Drug and alcohol is a real problem in today’s society. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), just in 2016, over 48.5 million Americans abuse both prescription and illegal drugs. Xanax, Valium, Morphine, and Gabapentin are among the most abused prescription drugs in America. The reason for this is that these drugs have quite addictive effects. For example, these drugs reduce both stress and pain. Besides, when opioids are combined with other drugs, the effects of the latter are enhanced.
The reasons that drive people to become addicted to a certain drug are very different. For example, people use them to cope with stress, pain, and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Others use drugs for recreational purposes and get hook up to the drug after a prolonged time of abusive behavior.
There are two basic ways to treat addiction, inpatient, and outpatient rehab processes. Picking one over the other depends on the kind of treatment that you want, or what is really recommended to you. Sometimes, your doctor, or de rehab center, will recommend you to undergo both treatments. We will discuss this a little further in the next section.
What is Outpatient Treatment?
Outpatient treatment for alcoholism or drug rehab is a program where the person who has the addiction undergoes rehab form the comfort of his or her home. Hence, this type of program entitles the person with more liberty and privacy. However, in this format, attendance to counseling and therapy sessions is still a must.
Therefore, the main difference between inpatient and outpatient treatment is that in the first one, the person spends the duration of the treatment in the rehab center. Whereas in the last one, the person only goes to the rehab center for counseling, therapy sessions, or any other recommended activity.
Of course, the outpatient treatment sounds better. You will sleep in your bed, eat in your kitchen, go to work, and do almost everything in the exact same way as before. Most people like this kind of treatment because it is familiar, and people do not have to go outside their comfort zone.
However, this kind of treatment is only suitable in a few cases. For example, if the abusive behavior is just beginning, or it is just “minor” addiction. Of course, all addictions are bad. But some are worse than others. Another occasion where the outpatient treatment is suitable is as a complement to inpatient rehab. This means that when the inpatient rehab program had finished, the patient could enroll in an outpatient rehab format.
Therefore, for people with severe addiction problems, outpatient treatment is not recommended as the first step to rehab.
Benefits for Outpatient Treatment for Drug and Alcohol Rehab
Here are some of the few, and most important, benefits of outpatient rehab:
- Lower costs: In general, the total cost for outpatient treatment is lower than its residential rehab equivalent. This should not be the decisive factor to decide between rehab programs, though.
- Continue with your daily schedule: You can continue with your normal duties. You just have to take some time for therapy sessions and other activities.
- You will have more support: Because you will be at home, your family will become the most important support group. They will be there for you to help you overcome your difficulties. Besides, you can join other support groups around you, such as AA.
As you can see, you will have more liberty to complete your rehab program. However, you will face more temptations, which could cause a relapse; beware.
How Much Time Does Outpatient Rehab Take?
There is no easy answer to this question; it all depends on your particular case. Still, most outpatient programs take any time ranging from 1 to 3 months. Naturally, the worse your addiction problem was, the more time you will need to recover from it. For example, a 30-day program is more than enough for minor addiction rehab.
However, it is important to note that rehab is a never-ending battle, which means that you can’t ever let your guard down. But don’t worry, it gets easier as time passes by.
The Cost of Outpatient Treatment
Costs and duration are closely related. As one could expect, the longer the treatment takes, the more expensive it gets. The number of visits to the rehab center and the frequency of the therapy sessions (both individual and group) have an important impact on the treatment final cost.
The facility where you choose to attend meetings and other rehab activities is also important. For example, there are facilities known as luxury rehab centers. Naturally, you will have to pay a larger amount of money to carry out your treatment in such centers.
The most expensive outpatient program is intensive outpatient rehab. This kind of program is almost similar to the inpatient treatment, with the difference that the person goes home every evening.
Finding the Best Outpatient Treatment Near You
If you are on the lookout for a rehab center for you or a loved one, you should start looking on the web. For example, you have pages like help.org or alcohol.org, where you can find information about rehab centers near you.
All that is needed is to click on either link and search for rehab centers in your state. Yes, it is that simple! Alternatively, you can search for a support group near you, and ask either one of its participants where did they go for rehab. However, browsing the web is usually faster.
One more important thing before you go! Don’t be afraid of what people may think about you, and there is nothing wrong with wanting to find a better self!
About Our Clinic
Meet Faried Banimahd MD
Clinical Director & Founder of Zephyr Medical Group
Faried Banimahd MD
Clinical Director & Founder of Zephyr Medical Group
Dr. B (Banimahd) Started his long career as an academic emergency medicine physician. He initially practiced as a clinical professor and director of clinical research at UCLA/Kern Medical Center. He eventually made a lateral move to UC Irvine medical center as an assistant clinical professor of emergency medicine, where he continued to practice and train new physicians, undergraduates, and other health students. He eventually left academic medicine and went into private and non-profit practice of addiction medicine. In that space, he has been involved with methadone clinics, detoxes, and intensive outpatient programs. He made his mark in the field as a harm reduction advocate, medication assisted treatment, long term benzo tapers, and an all-around patient advocate long before any of these concepts were fashionable to promote. He has been called a “magician” by many patients in his ability to titrate and manage medications as well as handle complex polypharmacy and polysubstance abuse cases. Currently, he resides in Orange County, California and runs a medical practice (Zephyr Medical Group) primarily dedicated to substance abuse and complex polypharmacy, serving mostly the underserved. Such a practice is unique in its breath and scope. In addition, he does consulting, legal cases, institutional education and training, and oversees private tailored detox and rehabilitation involving patients from across the globe. He has been responsible for over 80,000 patients (about the seating capacity of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum) collectively throughout his career.He was also named one of Orange County’s Top Influencers in 2017 by The OC Register.
One of my favorite quotes by St. Augustine embodies my practice. “Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are.”
FARIED BANIMAHD MD