Substance Abuse Treatment: Inpatient Options—Mapping Your Next Steps
Breaking the cycle of substance abuse is universally challenging, but that is where the commonality ends. While overcoming addiction is not easy for anyone, there are so many variables that may affect your recovery. Each person’s history is unique, and everyone’s challenge is different. The individuality of our genetic makeup factors heavily in how we experience addiction, as does our upbringing and home environment. Our personal experiences and trauma history may leave us particularly vulnerable and impact our degree of dependence.
A variety of substances may be involved in substance use disorders, including alcohol and drugs—both legal and illegal. The type of substance used may dictate the mode of administration: inhaled, smoked, ingested, or injected. The existence of co-occurring conditions such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder may complicate treatment and provide additional challenges.
It stands to reason then that each of these variables may alter the intensity and complexity of substance abuse treatment needs. Overcoming addiction is different for everyone, and the most important consideration is finding substance abuse treatment, inpatient or outpatient, that adequately addresses needs and helps achieve long-lasting recovery.
Understanding the Treatment Process
Addiction is a complex disorder requiring a comprehensive treatment approach. Making the decision to seek treatment for substance abuse is a courageous one, but don’t let confusion over the next steps stop you in your tracks. Understanding the treatment process will help you make the best decision for your future.
Entering treatment involves an admissions process that will reveal many of the variables that will impact your treatment. A thorough evaluation will determine your needs and inform the creation of your substance abuse treatment plan. A medically-supervised detox program is usually the first step, as it helps to alleviate physical dependency and prepares you to begin your life without substance use.
Your next steps will vary according to the findings of the evaluation and the provisions of your insurance coverage. The intake process will determine if you meet the criteria for inpatient care. Residential care and partial hospitalization programs offer the highest degree of care and supervision, which may be appropriate in your case. Relapse is especially common in the early recovery process, as cravings often occur during detox. Long-term inpatient care may be warranted, particularly in cases where the home environment is not conducive to supporting recovery. In other circumstances, outpatient treatment may be more appropriate.
Substance Abuse Treatment: Inpatient or Outpatient?
As you collect information to help you make treatment decisions, it is important to understand when inpatient rehab may be most appropriate. Here are some of the highlights:
| Inpatient Rehab | Outpatient Rehab |
| Provides a change of environment that physically separates the client from substance availability and addiction triggers. | Allows recovery in the context of daily life, which for some is a more natural way to heal. |
| Creates the potential to step away from life’s responsibilities and concentrate solely on recovery for a short period of time. | Offers the opportunity to stay involved in work, school, and family relationships while simultaneously working through the recovery pathway. |
| Offers greater accountability and structure, decreasing the likelihood of relapse due to triggers or stresses. | Permits more freedom of time, and offers flexible scheduling. |
| Provides 24/7 monitoring and medical supervision, which may be especially valuable in the early recovery period when withdrawal symptoms and chances of relapse are most acute. | Peer support groups play an important role in outpatient treatment programs, offering an effective, mutually supportive environment throughout the recovery process. |
| Increases access to pharmacological interventions to help mitigate withdrawal symptoms that are particularly unpleasant or even dangerous. | Allows the integration of newly-acquired tools and strategies into the client’s life. |
| Allows for a period of stabilization before stepping down into a sustainable, long-term treatment program. | Enables a seamless transition to a long-term aftercare plan. |
Determining the Best Treatment Path to Meet Your Needs
When deciding between inpatient or outpatient treatment options, you may have to dig pretty deep and be honest with yourself. If you have reason to believe that you may be susceptible to addiction triggers that might lead you to relapse, inpatient rehab will probably be the best choice for you, at least at first. However, you may not be in the right headspace to trust your intuition at this time, and for that reason, it makes sense to consult with an addiction expert who can help you to be objective when making treatment decisions.
Look for an addiction rehab center with a full continuum of treatment options. They will be best poised to help you develop a treatment plan that meets your specific needs. Whether a short course in residential treatment followed by a longer period of outpatient care is best for you, or if intensive outpatient treatment makes sense right from the start, an admissions counselor can help you make this decision. Rest assured that before a final treatment path is outlined, you will undergo a comprehensive assessment to evaluate your physical health, emotional wellbeing, and biopsychosocial condition. Each of these important parameters helps to define an optimal treatment path tailored to your specific needs.
