Should you go away for drug and alcohol treatment? Isn’t staying close to home, near family and friends, the better option?
Making the decision where to get treatment for a substance use disorder (SUD) is challenging but a critical one to make based on several factors. You certainly want to choose an accredited treatment center with a strong evidence-based treatment plan. You may wish to choose a treatment center that follows a care model for the type of substance you’re battling.
Beyond all of those factors, one of the most important decisions you will need to make is whether inpatient or residential drug treatment is the right path for you or if staying home is better.
What Is Inpatient Therapy for Addiction Like?
Inpatient therapy for addiction focuses heavily on helping individuals step away from their current environment to an area where they don’t have access to substances but do have access to support, therapy, and ongoing skill-building. Many people choose a 30-day treatment center, though programs could be three times as long, depending on your needs.
During this time, you’ll live at the treatment center. You can still speak to your family and friends, and family visitation is possible. It’s like taking a trip away from home to stay in another home-like environment. However, there is a lot of work to do, and that work is life-changing.
The benefits of inpatient drug treatment include:
- Your care is private. No one has to know where you are or what you are doing unless you tell them to. For some, this protects reputation and employment.
- Distance. That distance allows you to work through trauma and pain without distraction from family and friends.
- Fewer triggers. Being away from home also enables you to step away from the locations, behaviors, reminders, and other circumstances that directly affect your ability to recover.
The disadvantages of inpatient drug treatment include:
- It takes bravery to step away. It’s not easy to be away from the support groups you likely have had.
- For some, family is an ally. If your family is drug-free and wants to help you, leaving home is challenging. If they are your support system right now, it can be terrifying to be far away.
- It’s harder to maintain responsibilities. If you are one of the many who need to continue to work and care for family members, inpatient care is often challenging to make possible.
What Is Outpatient Therapy for Addiction?
Outpatient therapy allows you to live at home and visit a treatment center for help. Depending on the type and level of care you need, you may benefit from an intensive outpatient program, which requires more time spent in care. Others benefit from traditional outpatient care, often meeting with a therapist every few days.
Outpatient therapy allows you to participate in individual care with a counselor, along with group therapy with others. There’s quite a bit of opportunity within this process for those who have the support they need at home.
The benefits of outpatient drug addiction treatment include:
- You can live at home. For some, this means remaining surrounded by family and friends. You may also be able to continue to work around your treatment schedule.
- Insurance coverage may be available to you. Some policies only have very limited inpatient treatment coverage, but most cover outpatient care.
The disadvantages of outpatient drug addiction treatment include:
- It may not be effective for all. For many people with moderate to severe SUD, inpatient therapy is a necessary stepping stone, one that often comes after detox.
- Outpatient care requires a drug-free environment. If you do not have a supportive, drug-free environment to live in, this can make it more challenging to recover, especially due to addiction triggers.
Which Type of Drug Addiction Treatment Is Best for You?
There is no one-size-fits-all approach. For most, a full therapist and medical provider assessment will help you understand your specific needs. This often leads to a recommendation for care based on factors such as the severity of your symptoms, the presence of mental health disorders, and the complexities of life at home.
How The Ranch at Dove Tree Can Help You
At The Ranch at Dove Tree, our team of compassionate and experienced drug and alcohol addiction specialists is ready to create a plan individualized to your needs. When you meet with us, we go to work exploring your specific physical and emotional needs. We then offer a treatment plan that fits your lifestyle and objectives.
Contact our admissions team today to learn more about how The Ranch at Dove Tree can help you.
