America's Rehab Campuses Tucson

Approaches to addiction treatment fall into two general categories — residential inpatient treatment, in which the individual enters an all-inclusive rehabilitation facility for a prescribed period of time, and outpatient treatment, where the individual attends both one-on-one and group therapy while continuing to remain in their primary residence. Both approaches have benefits and drawbacks, and neither is necessarily better than the other, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution to overcoming addiction.

If you’re trying to decide which road would be the most effective for you or a loved one, here’s what you need to know:

Benefits and Drawbacks of Inpatient Treatment

The biggest benefit for most people of inpatient treatment is that it allows them to focus entirely on overcoming their addiction by eliminating the common distractions involved in everyday living. They also have access to 24-hour support, and because many of those struggling with addictions have chaotic and even abusive home situations, inpatient options provide them with the opportunity to approach recovery in a positive, safe environment.

However, inpatient treatment is more expensive than outpatient treatment, and it may cause hardships for those who are the primary caregivers for young children. The length of residential rehabilitation programs generally ranges from 28 days to six months, and some don’t find it practical to take that much time off work.

Those receiving inpatient treatment may also find that they struggle with readjusting to their lives once their stay in residential treatment is over, especially if they’re returning to challenging situations.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient treatment allows individuals to remain in their own homes and communities, allowing them to continue meeting their employment or educational obligations and keep their families intact. Those in outpatient programs also have regular access to supportive family members and friends in their communities, and partners, children, siblings, and parents may be active participants in family therapy programs designed to treat the whole family unit. Because participants in outpatient treatment are attending community-based programs, they also develop strong bonds with others in their position

Outpatient treatment is also less expensive than inpatient treatment, which serves to minimize financial stress and makes recovery more attainable to many people.

The drawbacks of outpatient treatment depend highly on the individual’s living and social situation. Because it’s not at all uncommon for both spouses to struggle with substance abuse issues, household tension is sure to be part of the picture unless both are equally committed to recovery. Spouses, family members, and friends may be resentful of the individual’s decision to seek treatment, and in some cases, they may even try to sabotage them.

The Customized Approach to Treatment

As mentioned previously, no two people leave the exact same footprints on their road to recovery, and that’s why a customized approach to treatment has the best chance for success. Some people need total immersion therapy in an inpatient environment, particularly those who need to start their journey with medical detoxification, while others thrive when dealing with recovery in their home setting. There are still others who benefit from an individualized blend of the two, starting out with an intensive but short-term stay in a residential facility and progressing to treatment on an outpatient basis.

The professionals at America’s Rehab Campuses provide assessments that can help you chart a customized course to recovery.