When we envision drug and alcohol rehabilitation, the first thing that usually comes to mind is patients in a hospital or controlled treatment facility. While the use of such residential facilities is still commonplace throughout the world, in some countries, including most of the United States, outpatient treatment is either already the primary mode of treating addiction, or is soon on its way to becoming so.
Though outpatient treatment for serious mental illnesses like substance use disorder (SUD) and behavioral addictions has come to have a bad reputation over the years, many improvements have been made, especially with the application of digital technologies for facilitating good recovery habits and relapse prevention.
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Below we’ll explore the general concept of outpatient treatment and why you may want to consider it. Visit Dallas Drug Treatment Centers to learn more about concepts related to addiction treatment as well as to find rehab programs in North Texas.
What is Outpatient Treatment?
Outpatient treatment is a mode of treating illnesses, in this case, substance use disorder and other similar conditions, that does not require the patient to be admitted to a hospital or other residential facility. In contrast, a mode of treatment that does require a stay at a hospital or similar facility is called “residential” or “inpatient” treatment.
What are the Benefits of Outpatient Treatment?
Not all outpatient programs are the same. It’s usually more useful to look at the specifics of any given program rather than to dwell on whether it is inpatient or outpatient. That said, outpatient programs tend to offer the following benefits over traditional residential programs:
1.) Lower Cost. Outpatient clinics tend to follow schedules closer to regular office hours, albeit slightly tweaked to allow more patients to come in after work. Off the bat, outpatient programs can drastically reduce their overhead by not needing to include room and board, 24/7 staffing, and heightened security required by a residential facility. The cost savings can then be passed onto the patient or their insurance company.
2.) More Work Flexibility. Because there is no need to check into a facility for extended periods, this leaves recovering individuals with more opportunities for continuing their employment. By contrast, most (though not all) residential rehab programs will massively restrict the patient’s ability to communicate with the outside world, usually to help them focus on recovery and to prevent them from smuggling contraband into the facility.
Residential programs can also sometimes take up to six months before the patient gets to see any real benefits, all during which their ability to continue working is drastically reduced. This loss of income also increases the relative cost of treatment compared to equivalent outpatient programs.
3.) Better Access to Outside Support. As we mentioned earlier, most residential programs will restrict communication with the outside world, at least for the early part of recovery. This is for several reasons, including to prevent the patient from contacting enablers, to prevent distractions, and to keep emotional family and friends from interfering with the recovery process.
However, it’s clear that not all people respond equally well to this approach. Patients with healthy support systems may not see such a massive benefit from the approach used by these programs.
For these individuals, specific types of outpatient programs combined with supplemental mental health regimes that include exercise and meditation can be less costly, less restrictive, and be almost as effective as a residential program.
Are Outpatient Programs for Everyone?
Not necessarily. Because the mental illnesses may directly interferes with a person’s willpower, most people with moderate or severe substance use disorder might struggle to recover in the less restrictive setup of an outpatient program.
They may also continue to be exposed to the emotional triggers that exacerbated or caused their SUD, which can easily lead to an early relapse. Additionally, their continued contact with enablers can drastically reduce how effective an outpatient program could be.
Good candidates for outpatient programs include the following:
- People who have previously completed a residential program
- Individuals diagnosed with a mild substance use disorder
- Uninsured individuals who require continued income
- Low-income individuals with limited insurance coverage
- Individuals without serious co-occurring mental health problems
- Individuals who could avoid triggers by relocating or changing jobs
- Those with access to a positive support network
If a person does not belong to these categories, that isn’t to say that they couldn’t benefit from outpatient treatment. However, they may want to talk to a qualified mental health professional to help them better weigh their options.
Should You Go With Outpatient Treatment?
While cost is the biggest factor for most people who do choose outpatient rehabilitation, that does not necessarily mean that residential programs are the best for all SUD and behavioral addiction cases. It all depends on one’s specific circumstances.
Additionally, it’s worth pointing out again that there is a lot more that goes into how effective a program is than just the modes or types of treatment they offer. As with treating any serious illness, it’s usually worth your time to talk to at least a couple of different qualified clinicians before making your decision.
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