Finding the right alcohol and drug treatment program is one of the most empowering and life-affirming choices a person can make. This important decision can help those in recovery to achieve and maintain their sobriety goals, with the right combination of structure and flexibility.
Outpatient vs. inpatient treatment programs will be the first decision you make on your recovery journey. Each has its own benefits and strengths for treating substance use disorders, and your needs and life situation can guide you to the best possible decision for you or a loved one.
What Is an Outpatient Program?
Outpatient rehab programs provide structured support and recovery programs for patients who live at home or in temporary sober housing nearby. Participants are not required to stay at the treatment center, and they may continue to attend school or work with some limitations. Outpatient treatment offers the greatest flexibility and convenience, with the least disruption to daily life.
In outpatient drug and alcohol treatment facilities, patients meet with medical professionals and recovery therapists on a regular basis to receive the services they need. Outpatient addiction rehabs offer all the same types of treatment as inpatient facilities, in a less intensive format and with fewer restrictions on outside activities.
Intensive Outpatient Programs
Some outpatient programs encompass 10 to 12 hours per week of treatment, providing support for those with milder substance use disorders. Intensive outpatient programs or IOPs offer more structure and supervision and more hours per week of therapy. These programs work well for those with more severe addictions or co-occurring disorders and usually require time off from work or school to focus more intensely on recovery.
What Is an Inpatient Program?
Inpatient drug and alcohol rehab programs require the person in recovery to stay in a secure facility, usually under 24/7 supervision. Residential treatment facilities provide detox for those who may suffer life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. They are recommended for those with more severe substance abuse disorders and for individuals who do not have a sober home environment.
Inpatient treatment facilities offer the same types of therapy sessions and group sessions and focus on identifying personal triggers that may lead to relapse. They might receive medications to manage withdrawal symptoms or to make relapse physically uncomfortable. The primary difference between inpatient vs. outpatient treatment programs is that patients are required to stay at their rehab facility until they complete a 30- to 90-day program or transition to outpatient recovery.
Partial Hospitalization Programs
Partial Hospitalization Programs, or PHPs, offer the same level of full time treatment options, detox, and drug addiction therapy as inpatient programs, but the patient is allowed to spend the night at home and return to the rehab center the following day to continue focused treatment. More intensive than an IOP, PHP is very similar to an inpatient program. This is often a good strategy for those with more severe addictions who do have a supportive and sober home environment where they can stay.
Sober Living Homes
Sober living homes provide an alcohol- and drug-free place to live for people in recovery. These are not treatment centers and are typically not licensed by state authorities, but are residential communities built around the needs of those who are in outpatient treatment or transitioning out of inpatient treatment.
Sober living homes are sometimes still called “halfway houses” and may provide 12-step programs onsite as well as sober recreational events and activities. Residents pay for housing and sometimes meals in their sober living home, and they must abide by the rules of their community.
These sober living facilities can be a useful step after leaving inpatient treatment or while engaging in outpatient, IOP, or PHP programs. Many sober living homes are only available to those who are engaged in a licensed addiction treatment program.
Choosing the Inpatient or Outpatient Rehab That Is Right for You
Every individual has a unique history and challenges to face on their recovery journey. This is a highly personal decision and a combination of both approaches can sometimes be the right choice. Some of the advantages and disadvantages of each approach can help you make this important first step.
Advantages of Outpatient Recovery
- Sleep and stay in the comfort of your own home.
- Qualify to stay in a sober living facility or group home.
- Take advantage of natural support systems, including friends and family.
- Enjoy very few limits on outside activities, as long as they are drug and alcohol free.
- Cook and eat your own food or participate in family or household meals.
- Maintain child care, elder care, volunteer, work, or school schedules.
- Pay a lower overall cost for high-quality recovery care.
- Transition to independent sober living with gradually decreasing services.
Advantages of Inpatient Rehab Programs
- Medically supervised detox for severe drug abuse or addiction
- 24/7 support and supervision during recovery
- Avoiding a community, work, or home situation that normalizes drug use
- Removing the risk of relapse while focusing fully on treatment and therapy
- Establishing new patterns of self care and personal responsibility
- May be required to meet the requirements of court-ordered addiction treatment
- Ability to transition to outpatient treatment programs for relapse prevention
Types of Addiction Treatment and Recovery Services Available
Both inpatient and outpatient treatment programs offer similar services, therapy sessions, and counseling to help individuals overcome their personal challenges and establish sober living strategies and habits. These sessions go beyond preventing drug or alcohol abuse and seek to address the root causes of addiction and provide actionable strategies and techniques to promote sobriety. Therapy helps individuals replace self-destructive and self-limiting behaviors and thoughts with more positive, productive ones.
Some of these treatment options include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT. This therapy helps patients become aware of their unhealthy thoughts and behaviors, and then develop strategies to change them to more positive and productive thoughts and actions.
- Motivational Interviewing or MI. This therapy method helps to identify feelings and habits that have become barriers to treatment and promote self-motivation for attending treatment and staying sober.
- Multidimensional family therapy. Family therapy helps to address toxic behaviors, codependency, and other established influences that might be preventing healthy relationships or promoting substance abuse.
- Treatment for co-occurring disorders. Many times mental illness or medical conditions develop that are intertwined with substance use disorders. Individuals may try to self-medicate to treat an underlying condition like depression, anxiety, childhood trauma, or PTSD. Treating these conditions can be instrumental in long-term recovery.
- Contingency management or relapse prevention. Recovery is more complex than simply avoiding drugs and alcohol. These programs help individuals identify their triggers and develop strategies to manage or control them. Preventing relapse over the long term involves managing stress and recognizing risks to your sobriety.
Choosing an Addiction Recovery Program Near You
Choosing the right options for recovery and treatment might involve traveling outside your own community to find the best fit for your personal challenges and individual needs. At One Touch Recovery Center, we offer Telehealth Virtual Treatment Programs as an Intensive Outpatient Program for those who are unable to attend in person due to distance, schedule, or transportation limitations.
We provide in-person outpatient—IOP programs—as well as PHP programs for all severity levels of substance use disorders at our addiction treatment center in Pomona, CA. Each program is customized to your individual treatment plan and may include:
- Family and Codependent Group Therapy
- Individual counseling sessions
- Sessions in goal setting, self-care, and life skills
- Stress management therapy
- Anger management therapy
- Psychoeducation on addiction and substance use
- Cognitive behavioral therapy for individuals and groups
- Relapse prevention and contingency management
- Spirituality classes and holistic treatment
- Sensitivity to cultural issues that contribute to addiction
Reach Out for Immediate Help and Guidance on Your Recovery Choices
You can speak with one of our compassionate and caring staff members today about choosing the right path to recovery for yourself or a loved one. Reach out to us at (909) 351-4480 or chat with an experienced professional online. Taking this vital first step can be the most difficult part of your path to healing, but One Touch Recovery Center is ready and waiting to help you reach your sobriety goals and transform your life.
One Touch Recovery Center is fully licensed for alcohol and drug treatment, including co-occurring disorders in Pomona, California. We provide flexible service and programs that are evidence-based, simple, convenient, and discreet. Connect with us today for a confidential discussion about how to break the cycle of addiction and restore your physical and mental well-being. It is never too late or too early to choose your path to recovery, so choose today to take a brave step in a new direction.