If someone has a significant drug addiction problem, inpatient treatment is going to be the preferred treatment option. It’s always better for the addiction sufferer to get treatment in a safe and structured environment. Why is that? They need to distance themselves from the temptations and negative outside influences that can easily interfere with the treatment process.
While inpatient treatment is preferable, it’s not the only option available. In recent years, outpatient treatment options have been gaining in popularity. Why is that? First, the drug addiction problem in American is quite serious. It has caused the number of available inpatient beds to be negatively impacted by overflowing demand. Second, the cost of inpatient treatment is very high. At a time when so many people are struggling to make ends meet, the affordability of treatment has become a major issue. For the people who don’t have insurance and the financial resources to cover inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment becomes the only viable alternative.
If you have a significant addiction problem, you owe it to yourself and your family to get the best care possible. That likely means you committing to inpatient if at all possible. We will leave room for the possibility you can’t or might not be unwilling to agree to inpatient care. If that’s where you stand, we want to shift gears and push you to get a high level of outpatient care.
Here’s a look at the three most common outpatient options (includes time commitment requirements):
- General Outpatient Treatment: report for treatment 1 or 2 days each week and participate in therapy 1 to 2 hours each day
- Intensive Outpatient Treatment: report for treatment 3 to 5 days each week and participate in therapy 4 to 6 hours each day
- Partial Hospitalization Treatment: report for treatment 5 or 7 days each week and participate in therapy 8 to 12 hours each day
We want to point out a couple of things about these options. First, the general outpatient option is more of a recovery maintenance option. It’s an option that’s better suited for someone who has already successfully completed a higher level of treatment and just needs a little extra help staying clean. At the other end of the spectrum sits the partial hospitalization option.
Clearly, this is the most restrictive outpatient option based on time requirements alone. This is the best solution for someone who has a severe addiction problem but can’t or is unwilling to go through inpatient treatment. That leaves intensive outpatient treatment. Oftentimes, this is the right level of care because the time requirements are reasonable, yet restrictive enough to allow for lots of therapy. While most of the time would be devoted to individual therapy, there would be time for group therapy if a therapist thought it will help.
Valid Reasons to Choose Intensive Outpatient Treatment Over Inpatient Treatment
If you decide to go with the intensive outpatient route despite having a serious addiction problem, you should have a valid reason or reasons for your decision. This isn’t about judging you. It’s more about making sure you are making the best possible decision. We having already discussed how financial concerns are valid reasons to forgo inpatient treatment. If the money isn’t available or the potential of going into debt would cause undue stress, it’s simply not the right option.
Putting financial concerns aside: here are some of the best reasons for you to choose the intensive outpatient option:
- Your addiction issue is moderate at best and you have the ability to act responsibly towards treatment
- You have responsibilities at work or school that you can’t set aside to attend inpatient treatment
- You have primary responsibility for the care and control of other family members, perhaps children or parents
- You have other circumstances that could be compromised if you were restricted
Note: This list is not conclusive. There are other circumstances under which choosing the intensive outpatient option would make sense. If you are reading this information, it’s likely because you are thinking about getting treatment for your addiction. That’s good news and an indication you might be headed in the right direction. As a top treatment organization, we have the capacity to help you. To start the recovery process, we need you to pick up the phone and contact us at 833-820-2922. Our representatives are standing by and ready to take your call anytime day or night.