If you are considering outpatient drug and alcohol rehab, it’s good to know in advance what you are getting into. Outpatient rehab is intensive but not as intense as inpatient care. It is designed to fit easily with your life and has the benefit of being cheaper. Here are some factors worth considering when deciding whether outpatient drug and alcohol rehab is good for you.
What to Expect from Outpatient Drug and Alcohol Rehab
Outpatient rehab is a treatment program designed to treat substance use disorder. Instead of confining you to a rehab facility, you can stay in your own home. You may have the treatment during the day and go home, go to work, or go to school in the evening.
Outpatient Care Can Work with Inpatient Care
Since much of the treatment done in outpatient care is similar to what is done in inpatient care, the two styles can work hand-in-hand. For example, if you have gone through inpatient treatment, an outpatient option could be a way to continue your care while allowing you the flexibility to have freedom in your life. Although many people use outpatient care as a substitute for inpatient care, research points out that outpatient treatment works best as a follow-up to an intensive inpatient program.
Outpatient Care Works with Your Schedule
One of the most significant benefits of outpatient rehab is that it fits any schedule. If you go to work or school, you can continue. Most outpatient programs only require a couple of hours of your time a day, three or four days out of the week. For most people, the most attractive part of outpatient rehab is sleeping in their own beds.
Outpatient Care Has Several Treatment Levels
“Outpatient treatment” is an umbrella term with several different treatment types. There are very intensive outpatient treatment programs that offer benefits that are on par with residential programs. Intensive outpatient treatment is usually followed by a lighter form of outpatient treatment, where you only visit one or two days a week.
Flexibility in Your Treatment
Anyone who has gone through the rehabilitation process realizes it is not a straight line but a winding path. There may be times when you are doing very well and do not need as much supervision as other times. Or you could relapse, so you need something more intensive to get back to sobriety. With most outpatient programs, you can increase or reduce the amount of treatment you receive based on your current needs.
Learn How to Deal with Addiction Triggers in Real Time
It is relatively easy to maintain sobriety in an inpatient environment. There are no temptations, you have no access to drugs, and positive behavior is constantly being reinforced. That’s the whole purpose of inpatient care. There are challenges when you leave inpatient care and return to the real world.
Your problems and access to drugs are staring you in the face. Being confronted with these challenges can make it easy for you to relapse. With outpatient treatment, you are receiving treatment while you are exposed to the challenges of everyday life. True, you are given support to cope with your stresses, but you can learn how to deal with addiction triggers as they happen. If you take advantage of this, it can make long-term sobriety a lot easier.
Less Expensive
Rehab is expensive. Inpatient care can cost tens of thousands of dollars, depending on how long you stay. Outpatient care is less costly, but it’s not cheap. This is because you’re not paying for all of the amenities that come with inpatient care, but you are still receiving high-quality care. The nice thing is that insurance programs, like Medicare or Medicaid, cover many outpatient facilities. Plus, with outpatient programs, you can work while you’re going through rehab.
This makes it easier for you to offset the cost of rehab. Choosing the right rehabilitation program for you and your circumstances can be challenging. Our team is experienced in helping people like you get access to the information they need to make wise decisions that lead to long-term sobriety. Are you ready to get help or want more information about outpatient rehab? Get in touch with us today at 833-610-1174. We look forward to helping you.