Outpatient addiction treatment facilities, or outpatient rehab, refers to programs that patients attend regularly for some sort of treatment session, but leave at the end of their appointment. Those taking part in outpatient treatment still live independently, but agree to program rules and see counselors and other professionals regularly to continue treatment and hold themselves accountable.

If you think that outpatient addiction recovery sounds like the right option for you, consider the pros and cons.

The benefits of outpatient treatment include:

• Time. It is possible for someone to go through outpatient rehab and continue to go to work or school and otherwise continue their normal life.
• Money. Outpatient rehab is usually cheaper than inpatient rehab because the patient is paying only for treatment.
• Support System. For those with a strong support system, outpatient treatment can be a good option because they can continue to be around these supportive people while they recover from their addiction.

The potential downsides to outpatient treatment can include:

• Unsupervised Time. Any time during treatment that’s spent away from the treatment facility puts the recovering addict at risk for a relapse. Outpatient treatment means that the patient has a lot of unsupervised time that could easily turn into seeking out or using drugs or alcohol again, which is exactly what the patient is trying to avoid.
• Unenforced Appointments. Nobody’s perfect, and even the most committed patient can oversleep or have car trouble and miss an appointment. Once a patient has missed an appointment, they’re much more likely to relapse. Living away from the facility where they’re receiving treatment - choosing outpatient rehab - makes this possible and likely.

Inpatient drug addiction treatment is what most imagine when they hear the word rehab. It involves the recovering addict or alcoholic living in a treatment facility while they detox, withdrawal, or otherwise recover. Inpatient treatment facilities are staffed with trained medical professionals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and provide constant supervision and support.

Inpatient rehab has been very helpful for many former addicts or alcoholics - in fact, inpatient treatment has the highest success rate of any addiction recovery option. This means that of all of those undergoing treatment for addiction or alcoholism, those who complete an inpatient program are least likely to relapse.

That said, though, inpatient treatment isn’t for everyone. Consider the pros and cons of inpatient treatment, below.

The benefits of inpatient rehab include:

• Constant supervision. This decreases the risk of medical emergencies during withdrawal. It also lowers the likelihood of a relapse during recovery, because there is always someone nearby to hold recovering addicts accountable. There is also no chance that patients will come into contact with drugs or alcohol inside the facility.
• Structure. Most inpatient rehab facilities provide their patients with a full schedule of activities, including different forms of counseling and activities with other patients. This full schedule means that patients have less time to think about the substance they were abusing or addicted to and are learning healthy coping strategies for cravings once they return to normal life outside of the facility.
• Time away. Often, those who are addicted to drugs or alcohol recover best by removing themselves from their normal life, including any activities they did or people they saw regularly. Inpatient rehab allows the patient to focus on themself and not be influenced by friends, family, or environment.
• Support. Inpatient rehab facilities offer constant support for those going through withdrawals or cravings. This decreases the chance of a relapse because someone is always there to encourage and enforce sobriety. Each person around is also prepared to provide medical assistance, coping activities, or other solutions.

The potential drawbacks to inpatient rehab can include:

• Time. Those staying at an inpatient rehab facility while they recover must have the time to take off of work or school to recover. They are almost never allowed to leave the treatment facility during their stay, and will have many other things to do while they’re there.
• Removal from Support System. For many people, being away from their loved ones during treatment can be difficult. In inpatient facilities, patients have limited, supervised contact with anyone outside the facility in the hopes of cutting off all contact with anyone who would encourage the patient to relapse and decreasing the chances of drugs or alcohol being snuck into the facility.
• Money. Because inpatient treatment is all-inclusive, it is usually the most expensive treatment option for those recovering from drug addiction, drug abuse, or alcoholism. Not only does the price include treatment, but also room and board, food, and other normal living costs. It’s important to keep in mind that you’ll likely be paying many of these costs regardless.

Despite the high success rate of inpatient addiction treatment, it’s not the right option for everyone. Because addiction is different for everyone, the route to a successful recovery will be too.

You know your body and addiction best, so while it’s wise to listen to the counsel of others, don’t let others’ opinions sway you from what you know to be the best option for you.