally be better to seek the help of a residential or inpatient treatment facility than it would be to go into outpatient treatment. This is because all of the above cases signify a greater need for help than what is found in outpatient treatment. For instance, if you’ve already tried other treatment options and not had success, why continue trying outpatient programs that do not offer enough monitoring for your successful recovery?

Inpatient treatment is an intense program that offers around the clock support.

If you:

Have already completed inpatient treatment
Are simply looking for some follow up care
Are mildly addicted and do not have a major physical addiction
Have succeeded at outpatient treatment in the past
Do not suffer from other disorders or conditions

Then you may benefit greatly from outpatient treatment. The truth is, what form of treatment is better will depend on your individual situation. The only way to make a judgment call on that is to know the exact details of your individual health, your addiction and your life. When you talk to a rehab placement specialist or counselor, be sure to include these details and to be open about them so that the counselor can provide you with adequate advice and help.

The type of treatment that works best for you will depend on a variety of factors and even if one program doesn’t work, it’s important to keep on trying. In many cases, it will take trying a few programs of treatment out before you find one that truly works for your needs and provides you with the best chance at recovery. It’s ok if you slip up or relapse along the way, the most important thing to do is to pick up where you left off and continue your recovery journey.

More Treatment & Detox Articles

Causes of bi-polar disorder

Bi-polar disorder is mainly a type of mood disorder and highly related to the psychological health of a person. People affected with bi-polar disorder experience great emotional fluctuations, which can induce fatal suicidal tendency in the affected. Therefore, bi-polar disorder needs to be timely treated. To help the patient, knowing the causes of the disorder….

Alcoholism among older people may be overlooked

As people age, they may tend to mix alcohol with prescription drugs. Disaster can ensue. Research suggests alcoholism among the elderly may not be diagnosed or is simply overlooked. Todd Wagner, clinical director at Blue Mountain Counseling in Dayton, said alcoholism among seniors is a growing problem, often going unnoticed. Maybe providers aren’t asking seniors….

PTSD doubles the rates of addiction: Early detection is important for a healthy life

“Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can occur after you have been through a traumatic event. A traumatic event is something horrible and scary that you see or that happens to you. During this type of event, you think that your life or others’ lives are in danger. You may feel afraid….

Recovering Alcoholic Mothers

There are more than two-and-a-half million women alcoholics in America, and many of them are mothers. Two bravely shared their struggles with ABC 7 in the hopes that other moms will get the help that can save them and their families Rebecca Zimmerman was 77 days sober when ABC 7’s Greta Kreuz visited her and….

Wealthy women more likely to binge drink

Wealthy and professional women are far more likely to binge drink than those on lower incomes, a new survey of Scotland’s health has suggested. Official figures showed 31 per cent of females in homes with the highest earners drink more than the recommended limit of 14 units per week, the equivalent of seven pints of….