Is Inpatient Addiction Treatment Right for You?

For most problems, long-term treatment plans can be sorted into several clear categories. Outpatient care allows a patient to seek treatment as part of a normal life schedule, receiving therapy or treatment a few times a week while continuing to live a healthy life. Day treatment consists of full-day treatment programs, typically lasting for several weeks, but still allowing the patient to return home for the evening.

Inpatient treatment separates the patient from the external world and the negative influences that may be present in the patient’s ordinary life, and allows the patient to focus completely on nothing but getting well.

Which Type of Treatment is Most Successful?

Because outpatient treatment allows the negative influences of daily life to interfere with a recovery plan, generally speaking, inpatient or residential care plans are the most effective forms of treatment for long-term problems. In a controlled environment with dedicated caretakers, potential bumps in the road to recovery can be more quickly identified, and the patient will have more resources to use in finding solutions.

The most recent Drug and Alcohol Services Information System (DASIS) report showed a significant difference between inpatient and outpatient treatment plans. Short-term inpatient procedures, particularly inpatient treatment at hospitals and private facilities, saw their patients complete their programs in roughly 60% of all cases, compared to less than 40% in outpatient programs.

Patients who receive the more focused, dedicated care of an inpatient program are much more likely to complete their treatment plans successfully. That means a quicker road to recovery and a stronger start for a return to normal life.

Why Seek Inpatient Addiction Treatment?

The decision to seek treatment in the first place can be a tough one, and the road to recovery can be long and arduous. The supportive setting provided by inpatient addiction treatment, such as A Forever Recovery, gives patients a much stronger baseline to fall back on when seeking aid for their addiction.

Inpatient programs allow patients to concentrate on their recovery without the burden of worrying about day to day problems.

How Long Will Inpatient Treatment Take?

A typical short-term inpatient treatment takes an average of about three weeks, while a longer-term program usually lasts an average of 53 days. Inpatient care typically takes less time to complete than outpatient programs, with outpatient programs averaging 76 days in length.

This difference is likely due to the increased focus afforded by inpatient addiction treatment programs. When recovery, therapy, and treatment are your entire focus for your time, much more can be accomplished than when the distractions of a day job, paying bills, and curious friends and family interfere. Thanks to the increased focus of an inpatient program, more can be accomplished in a shorter period. This allows patients to recover more effectively and return to a functional life more quickly.