Inpatient Vs. Outpatient Alcohol Treatment
Deciding on inpatient vs. outpatient rehab depends on several factors, including the severity of your alcohol addiction, your home environment, and the presence of other physical or mental health conditions.
What’s The Difference Between Inpatient And Outpatient Treatment?
A clear and simple difference between inpatient and outpatient alcohol treatment is that during inpatient care, a person lives in a hospital or residential setting 24/7, while outpatient care allows a person to return home after the completion of treatment for the day.
There are many types of inpatient and outpatient treatment programs for alcohol addiction, each intended for different stages of recovery, with possible tailoring to groups with specialized needs.
Types Of Inpatient Treatment Programs
Inpatient hospital programs may be short-term for detox or initial addiction treatment, with the intention of continued treatment through outpatient care.
Otherwise, long-term inpatient programs can last for months, typically 30-90 days, depending on a person’s needs and the program’s specifications.
A few different types of inpatient programs for alcoholism include:
- Inpatient detox: A person may live at a hospital-based or residential treatment center to receive medical, social, and other support while their body clears itself of alcohol. This may include medication support to ease or prevent uncomfortable, dangerous withdrawal symptoms.
- Inpatient hospitalization: A person may stay at a hospital-based addiction center for a short- or long-term program. Hospital-based programs can provide more comprehensive levels of medical care for individuals with co-morbidities or complex medical issues.
- Residential inpatient treatment: A person stays in a home-based setting but still must abide by the rules of the program.
The right type of inpatient program depends on where a person is on their recovery journey, how severe their addiction is, whether they have other medical conditions, and what their social support and financial situations look like. All inpatient programs for alcohol provide highly structured treatment schedules and often have rules that limit leaving the premises and receiving visits from family or friends.
However, most alcohol addiction treatment is voluntary. If a person does not wish to abide by the rules, they are allowed to leave; however, they may face consequences that prevent them from rejoining the program.
Need Addiction Support?
Reach out to a treatment provider today! Calls are always free and confidential.
Types Of Outpatient Programs
There are many types of outpatient addiction treatment available to meet the variety of needs for alcohol addiction treatment. All outpatient programs allow a person to live at home but may vary in duration, ranging one hour per week to 40 hours per week, depending on the program type and the individual’s progress in recovery.
Examples of outpatient alcohol addiction treatment include:
- Outpatient detox: These programs provide support for a person to go through detox at home. They may provide daily or multi-week check-ins, prescriptions to ease withdrawal symptoms, and connections to ongoing addiction treatment.
- Traditional outpatient treatment: Participants in these programs may meet with therapists, psychiatrists, or other addiction professionals one or more times per week, depending on their treatment needs.
- Intensive outpatient treatment: These programs typically require three to four hours of treatment per day. They are often a step down from a more intensive inpatient or partial hospitalization program.
- Partial hospitalization programs: These programs can be a step down from inpatient treatment or a starting point for some people with severe addiction. They may require six to eight hours per day of treatment during the week.
Even within each type of outpatient addiction treatment, there is variability in the hours required, types of treatment offered, and available services.
Cost Of Inpatient Vs. Outpatient Alcohol Treatment
The cost of alcohol addiction treatment can vary widely depending on your insurance coverage and individualized treatment plan. In general, more intensive treatment, involving greater hours of care or multiple services, will have an overall greater cost. However, your insurance plan, choice of treatment center, the length of treatment, and the type of treatment all affect the overall cost.
The average costs of addiction treatment services, as published by the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, are as follows:
- $1,750 for medical detoxification programs
- $5,000 for a 3-month outpatient rehab program
- $6,000 per month for inpatient rehabilitation programs
While the cost of treatment may feel daunting, your insurance plan often covers a portion of it. Additionally, many places offer alternative payment options. Some addiction treatment centers offer sliding scale payments, cash pay options, and payment plans to ease the financial burden and help you get the treatment you deserve.
To determine your estimated treatment cost, talk to your doctor about a recommended treatment plan, and then call your insurance provider to determine your coverage for those services. If you have difficulty doing so, call a local treatment center. Often, they have admissions counselors who are willing and able to help you figure out your insurance coverage for their facility.
Alcohol Help is not affiliated with any insurance.
Who Is Inpatient Treatment Best For?
Inpatient treatment for any addiction treatment is typically more intensive and provides a highly structured program and environment that is separate from a person’s usual relationships and routines.
In addition, hospital-based inpatient programs can provide medical care for dangerous withdrawal syndromes or other co-morbid conditions. People who are physically dependent on alcohol may exhibit life-threatening symptoms during withdrawal, such as seizures. Therefore, inpatient detox with 24/7 care can maximize the chance of going through detox and withdrawal safely.
As such, it is often the most suitable option for people with severe addiction, significant co-occurring mental disorders, or those with poor support systems at home. Living in an inpatient treatment center for a period of healing can provide a person with the space and structure they need to establish a strong foundation for their recovery.
Pros And Cons Of Inpatient Rehab
The pros and cons of inpatient rehab may not be clear for each person because some pros may be cons for others. For example, having limited contact with family and friends may be a good thing for one person but difficult for another who has close and supportive relationships.
However, a list of potential pros and cons for inpatient rehab may be as follows.
Pros:
- 24/7 availability of care providers
- Highly structured treatment programs
- Meals provided
- Medical support available
- Separation from one’s normal stresses and routines
Cons
- Limited contact with friends or family
- Increased rules to abide by, often not allowing a person to come and go at will
- Possible higher cost
- Separation from the comforts of home
For each person, the benefits and difficulties associated with inpatient rehab may vary. Understanding your personal needs and talking to a treatment provider can help you determine if inpatient rehab is right for you.
Who Is Outpatient Treatment Best For?
Outpatient rehab is highly variable in its structure, but all types of outpatient rehab can work well for people with strong support systems in their homes. Often, if a person lives with others who are not supportive of their sobriety or are unwilling to make their home alcohol-free for the recovering patient, sobriety and recovery can be much more difficult to achieve.
As long as a person has a supportive home environment, reliable transportation to treatment sessions, and insurance amenable to the right program, outpatient treatment programs can be a good fit.
Pros And Cons Of Outpatient Rehab
Potential pros and cons for outpatient rehab may include the following.
Pros:
- More flexible scheduling
- The freedom to continue working or attending school during treatment
- Weekends off from treatment
- Varying levels of care
Cons:
- Requires reliable transportation
- Difficulty separating from peers or environments that encourage alcohol misuse
- Some programs may provide little more than education
There is a large variety of outpatient alcohol addiction treatment programs. It is essential to research programs before enrolling to ensure they are accredited and offer evidence-based treatment methods. Some programs advertised as outpatient addiction treatment may provide little more than education if they are not accredited or practicing evidence-based treatment methods. Others may advertise more flexible schedules. It’s important to find out whether they provide the right level of treatment you need for a healthy start to recovery.
How Do I Decide Which One Is Right For Me?
With so many options for addiction treatment, both inpatient and outpatient, it can be difficult to know which best fits your needs. Knowing your personality, honestly assessing your personal support system, and inquiring about your insurance coverage can help narrow down your choices. Ultimately, the type of addiction treatment should be determined alongside an addiction professional.
People with more severe alcohol addiction often:
- Drink daily
- Need to have a drink immediately after waking up
- Have experienced withdrawal symptoms with prior quit attempts
- Experience significant social or financial consequences as a result of drinking
- Have relationship problems as a result of drinking
- Begin to have trouble at work due to drinking
- Have a DUI or legal trouble related to drinking
Only a doctor can determine the severity of your addiction and help you find a treatment plan that will best fit your needs. After enrolling at an addiction treatment center, most patients receive an assessment that allows them to determine which type of treatment is most beneficial for them and when it is time to switch forms of care.
Find A Treatment Center Today
If you or a loved one is looking for alcohol addiction treatment, many treatment options are available. Contact a treatment provider today to explore your options and begin your journey to recovery.
