Living with addiction is no way to go through life. Shockingly, over 100,000 people per year die from drug overdoses. Numbers like that are staggering, but the good news is that most people live to overcome their drug and alcohol addictions thanks to rehab programs.
There are many different types of rehab, each with its own benefits. One of the most flexible ways to overcome your addiction is through outpatient rehab. How do you know if outpatient rehab is right for you, though?
Read on to learn everything you need to know about this innovative form of treatment.
What Is Outpatient Rehab?
The first thing you should know is that there are different types of rehab — inpatient and outpatient. Inpatient rehab involves stepping away from your day-to-day life and dedicating all of your time to your recovery. It is a program where you may start in a hospital and then live in a treatment center and receive all of the care and treatment you need in one place.
Outpatient rehab, on the other hand, is a rehab program where you live outside of the rehab facility. You still get treatment, you just need to travel to the facility on a regular basis to receive it. A program like https://thesummitwellnessgroup.com/iop-intensive-outpatient-program-atlanta-ga/ is a great example of outpatient rehab.
Outpatient Rehab Advantages
Outpatient rehab is a fantastic option for many people. This is thanks to its many advantages. The following benefits are just a sampling of the reasons why outpatient rehab may be right for you.
Affordability
One of the biggest barriers between addiction and recovery is the cost of rehab. That’s because the traditional rehab program is inpatient and involves a hospital stay and weeks at a rehab facility.
Outpatient rehab typically has a lower price tag. That’s because you don’t have to worry about paying for room and board and meals, and all of the other accouterments that come with spending all of your time in one place. In addition, some outpatient programs receive federal funding that helps drive down the cost of treatment.
Less Time Away from Work and Family
Inpatient rehab might be ideal for a lot of people, but many people just do not have the ability to take weeks away from their family and job to go to rehab. If this is your situation, then outpatient rehab may be the best option for you.
Depending on your individual needs, your outpatient program can be as intensive as you need it to be with regard to your time commitment. This means that you’re more likely to keep your job. Even more importantly, since outpatient rehab programs are typically local, your loved ones may have the option to participate in your addiction recovery journey.
Easier Transition to Real Life
It’s no secret that going from an inpatient rehab program to real life is quite a jolt. You go from having people around you to support you 24/7 to being on your own. That is not the case with outpatient rehab.
Since you’re still living at home during your recovery, you’re learning how to deal with your real life as you recover from your addiction. Not only are you learning these critical skills, but you’re putting them into action in real-time. You don’t have to worry about sinking or swimming once the program is over.
Outpatient Rehab Disadvantages
By now you know that outpatient rehab has a plethora of benefits. That doesn’t mean that it’s right for everyone, however. Think twice if the following disadvantages give you pause.
Less Intensive Program
Outpatient programs are limited by the amount of time that a person spends within them. That means that they cannot be as intensive as an inpatient program where you’re surrounded by staff 100 percent of the time.
Depending on the severity of your addiction, this might not be a concern. If your addiction is not as advanced, or you haven’t been dealing with it for very long, then this may not be a disadvantage. The best thing you can do, however, is to talk to your physician about what you’re dealing with to determine whether outpatient rehab programs are the right choice for you.
Stressors of Real Life Don’t Go Away
One of the biggest benefits of inpatient rehab facilities is that they take you away from the stressors of daily life. You don’t have to worry about making it to work on time or getting negative feedback from your boss. Maybe you deal with a lot of stress from your family or roommates at home, and that fuels your addiction.
If you deal with a lot of stressors in your daily life, then outpatient rehab may not be as effective for you. When looking at different programs, look into the tools they offer to help you manage this stress while you’re in the program and still experiencing the stress. What does the outpatient program do to set you up for success and counter the harder aspects of life?
Temptation May Arise
Finally, inpatient programs have the tremendous benefit of isolating you from temptation. You don’t have easy access to drugs or alcohol.
This is not the case with outpatient programs. When you’re not at your outpatient facility, it’s up to you to avoid bringing home alcohol from the store or hanging out with friends who’ll give you drugs. If you don’t think you can avoid relapse when faced with this temptation, then you might want to start with an inpatient program instead.
Looking for the Right Addiction Recovery Program?
Dealing with drug and alcohol addiction is not easy. If it was, you wouldn’t need rehab programs and you wouldn’t be concerned about relapsing. Taking the time to decide whether you should opt for inpatient or outpatient rehab ensures that you are starting your recovery journey on the right foot.
Are you looking for more motivation that’ll help you create the life you’ve always wanted to lead? Look no further! Check out the rest of our blog for tons of inspirational content.
