Choosing to seek treatment and overcome an addiction is a big step toward living a healthier life. There are many drug and alcohol treatment centers you can visit to help you learn how to manage your addiction. At each center, you’ll likely find a variety of options to have your treatment under both outpatient and inpatient programs. Choosing the right program is vital in helping you recover faster and avoid relapse. Here are the differences between the programs and how you can decide which is best for your needs.
Outpatient Basics
An outpatient program at a drug and alcohol treatment center is an intensive program that helps you learn about your addiction and find ways to manage it. In these programs, you visit the center at specified times to partake in one on one counseling and group sessions. Every session is designed around using evidence-based education to help you find a deeper understanding of addiction and the ways to break free.
During an outpatient program, you’re only required to stay at the treatment center during the times of your sessions. You are otherwise free to go home, work, go to school, or participate in any other activity you’d like. Program times can be customized and scheduled to fit your needs and provide freedom along with recovery.
Outpatient Benefits
Outpatient programs have a relatively high success rate. By allowing patients to live their normal lives and exist in their regular habitats, sessions provide additional benefits. Counseling and education are centered around managing addiction in everyday life. Therefore, you can get more from each session by being able to address the specific concerns your life provides.
Outpatient programs are also a great way to help you keep up with work and your social life while going through the recovery process. Sessions are held both during the day and at night and on the weekends. You can plan your sessions around your work or school schedule so you aren’t missing out on your life as you go through the program. In this way, you can build a better future by both overcoming your addiction and moving forward in other aspects of your life.
Outpatient Negatives
Outpatient programs aren’t for everyone, however. By being able to come and go as you please, there is a greater chance you may miss sessions or fall back into old habits. If, for example, your car breaks down on the way to the treatment center, you can miss out on valuable recovery time that you need. To succeed in an outpatient program, it’s important to try and build a support system with friends or family that will help you get to all of your sessions.
Inpatient Basics
Unlike outpatient programs, inpatient programs require you to stay at the drug and alcohol treatment center during the entirety of your program, even if you aren’t in a session. In these programs, you stay at the center and utilize their facilities while taking the time to partake in one on one counseling and group sessions throughout the day. Every session is designed around using evidence based education to help find a deeper understanding of addiction and the ways to break free.
Because you are always at the treatment center, your schedule is more rigid and controlled. This is to help you find a quicker recovery while maintaining your physical and mental wellbeing. Treatment centers that offer inpatient programs have residential rooms and living areas that help make your stay as comfortable as possible.
Inpatient Benefits
Inpatient programs are a good way to help you recover if your living situation does not support sobriety. By removing yourself from a dangerous environment, you can reduce the odds of relapse during the recovery process. Inpatient programs offer more specialized care that can help you with the physical and mental withdrawal symptoms. You also won’t miss out on sessions, as you are physically onsite the whole time and have a team of staff members ready to help you meet your recovery goals.
Inpatient Negatives
Although inpatient care helps you reach sobriety sooner, there is a higher overall relapse rate from these programs. Because you are removed from your environment, there are fewer opportunities for you to learn to manage your addiction when faced with daily life.
Partial Hospitalization
With a partial hospitalization program (PHP), patients can get the best of both outpatient and inpatient programs. With PHP, you are in the drug and alcohol treatment center during the day and return home at night. By staying in the center during the day, you are guaranteed to meet all your sessions and have the medical and emotional support needed while recovering. By returning home at night, you are getting the opportunity to practice addiction management methods in your regular life and learn ways to cope with the struggles you may be facing.
Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center in San Diego
If you are struggling with addiction, The Bridges of San Diego is here to help. As a certified and established drug and alcohol treatment center, we have helped hundreds of patients understand and overcome their addictions. Our 12 step model helps you find the underlying reasons for your addictions and teaches you the skills you need to cope with them in your daily life. We offer both intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs to meet every need. Seeking treatment is the first important step on your journey to a better future. Don’t wait any longer. Give us a call at 619-639-1458 to begin your recovery journey.