When an addict finally decides to seek out the help he so desperately needs, he will have two primary types of addiction treatment programs to choose from: inpatient and outpatient.
Understanding the differences and similarities of these two programs will help make it easier for the addict and his loved ones to identify which is best for his individual needs.
Differences between Inpatient and Outpatient
The most obvious difference between an inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment program is the location of the patient during treatment.
As the name implies, those who receive help through an inpatient treatment program remain at a treatment facility 24 hours per day. The exact number of days the patient remains at the inpatient treatment facility depends on the policies of the rehab center and the individual needs of the patient.
In general, these programs last three to six weeks. After the intensive inpatient treatment is complete, it is generally suggested that the patient receive extensive outpatient treatment.
An outpatient addiction treatment program, on the other hand, allows the patient to remain at home while undergoing treatment.
This makes it possible for the addict to continue working and to be with his family while undergoing care.
As with inpatient treatment, the number of days the addict attends treatment per week and the length of the program depends on the rehab center policies and the individual needs of the addict. 80% of people participating in an addiction recovery program opt for outpatient treatment.
With this type of treatment, the patient remains home at night, but attends treatment more frequently than a person undergoing standard outpatient treatment. Generally, a person in a partial hospitalization program attends the program three to seven days every week for three to twelve hours per day.