A Guide To Choosing Between Online Rehab vs Inpatient Rehab
Research shows that therapy, medications, and monitoring are crucial relapse prevention strategies when dealing with addiction. Fortunately, rehab offers all these factors and more, like skill development and a supportive environment. When you or a loved one suffers from a substance use disorder, treatment programs typically fall into one of two categories: inpatient and outpatient treatment options. Though both are effective for alcohol and drug abuse, knowing their pros and cons, as well as what makes them different, can help you make an informed decision.
One involves staying at a specialised facility, while the other involves visiting a treatment facility a few times each week. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. We’ll explain how inpatient programs different from outpatient ones, and how you can decide on the best option for your needs.
- Inpatient Treatment
- What To Expect in Inpatient Rehabilitation
- Pros and Cons of Inpatient Treatment
- Online Or Outpatient Treatment
- What To Expect With Outpatient Care
- Pros and Cons of Outpatient Rehab
- Main Differences Between Inpatient and Outpatient Treatment
- How To Choose The Right Option Between Inpatient and Outpatient Rehab
Inpatient Treatment
With an inpatient program, you stay at a controlled environment for a specific period of time to address substance use disorders or mental health conditions. During your time there, you receive complete treatment, which comprises medical care, supervision from addiction specialists, and regular therapy. The main goal of an inpatient setting is that you receive round-the-clock support that’s conducive to the recovery process. It’s effective for helping patients regain their sense of independence and stability.
A rule of thumb is that people struggling with severe substance use disorder or co-occurring psychological issues should attend treatment at an inpatient clinic. This is to reduce risk of a relapse and manage dangerous withdrawal symptoms like delirium tremens.
What To Expect in Inpatient Rehabilitation
While you enrol in a residential treatment program, you can expect it to include:
Inpatient Detoxification
A medical detox is necessary if you’re seeking treatment for alcohol or substance abuse. It removes traces of alcohol and/or illicit substances from your body while helping you manage withdrawal symptoms. Inpatient detox is safer if you tend to experience severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms, which can be dangerous without proper medical intervention.
Therapy Sessions:
To prevent relapse, it’s likely that your inpatient treatment provider will recommend regular therapy. Approaches like CBT, group sessions, and family counselling are a major part of drug addiction treatment. You learn skills to manage symptoms and build a sustainable lifestyle during recovery.
Holistic Therapies
These form a major part of the experience at inpatient rehabilitation. Activities like yoga and art therapy help relax the body and cope with stress. Upon entering treatment, also you build skills through treatments like physical, occupational, and speech therapy. These can help you build skills, improve your physical health, and encourage stability, which is important for long term sobriety.
24/7 Monitoring and Aftercare
While staying at a specialised care facility, you’ll be monitored around-the-clock to manage withdrawal symptoms and prevent a relapse. After the treatment program ends, psychiatric and medical professionals provide aftercare services to ensure that you’re integrating into society and committed to sobriety.
Before you start residential treatment for drug or alcohol addiction, you’ll need to take care of things like telling your employers that you won’t be available for a specified period. You should also make arrangements for child care and caregiving services for other family members. There are also some restrictions on what personal items are allowed, so make sure to ask the rehab center what you can bring.
Pros and Cons of Inpatient Treatment
Here’s a quick summary of the pros and cons of going to inpatient rehab:
The pros include:
- Living in a stable environment away from situations, people, and settings that trigger urges.
- Receiving treatment for mental health conditions that co-occur with addiction.
- Receiving consistent medical and mental health support during alcohol or drug detox.
The cons include:
- Taking time off work/school and not being able to fulfill other household responsibilities.
- Can cost more than outpatient rehab.
- Having trouble adjusting to everyday life after leaving a residential treatment centre.
The dangers of Opiate Substitutes
When individuals facing a heroin or opiate addiction seek treatment, substitute opiates such as methadone are used to support withdrawal. Unfortunately, these substitutions carry a high risk of mortality in individuals with opioid dependence during and after treatment (PubMed). This is owed to greater use of substituted substances during follow-up treatment. It simply maintains the cycle of dependence as it fails to address the underlying issues for addiction.
Online Or Outpatient Treatment
In outpatient treatment programs, you go to day clinics for treatment, but spend the rest of your time at home. It’s less intensive than an inpatient treatment option because you’re not constantly under supervision. But even outpatient plans vary based on the level of care, with some providers offering intensive outpatient treatment programs, and other offering partial hospitalisation.
Depending on your addiction history and severity of your substance use disorder, you may need to enrol in outpatient treatment after staying for some time at a care facility. Or, you can start off drug or alcohol abuse treatment in an outpatient setting if cleared by medical professionals.
Variations of Outpatient Treatment
Partial hospitalisation is almost as comprehensive as residential treatment, requiring you to attend treatment for 5 to 6 hours, almost every day of the week. The aim is to stabilise addiction-related behaviours during the early stages of recovery. Intensive outpatient is when treatment times are reduced to 3 to 5 hours for a few days each week. This gives you enough time to get back to your daily life.
Another option is online rehab treatment, which allows recovering individuals to take online therapy sessions after undergoing consistent on-site addiction treatment. While there’s evidence that outpatient treatment is highly effective, your recovery also depends on whether or not you have a strong support network at home. The lack of emotional support can make it harder to commit to a lifelong process of recovery.
To understand more about the affordability and options available, learn about How Much Does Online Rehab Cost.
What To Expect With Outpatient Care
Though the specifics of outpatient rehab can vary, most programs have the following features:
Outpatient Detox
Treatment for substance abuse typically starts with outpatient detox. If you struggle with mild to moderate alcohol or opioid withdrawal symptoms, outpatient detox can be a better alternative. It’s much more flexible because it allows you to receive care from professionals with extensive medical expertise, while carrying out everyday tasks.
Just remember that you can only opt for outpatient detox if you’re considered ready by a treatment specialist. During the detox period, you’ll have to visit a clinic to receive medical care and medication to relieve withdrawal symptoms.
Psychoeducation
Because you’re not receiving round-the-clock support as you would in an inpatient setting, psychoeducation is a core component of outpatient rehab. It’s a part of addiction treatment where mental health care providers and addiction specialists inform and educate patients and their families about addiction and substance use disorders.
This includes teaching you about different symptoms so that you’re better equipped to manage them. Most psychoeducation interventions involve patients’ families to help them understand the link between mental health, stressors in patients’ daily lives, and addiction.
Support Groups
The effectiveness of an outpatient rehab program depends on various factors, and support is one of them. If you’re going home to an unsupportive environment, it downplays the many benefits of treatment and increases the risk of a relapse. To help you stay accountable and motivated, outpatient treatment programs involve group therapy sessions with people who struggle with similar addiction issues or disorders.
Individual Therapy
While group sessions are great for receiving support from others on a similar journey as yours, some issues are better discussed in a one-on-one setting. In individual therapy sessions, you discuss a variety of issues connected to your mental health and addiction struggles. From problems at home to strained relationships with parents and spouses, individual sessions can help you cope with stressors in a sustainable way.
Family Therapy
If you’re living with family, recovery largely depends on the kind of support they provide during your outpatient treatment process. Of course, parents, spouses, children, siblings, and other family members may not be aware of how they can support you during this time. That’s where family counselling and therapy comes in. It gives your loved ones an opportunity to discuss the struggles they face, while a professional guides them on how they can support you better.
Relapse Prevention Skill
Even if you steadily receive treatment for mental health issues and addiction struggles, sometimes it only takes one moment of unbearable stress to fall back into your hold behavior patterns. During these situations, you have to employ relapse prevention skills like regulating stress levels or seeking support so that you stay on the road to recovery.
Pros and Cons of Outpatient Rehab
The pros include:
- Being able to continue work while receiving treatment for addiction.
- Having a flexible schedule.
- Not needing to commute long distances to receive treatment.
- Availability of online options.
- More affordable than inpatient care.
Some of the cons are:
- Not receiving the same level of support as patients do in inpatient settings.
- Risk of relapsing because you have easier access to alcohol and drugs.
- Exposure to triggers and stressors that increase the risk of relapse.
- Limited medical support during detox
Main Differences Between Inpatient and Outpatient Treatment
Now that we’ve covered both outpatient and inpatient rehab, we’ll quickly summarise their differences so you can make an informed decision:
Residential Setting Versus Day Clinic
The biggest difference you’ll see is between the settings for outpatient and inpatient treatment programs. Inpatient treatment takes place at a residential facility that offers 24/7 care, accommodation, and meals in addition to rehabilitative treatment.
Meanwhile, outpatient care is provided through a day clinic, where you receive treatment for a few hours a day before returning home.
24/7 Supervision Versus Fewer Restrictions
While staying at a residential treatment centre, you’ll be under supervision by a multidisciplinary team of medical professionals and addiction specialists. The purpose is to monitor your symptoms and provide an environment that’s conducive to recovery.
Meanwhile, outpatient treatment doesn’t have as many restrictions. In fact, it’s much more flexible because you only receive treatment for a few hours a day.
Significant Time Commitment Versus Flexibility
Any kind of rehabilitation requires dedicating a certain amount of time. With inpatient rehab, you’ll need to commit a much longer period. Residential treatment can last anywhere between a few weeks to a few months. During this time, you won’t be able to carry out any of your responsibilities. On the other hand, outpatient treatment gives you the flexibility to go to work, take care of your kids, and fulfill other responsibilities.
Higher Cost Versus Affordable Option
Cost is a major factor in deciding which treatment option you choose. When comparing the costs, inpatient programs are usually more expensive than outpatient treatment options. That’s because they include the cost of accommodation, utilities, meals, and sometimes even leisure activities. Then, some facilities with upscale amenities can end up costing even more. On the other hand, outpatient rehab will cost less since you’re only paying for therapy, medication, and therapeutic aspects of the treatment process.
How To Choose The Right Option Between Inpatient and Outpatient Rehab
There’s no one answer to the question: what’s the right choice for me. Everyone deals with different circumstances at home, so the best treatment option depends on factors like your level of motivation, whether you have a mild, moderate, or severe addiction, and the kind of support you receive at home.
Generally, treatment providers ask questions such as the following before recommending a rehab program:
- Do you struggle with severe withdrawal symptoms?
- What kind of support do you receive at home?
- Do you have responsibilities like childcare or are you the breadwinner of the family?
- What seems like an affordable option for you?
In the end, the best choice is whichever aligns with your needs and improves your chances of long term recovery.
