Drug and alcohol addiction problems are nothing new, but as it affects more and more people, it is becoming a growing menace, and the concern for recovering from it is gaining traction. More and more addicts are looking for drug rehab programs that can bring them back to the path of sobriety and help to lead a normal life that everyone strives for. The biggest threat of addiction to drugs and alcohol is that it can be fatal.
Addiction from various substances like cannabis, opioids, cocaine, alcohol, and any other substances is killing thousands of people in the United States of America every year and impacts millions of lives. The number of people seeking recovery from addiction is just a fraction (10%) of the total number of people (21 million) having some addiction. Since the 1990s, deaths from drug abuse have grown three times as records confirm 700,000 Americans from drug overdose between 1999 and 2017.
Types of drug rehabilitation programs
People who want to get rid of the dreaded addition of drugs or alcohol take to drug rehabilitation programs that help them recover from the habits and cravings for drugs to lead a normal life. Drug and alcohol rehab centers are like reforming hones that follow a recovery process based on various medical and behavioral therapies that work for all types of addictions and substances.
Rehabilitation programs for drug and alcohol treatment generally fall into two categories – in-patient and outpatient rehabilitation. All rehab programs have the common goal of helping addicts change their relationship with drugs or alcohol. They work out a tailor-made treatment plan based on the type of substances. The choice between inpatient and outpatient programs depends on the intensity of addiction, whether it is mild, moderate, or severe, and convenience of patients. However, inpatient drug rehab programs are more effective and long-lasting within minimal chances of relapse.
To choose between the inpatient and outpatient drug rehabilitation programs, you must understand how these are different and what kind of outcome to expect from it.
Outpatient drug rehab programs
Staying in a drug rehab center is optional. One can choose to carry on with the treatment at an outpatient facility, which is like medical treatment carried out at any daycare medical center or clinic. The treatment takes place at a specified time on some fixed days, and patients can then go back to their homes to lead their lives in the way that they have planned. Even patients who choose to undergo 30 day inpatient drug rehab will have to undergo outpatient treatment during the treatment or aftercare. Outpatient drug rehab programs are useful for patients with mild addiction who have a strong will and capable of staying away from drugs or alcohol by overcoming the triggers when they are away from the rehab center. Moreover, the treatment is effective for those who have a sound support system of family and friends.
Inpatient drug rehab programs
Those suffering from moderate to severe addiction can opt for 90 day drug rehab programs that are more effective and mostly carried out for inpatients. The program requires patients to stay at the drug rehab center for the entire treatment duration like any residential, educational course in college and university but without studies. It is also different from the hospital stay that focuses exclusively on medical treatment. The treatment plan for every individual is custom made according to their needs based on the substance, the level of addiction, and how old it is.
Outpatient or inpatient – which is better?
It is hard to conclude which treatment is better than the other because a lot depends on the patient’s mindset and willingness to recover from addiction. Both kinds of treatment are effective, but it all depends on the individual’s commitment to getting the best from the treatment by supporting it wholeheartedly and adopting a disciplined life without any deviation. However, long-term treatment has higher chances of success as patients get a longer time to adjust to a drug-free life by changing their attitude and behavior through intense therapies aimed at mental and behavioral corrections.
The environment makes a difference
The biggest challenge for addicts is to resist the craving and avoid relapse, which can defeat rehabilitation’s purpose. Although both outpatient and inpatient rehab programs use almost similar therapies to change the mind and behavior of patients by altering their perception about life, the amount of time that patients spend in a controlled environment of the clinic or rehab center impacts the outcome. Moreover, the duration of the association with like-minded people during the treatment and the lively environs infuse positivity in patients that help them overcome the cravings for drugs and adopt a new and healthy lifestyle by realizing its benefits.
Longer and intense exposure to the positive environment during inpatient drug rehab gives ample opportunity to retrain the mind and bring about behavioral changes that support living life without substances.