Types of Treatment Outpatient vs Inpatient

• Dr Padam Singh

Types of treatment: Outpatient vs Inpatient

Inpatient vs Outpatient

To meet the individual's needs, substance abuse treatment can offer multiple levels of care. Some people require 24/7 care, while others need 24-hour support (also called inpatient rehabilitation). Others can meet their goals by attending regular activities on specific days (also known as outpatient treatment ). Some clients start at the inpatient level and then move to outpatient programs, which offer greater autonomy and more accountability. Some clients will be transferred to outpatient care. They will continue receiving the same services throughout the day but will return home at night.

The treatment team evaluates all incoming clients during the admission stage to determine the most effective level of rehabilitation. In addition, the client will be evaluated throughout the process to determine if the current level is best.

Inpatient Programs

Inpatient substance abuse treatment aims to provide structure and stability for clients. The inpatient environment is controlled to ensure clients can focus on their rehab. Inpatient care is provided in a hospital, rehabilitation center, or other facility dedicated to clients' well-being. The clients follow a set of recovery-based activities. They usually start in the morning and end at night. These activities could include:

• Morning meditation

• Individual therapy sessions

• Group therapy

• Substance abuse education

• Experiential therapy (art therapy and recreational therapy, animal-assisted therapy, and many more)

• Exercise sessions

• Nutritional counseling

Inpatient programs offer overnight accommodation and meals. Clients are accommodated in private or semiprivate rooms and dine at designated dining facilities. Many clients are restricted in accessing computers, smartphones, and televisions during their free time. These restrictions are intended to support healing at all levels and minimize stressors or triggers in daily life.

• Hospital programs. Hospital programs are offered in facilities with other medical, surgical, and psychiatric departments. A substance abuse treatment unit may be found in some hospitals. It provides detox services and rehab services. These programs are great for patients with a history of heavy substance abuse or serious mental or medical conditions.

• Short-stay residential treatment programs: Short stay residential treatment programs provide recovery services that typically last two and 28 days. The clients live in the facility and participate in therapy, support groups, 12-Step meetings, and relapse prevention classes. Clients who are motivated to recover but need intensive, short-term treatment before moving to outpatient care may be able to benefit from the short-stay program.

• Long-term residential treatment facilities long-term residential programs allow for stays of up to 30 days. The average stay is 90 days. Clients who stay longer have more time to learn and practice the coping skills to remain sober after moving into the community.

Outpatient Services

Clients who don't live in the facility full-time define outpatient services. Depending on the program's intensity, clients may spend their time attending therapy sessions, participating 12-Step meetings or group sessions, or meeting with case managers and social workers. Outpatient treatment can be divided into the following levels:

• Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs: Clients meet at a hospital or treatment center during business hours and then return home to their homes or sober transitional residence at the end of the day. Clients typically attend multiple therapy sessions each day. While PHPs can vary in length, most last between 2 and 4 weeks. A PHP is often the next level of care for clients after completing a detox or inpatient rehabilitation program. While PHPs are more flexible and independent than regular outpatient programs, they offer greater structure than regular inpatient programs.

• Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs). Intensive treatment often follows a successful stay at a residential treatment center. Clients may choose to live in a sober home or their own homes during therapy. Clients can manage their care and spend less time in treatment sessions—the IOPs last between 2 and 4 weeks. There is a lot of emphasis on prevention and helping clients transition back into the community.

• Regular outpatient programs. Regular treatment programs provide the most freedom with the least structure and restrictions. These programs are great for working adults with a high motivation to stay sober and who don't have the time or resources to attend more intensive outpatient treatment. To meet the client's individual needs and responsibilities, therapy sessions, medication management, 12-Step meetings, case management services, and medication management are offered on a more flexible schedule. The goal is to plan for successful aftercare and reduce the risk of relapse, just like intensive outpatient programs.

Which Treatment is Most Effective?

The effectiveness of outpatient and inpatient treatment has been the subject of much debate among substance abuse professionals. For the best results, the National Institute on Drug Abuse recommends residential care with stays of at least 90 days. Although many studies have shown that residential treatment is more effective in ensuring long-term abstinence than residential treatment, residential treatment is not the best option for everyone. Statistics show that outpatient programs are more popular than those inpatient programs. 

• Of this total, 81.6% (1,542 persons) received outpatient services.

• Of the 3,450 people receiving care, 24.4% were inpatients at residential facilities.

• 5.3% of those who received care (753 people) were inpatients in-hospital programs.

These statistics do not prove that outpatient care is better than inpatient. When choosing a rehabilitation program, it is important to consider the individual's past substance abuse, financial status, co-occurring conditions, and personal commitments. In addition, the client's motivation and ability to stay sober are important factors in determining if they will recover.

Sarwarpro The Right Care Level

How does a potential client know which level of rehab will yield the best results? The client's therapist, doctor, and other professionals involved with recovery should help him make this decision. After a thorough evaluation of the individual's psychological, medical and psychosocial conditions, these professionals can help determine where to start the continuum.

Inpatient care is best for clients who require 24-hour support and structure. Inpatient treatment has many advantages:

• Continuous monitoring by medical professionals to ensure client's safety during withdrawal

• A structured, supportive environment with few distractions

• You can focus full-time on therapy and other services for recovery

• Access to integrated therapy services for people with co-occurring mental illnesses

• Specially prepared meals and comfortable amenities (at selected residential facilities)

Outpatient treatment is more suitable for those who are stable in both their medical and psychological health and have other commitments that prohibit them from attending full-time treatment. These are the benefits of an outpatient treatment program:

• Fewer restrictions on time and commitments

• More chances to practice coping skills within a "real-world" setting

• Increased self-efficacy, autonomy

• More freedom in choosing recovery services

• Easier integration back into the community

• Insurance companies offer lower overhead costs and better coverage.

While payment shouldn't be the main concern for clients when choosing a rehab program to treat their injuries, many people choose outpatient care over inpatient because it is cheaper. Inpatient care is more costly because of the high cost of long-term stays at residential facilities. This includes overnight accommodation, full-time staff, meals, and other amenities. Many residential facilities try to make inpatient treatment affordable by accepting payments from many sources to offset the higher cost.

Sarwarpro provides The best treatment program is one which is customized to each patient. Therefore, the services, therapies, and length of stay provided should be tailored to the individual's needs.