Once you have accepted that your alcohol or drug abuse has become unmanageable, you will need to find professional addiction treatment. Inpatient rehab is usually the best way to go for most of those in need. But you might be overwhelmed about your next steps when it comes to choosing the right alcohol rehab or drug rehab for you:
- “Should I find something local, or should I put some distance between home and my treatment?”
- “Should I solely focus on my recovery through inpatient rehab, or can I manage my addiction with an outpatient program?”
First, remove “should” from your vocabulary. The time you spend answering these questions for yourself – or your loved one – is very personal. Besides, choosing the right facility for you can make all the difference for a successful recovery.
Studies have found the proven correlation between higher chances of success and attending a local drug & alcohol rehab center for inpatient treatment. We’ve even compiled 10 specific reasons we think it’s the smart choice.
However, inpatient rehab is not the one-size-fits-all answer. Outpatient rehab also is an excellent option in many circumstances!
Just so you know all of your options, we will explain the differences between inpatient rehab (also known as residential treatment) and outpatient rehab (intensive outpatient program).
Inpatient Rehab
What is inpatient rehab/residential treatment?
Just as the names imply, you stay at the drug & alcohol treatment center for the duration of the program in inpatient rehab/residential treatment. Like a hospital or clinic, the center provides focused, active, and intensive care. For many who are recently abstinent from their respective substances, inpatient rehab provides an environment free of substances and with clinicians who can assist as withdrawal symptoms occur, which are sometimes life-threatening.
Overall, it is meant to put distance between you and your drug of choice, and it disrupts the destructive habits and behaviors that contribute to your addiction.
How long is inpatient rehab?
Most residential rehab programs last anywhere from 35 days to a few months depending on the severity of the issue. The precise length of the program will depend on several variables, such as if you have previously attended rehab, or if you have a co-occurring mental health disorder.
At Landmark Recovery, our inpatient treatment starts with drug detox or alcohol detox, and with the treatment program itself typically lasting 30, 60, or 90 days.
How might I know if this is right for me?
If you have a moderate or severe alcohol use disorder or drug use disorder, it is very likely you will benefit from inpatient treatment. Especially if you have attended AA or other programs in the past but with little success, it may be time to consider inpatient rehab.
Outpatient Rehab
What is an intensive outpatient program (IOP)?
An intensive outpatient program is an ongoing program designed to help you stay motivated and focused on your sobriety while maintaining your regular routine, such as work or school. Outpatient treatment plans are often personalized based on your work or school schedule, and based on whether you attend 12-step meetings, group therapy sessions, individual sessions, or family sessions.
At the same time, you still have access to psychiatrists, doctors, nurses, and counselors. Even when you are away from the facility, you have a support system and on-call support to help you stay on-track.
How long is outpatient rehab?
Landmark designs its intensive outpatient program as a 10-week program. We may discharge you sooner based on your progress and other factors, such as co-occurring disorders, or you can choose to stay involved through our robust alumni program. The relationships you form during our program often endure beyond the treatment period, and we remain committed to serving you as long as necessary after discharge.
How might I know if this is right for me?
Outpatient treatment is recommended for newly sober individuals or anyone who needs extra support to help them stay on track in recovery. In the early days of your sobriety, forming new habits, maintaining structure, and reaching out for support are incredibly important, and outpatient rehab provides you with these things.
7 Reasons Local, Inpatient Drug & Alcohol Rehab is the Smart Choice
1) You will receive the full-spectrum of addiction care that you need to succeed.
You are finally ready to accept and tackle your substance abuse. Why not keep things as simple as possible?
Consistency and familiarity are strong building blocks in recovery. From being in the same facility with the same therapists and community to having the same curriculum throughout your journey to sobriety, residential treatment is a streamlined process.
At Landmark Recovery, our full-continuum of care combines medication-assisted detox with inpatient rehab. Because detox is often dangerous, we provide around-the-clock care to ensure your safety and comfort, but also as an important first step in beginning treatment. Next, you can transition to our outpatient program for continued support. This way, even after you go back to living at home, you will continue to be supported as you adjust to your new sober lifestyle.
2) Residential programs have a strong success rate.
Inpatient rehab remains unmatched for serious addictions. All forms of substance abuse programs prove cost effective, but residential treatment notably helps patients reduce their risk of relapse, especially when they follow up with outpatient care.
With around-the-clock emotional and clinical support, you can focus fully on your recovery without the distractions of normal life. Inpatient rehab at Landmark Recovery also is holistic. For example, if you have been abusing alcohol, chances are you have not been eating well either. Inpatient rehab provides a nutrition component to strengthen and prepare your body for recovery, as well.
3) In an inpatient rehab program or residential treatment, you are in a safe and controlled environment.
Think of inpatient rehab like wrapping yourself in a cocoon. It is intended to be a place of safety where you can heal and grow during this fragile time without being affected by the outside world.
Perhaps you have friends and family members who struggle with substance abuse, or they are simply un-supportive or toxic. Inpatient rehab helps you avoid triggers that could lead you to use while surrounding you with the social support of those who understand your struggle.
Even if supportive friends and family surround you, choosing inpatient rehab could offer more safety for both you and your loved ones, especially if they lack the appropriate equipment to support you through alcohol or drug detox. Unlike home settings, inpatient rehab provides constant supervision from addiction specialists and doctors.
4) You can get the most out of therapy and treatment.
Inpatient rehab offers a less distracting environment, along with enhanced privacy, as you seek professional treatment. You should also find the staff-to-client ratio is stacked in your favor.
At Landmark Recovery, we tailor your treatment program to your beliefs, whether faith-based or secular. Another strength of Landmark’s inpatient rehab is your access to therapy; we offer twice as many one-on-one therapy sessions as other leading facilities. The ethically-grounded relationships we work to build with our patients also often outlast treatment.
5) It is designed to help you see and experience a healthy alternative to your current lifestyle.
The purpose of an inpatient rehab program is to break patterns of behavior, identify and treat comorbidities, and offer the kind of positive social support that might be missing from your life. In inpatient rehab, you will learn how to cope with the urge to use drugs or alcohol, how to identify triggers that serve as relapse warning signs and how to manage your daily life in healthy, productive ways. You also will participate in planned activities and encouraged to explore activities you will enjoy in your life post-rehab.
It’s like learning to ride a bike with training wheels: You won’t just be pushed down the hill with the hopes that you won’t topple over! But once you’ve regained your balance, you can enjoy the ride, the breeze, and those sturdy pedals beneath your feet.
6) You will have time to focus on you.
Rehab is like going on a date with yourself. And just like you want to be able to go on a date without distractions or other to do’s over your head, inpatient rehab keeps you from struggling to juggle your recovery along with other responsibilities.
Think of this as an opportunity to get to know yourself better. It’s also an opportunity to grow in your knowledge about addiction and recovery. In inpatient rehab, you can press “pause” on everything else in your life, and you can take a good look at you.
7) Friends, family, and mentors rally around you.
Another great reason to attend a local treatment center is that it allows your friends and loved ones to play a part in your recovery process. If you have a supportive family, friends, or mentors, their involvement in your treatment can provide you with motivation, encouragement, and positive reminder of what is important in your life.
What to Do Next
Think closely about what would work best for you or your loved one, and don’t underestimate the value of getting the location of the center just right. We currently have Landmark Recovery locations all over the country. Remember that regardless of whether you choose inpatient rehab or outpatient rehab, you get out what you put into the program. Embracing the process and keep an open mind.
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, we can help. Contact us today to learn more about our inpatient rehab and outpatient rehab programs.
