Residential vs. Outpatient

There is no question you need inpatient treatment if your addiction is so longstanding that you have lost your outside support such as:

1. Job
2. Family
3. Friends

Other indicators for residential treatment include drug or alcohol withdrawal symptoms such as:

• Tremors
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Excessive anxiety
• Irregular heartbeats

Why Inpatient?

Substance dependent people may feel better and do better in an inpatient setting because it is safer and more protective—because it provides medical attention for detoxification or health problems, and because it separates you from temptations, from relapse-triggering people and events.

It takes you out of the environment that has become associated with your habit, and away from pressures that could distract you from concentration on recovery—while placing you in an environment tailored to encourage recovery.

It is a more all-encompassing and intense form of therapy, and it may be more effective in making sure you get safely through the first, most difficult few weeks.

The following indicate that inpatient care is most likely the best choice:

1. The substance abuser is using large amounts of drugs, taking drugs on a nearly continuous basis, or using drugs intravenously
2. The substance abuser has a high risk of dying from an overdose
3. The polyaddiction person who uses one drug to counteract the effects of another
4. There are severe psychiatric conditions such as depression and anxiety disorders and/or medical disorders such as liver problems or infectious diseases
5. Is the user completely incapable of taking care of himself, going to work, or interacting with other people
6. The addict has failed at previous outpatient treatment programs

Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient treatment may be just as appropriate. You may feel more secure if you can stay on your job or be with your family in the evenings while you’re going through structured outpatient treatment.

Cost is another factor in favor of outpatient treatment

Both residential and outpatient treatment center prospects should include:

• Crisis intervention
• Psychological testing
• Medical and psychiatric care
• Social evaluation
• Licensed therapists
• Certified substance abuse counselors
• Self-help orientation
• Drug screening
• Aftercare

Inpatient or out, a keystone of many treatment programs, which we believe is an absolute essential, is the use of recovering people as counselors. The most important reason is that recovering people really understand what you have been through and are going through. They have been there themselves.

When they say, “I know how you feel” it’s not just sympathy or empathy or somebody’s attempt to soothe your concerns. It’s a fact.

At the same time, while a recovering counselor isn’t trying to fool you, neither are you going to be able to fool him.

Reach Out

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse problem, please reach out to our addiction specialists for guidance and support, at (877)-RECOVERY.