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Inpatient vs. Outpatient Addiction Treatment Centers

Depending on your needs, you may decide that either an outpatient or an inpatient addiction treatment center is right for you. The most important questions to consider are those which are concerned with your needs in every aspect of your life. When choosing whether to stay at an inpatient or outpatient addiction treatment center, consider the following.

Inpatient centers and outpatient centers are both necessary for different individuals’ treatments, and sometimes, a person will receive treatment from both types of centers during his or her recovery. According to the NIDA, “effective treatment attends to multiple needs of the individual, not just his or her drug use.”

It is important to compare the aspects of each type of treatment center in order to decide which type is right for you at this time. Inpatient addiction treatment centers are:

  • 24-Hour Care Centers
  • A Controlled Environment
  • Often a place where addicts can detox and receive treatment (usually medication and therapy) for their addictions while staying in the facility.
  • Programs that can last anywhere from thirty days to a year or more.
  • Generally more expensive than outpatient centers (although there are free inpatient centers)

Outpatient Addiction Treatment Centers

  • Not Generally 24-Hours
  • A clinic or facility where patients can receive medication and therapy while still being able to leave afterwards and live their daily lives.
  • Followers of strict treatment plans that require the patient to visit frequently (usually on set days), receive treatments, attend therapy sessions, and (sometimes) take drug tests.
  • Programs that can last anywhere from thirty days to a year or more.
  • Generally less expensive than inpatient centers (though not always).

Choosing an Addiction Treatment Facility?

It is important to remember that everyone’s needs are different. Addiction treatment should be catered to the individual and should be based on his or her needs on all levels. Here are some aspects of your life that you may want to consider when choosing a type of addiction treatment center.

  • Do I need 24-hour care?
  • Can I leave my children with someone if I need inpatient care?
  • Am I concerned about monetary issues?
  • Are my friends and family going to be there for me during this time?
  • Do I have other issues or mental disorders for which I should receive treatment?
  • Have I tried one kind of treatment center in the past and experienced negative effects?

These are all important questions that don’t necessarily concern your drug abuse but do concern your life and major needs. A study from the NCBI states that “patients with high psychiatric severity and/or a poor social support system are predicted to have a better outcome in inpatient treatment.” Those whose situations are the opposite (strong support systems and low psychiatric severity) would probably do well in outpatient treatment.

If you can take time away from your daily life and your addiction is very strong, inpatient treatment may be necessary. But if you have a good handle on your treatment and also have many people helping you through your initial withdrawal and recovery, you should consider outpatient treatment. Either way, the center’s treatment plans and methods can only work as well as they fit your needs.

Where do calls go?

Calls to numbers on a specific treatment center listing will be routed to that treatment center. Calls to any general helpline will be answered or returned by one of the treatment providers listed, each of which is a paid advertiser: ARK Behavioral Health, Recovery Helpline, Alli Addiction Services.

By calling the helpline you agree to the terms of use. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. There is no obligation to enter treatment.

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