The type of rehab for alcoholism, or alcohol use disorder (AUD), you receive depends on the severity of the addiction itself.
In the same way that AUD runs from mild to moderate to severe, there are similar gradations of treatment.
The 2 principal kinds of rehab for all substance use disorders (SUD) are inpatient and outpatient care, all other treatment options – like partial hospitalization or aftercare – essentially fall under one of those two umbrellas.
The Difference Between Alcohol Outpatient and Inpatient Care
The difference between them is found in the prefixes, “in-“ and “out-“.
Inpatient care is meant for those who have sunk the deepest into their dependency on alcohol. For those suffering from severe addiction in other words. Also commonly referred to as residential inpatient treatment, this is the type of rehab where you live at the facility and are under the care and guidance of trained addiction specialists.
After detox – an imperative before any treatment can truly get underway – your individualized rehab program will begin with a team of psychologists, psychiatrists and counselors working in tandem with support staff to deliver ongoing treatment and supervision to make sure you don’t relapse.
It’s quite an intensely planned and thorough operation that’s grounded in one-on-one, as well as group, therapy.
Inpatient care purposely removes you from the world of distraction and triggers you were living in before and creates an environment in which you can work exclusively on laying the foundation for your new, alcohol-free, life.
Outpatient treatment, on the other hand, does not require that you live at a facility. It’s meant as either a stepping stone back to daily life for severe addicts that have already completed a stay in inpatient rehab or as a starting point for people with a more moderate alcohol use disorder.
The methods and modalities of treatment, i.e., therapy in group and individual settings, remain the same but you’ll come and go as per a schedule rather than living in.
Benefits of Attending an Alcohol Outpatient Treatment Program
While each addiction is as unique as the person it happens to, alcohol outpatient treatment very well could be the right solution for you or the man in your life.
It Costs Less
By the nature of not having to live in a treatment center – and the sometimes dramatic expenses associated with it related to location, treatment methods offered, the amenities, etc. – outpatient rehab is generally less expensive.
Put What You Learned Into Practice
Part of both inpatient and outpatient care is learning to cope with the triggers you’ll inevitably encounter in your daily life. Outpatient rehab gives you an excellent opportunity to put those lessons into practice while having the safety net of regularly scheduled rehab visits to fall back on. Almost like having training wheels on the bike when learning to ride.
The Flexibility to Stay Employed & Carry on Other Responsibilities
Inpatient care is restrictive for a reason, to allow you to concentrate fully on recovery. Outpatient care scales that back and affords you the flexibility to integrate treatment into your normal life, allowing you to work, go to school and maintain the responsibilities and commitments to family and friends you cherish.
Support from Family & Friends
Speaking of family & and friends, they’re a vital part of your support system and the comfort you’ll receive from those connections goes a long way in keeping you on the path of recovery. Their encouragement is a genuine boost to the spirit.
Reach Out to Us at Valley Recovery Center Today
There are plenty of positives to outpatient treatment for alcoholism, to learn more and discover if it’s the right move for you or a man in your life, reach out to us at Valley Recovery Center.
