There are many treatment options available if you want to quit drinking or using drugs. It includes outpatient and residential addiction treatment plans. With these things in mind, this article examines the difference between these two treatment choices.
What are the Differences Between Outpatient and Residential Programs?
As their names suggest, both offer different environments. Outpatient programs often involve treatments tailored around your schedule. You have the benefit of sleeping in your bed, and having minimal interruptions to your work schedule while still receiving the help you need.
Meanwhile, resident addiction treatment programs are more structured in nature. You stay at the facility and receive around-the-clock care. The program might include group therapy, individual counseling sessions, yoga, meditation and medical detox.
Which Treatment is Better?
When comparing the two options, outpatient might seem more enticing at first. After all, you receive the help you need while maintaining a regular schedule. You do not have to miss work or social obligations. And you can learn coping skills you can translate into real life right away. However, this treatment might not be the best course of action in every case.
If you are focusing on recovery, you need to adjust your schedule. It means avoiding people or places that trigger your drinking or drug use. Impatient programs offer the structure and guidance you need. It also helps you focus on recovery without access to drugs and alcohol.
What are the Benefits of Residential Addiction Treatment?
When you receive residential treatment, you gain the following benefits:
- Patients receive around-the-clock care.
- You also gain the time you need to recover. Most people require at least three months in treatment to lead to more positive outcomes.
- In residential programs, you gain structure. You learn the root causes that fueled your addiction, coping mechanisms to confront your temptations and you gain a supportive environment of people who know what you’re going through.
- You also gain insight into the causes of the addiction. 6 out of 10 people with substance abuse have underlying mental illnesses. Finding the cause results in better-targeted treatment options.
- In a study conducted by the Archives of General Psychiatry, people who remain in care for longer than 90 days have higher rates of remaining sober once treatment concludes. In its findings, only 17% of participants returned to drug use after being in treatment for more than 90 days.
A Promising Future Awaits
When you’re ready to quit, we’re standing by to help. Our residential programs focus on helping you heal through supervised detoxification, psychosocial therapies and other treatments. Many members of our staff possess over 10 years of experience. Reach out to us to discover how our residential addiction treatment can help you get on the road to recovery and stay there.
