Outpatient vs inpatient rehab

On This Page:

• Which addiction treatment option is best for you?
• Inpatient & outpatient rehab: Two roads to recovery
• Inpatient vs outpatient treatment: What is the difference?
• Inpatient rehab
• What to expect from inpatient rehab
• Outpatient rehab
• In-person and digital (via telehealth) outpatient services
• What to expect from outpatient rehab
• Difference between inpatient and outpatient rehab in detail
• Inpatient vs outpatient—fighting alcoholism and drug addiction

Which addiction treatment option is best for you?

Recovery Centers of America’s mission is to save 1 million lives from the disease of addiction using evidence-based practices and clinical expertise to deliver quality patient care tailored to individual patients’ needs. We know that alcohol and drug addiction is a chronic disease that affects millions of Americans. Too many times addiction can lead to the destruction of a person’s life as well as the lives of loved ones.

After continued use of drugs or alcohol, chemical changes occur in a person’s brain. The search and need for alcohol and drugs can become a compulsive and uncontrollable need, leading many people to spiral out of control.

Before alcohol or drug addiction reaches this critical apex, it’s best to get help as soon as possible before life becomes completely unmanageable. It is never too late to make a positive change in life when it comes to addiction—a new day is always right around the corner.

Inpatient & outpatient rehab: Two roads to recovery

Because addiction is a chronic disease, people can’t simply stop using drugs for a few days and be cured. Patients need long-term therapy and/or repeated medical care to stop using completely and recover their lives.

When faced with making a critical change in their lives, one thing is true: it’s harder to go it alone than accept help.

Recovery Centers of America knows people can recover from alcohol and drug addiction, but it’s not simple. Addiction treatment must help the person do the following: they need to stop using alcohol and drugs, they need to stay sober, and they need to become productive in the family, at work, and in society.

The best option for someone that needs help for an addiction is to enter an inpatient or outpatient treatment program.

Inpatient vs outpatient treatment: What is the difference?

Drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs typically fall into two categories: inpatient or outpatient treatment. What is the difference between inpatient vs outpatient rehab treatment?

While each type of program has its benefits, the specific type of treatment required needs to be considered based on a patient’s individual needs at that time. Many times, it is best that both inpatient and outpatient treatment be used to complete a successful recovery from addiction. However, outpatient treatment can be used on its own when intensive inpatient treatment is not needed. RCA’s clinical staff will work with each patient to determine what the best level of treatment is to help set them up for a successful recovery.

At RCA we offer both inpatient and outpatient rehab and concentrate on helping you rebuild your life. To determine whether inpatient vs outpatient treatment is right for you, it’s important to talk to a professional. Call RCA at 844-429-3795 and get connected with someone who can help.

Inpatient rehab

For most people suffering from addiction, detox at an inpatient rehab (also referred to as residential treatment) provides a great start to achieving sobriety and beginning on a path toward lifelong recovery.

Inpatient rehab or residential rehab is a very important step in treatment that gives a person complete focus on comfortable and supported withdrawal from drugs and alcohol, education on the disease of addiction, and the development of strategies to continue in ongoing recovery.

If you require an acute level of care with moderate to severe addiction, inpatient rehab is probably best for you. It provides an immersive and comprehensive treatment experience with a stay of about 30 days depending on need.

What to expect from inpatient rehab

During an inpatient treatment stay at RCA, patients who are dependent on drugs or alcohol typically start with a medical detoxification process. This process works to detox the body from drugs and alcohol in a comfortable manner with 24/7 round-the-clock support. Depending on what drug you are detoxing from, your clinical team may suggest you receive medically assisted treatment for a specific time. Again, this will be a decision you and your RCA clinical team make together.

Inpatient treatment with RCA provides patients with a structured environment to keep everyone dedicated and focused on recovery. We offer immersive care that concentrates on individual, group, and family therapy to get to the root of addiction and help mental and emotional healing.

Patients at RCA learn about addiction through educational programs. To help heal the whole person, inpatient treatment with RCA may also include recovery and 12-step activities, physical fitness, and community sessions.

Patients also receive psychiatric, nutritional, spiritual and other services when needed. At RCA, our comprehensive treatment is delivered by a highly qualified team including masters-level clinicians, therapists, social workers, case managers, medical professionals such as nurses, nurse practitioners and doctors.

Outpatient rehab

Outpatient treatment is a great choice for people with substance abuse problems that are milder, where they have not become dependent on drugs or alcohol, but realize they have a growing problemOutpatient treatment is also a powerful tool in continuing progress when transitioning from an inpatient rehab facility. Either way, outpatient treatment offers unparalleled convenience and flexibility. Patients live at home or at a sober home and continue to work or go to school, all while getting treatment for addiction.

outpatient behavioral treatment includes a wide variety of programs. Patients meet with healthcare providers specializing in addiction and mental health on a regular basis to get the treatment they needOutpatient treatment programs include all the programs of inpatient treatment, only less intensive. That means education and counseling in the form of individual therapy sessions, group therapy sessions, and family therapy—all tailored to address addiction and mental health issues.

Recovery Centers of America offers both in-person and digital (via telehealth) outpatient services

Addiction doesn’t stop for anything—and neither does Recovery Centers of America. In an effort to further protect patients and staff members from COVID-19 exposure, outpatient treatment services at RCA are now offered both via in-person at select locations to a limited number of patients per day and via telehealth. This means you can still get the same, evidence-based outpatient treatment from our beautiful facilities or from the comfort and convenience of your home. For individuals transitioning from our inpatient care facilities it allows you to stay engaged with the RCA family of professionals you have come to trust and the alumni peer group to which you belong.

With the addition of digital outpatient services, previous constraints to receiving care from Recovery Centers of America are no longer a barrier. Whether it is distance to our sites, health concerns, transportation challenges or other personal responsibilities holding you back, digital outpatient services from RCA are now available for you.  All you need is a smartphone, tablet, computer, or laptop. Learn more about how our telehealth services works here.

No matter if you choose between in-person or digital outpatient services, you can be confident in the quality of care you’ll receive. And, with either choice you will benefit from same day assessments, flexibility in scheduling appointments, and the fact that because RCA is in-network with most major insurance plans, treatment is affordable.

What to expect from outpatient rehab

When you start outpatient treatment with RCA, you’ll receive a comprehensive biopsychosocial and medical assessment, where appropriate, to determine the best level of clinical care for you. RCA’s evidence-based treatment provides:

Individual therapy sessions help patients explore any underlying issues that could be behind their addiction and set them up for success as they progress through treatment.

Group therapy allows patients to share their experiences with their peers and learn how they’re not alone when it comes to the struggle of addiction. There’s strength in numbers, and building a supportive community is essential for personal recovery.

Family therapy sessions address a range of influences on a patient’s abuse patterns and is designed to improve overall family functioning. Working with your family helps repair damage while strengthening your own foundation of recovery. RCA has a comprehensive Family Program designed to help families heal and recover together.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) may be offered as a part of inpatient treatment when clinically appropriate and if available at the RCA facility.

12 step fellowship such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), or others. Patients can participate by attending meetings and doing 12-Step work with a sponsor to increase their likelihood of long-term success in recovery, achieve freedom from active addiction and/or alcoholism, help others to achieve sobriety, and cultivate a sober support network. There is no parallel to the support of alcoholics and addicts helping each other.

Difference between inpatient and outpatient rehab in detail

Below is a snapshot of inpatient vs outpatient rehab:

Inpatient treatment	Outpatient treatment
Appropriate for patients requiring an acute level of care or with a moderate to severe addiction	Appropriate for patients requiring a less intensive level of care
Provides patients with an immersive, comprehensive treatment experience as patient stays in the facility (typically for 30 days)	outpatient treatment is effective at providing long-term, structured support and flexible scheduling as patient continues to live at home and goes to treatment for a varied period and varied frequency throughout the week
More frequent, longer individual therapy sessions	Less frequent individual therapy sessions
More frequent, longer group therapy sessions	Less frequent group therapy sessions
Typically, more expensive than outpatient treatment*	Typically, more affordable than inpatient treatment*
Patient remains in treatment for an extended period (typically 30 days) and accordingly, is separated from regular day-to-day life activities	Patient maintains a more ‘regular’ schedule
24-hour medical supervision and community support	Accessible to a recovery support network
Typically, a 30-day program	Typically lasts a longer period of time than inpatient, can be up to 1 year or as needed
24 hours a day, 7 days a week	Typically ranges from 3 to 30 hours a week

*Recovery Centers of America is in-network with many major insurance companies. Accordingly, inpatient treatment services may be more affordable than outpatient treatment services over time, based on your individual insurance plan coverage. Call 844-429-3795 today to speak with a Care Advocate to verify your insurance benefits and determine which treatment is right for you.

Note: In many cases, a combination or ‘step-down’ from inpatient treatment through a series of progressively less intense outpatient treatment services ensure patients have the highest chance for success in achieving and maintaining long-term sobriety.

Inpatient vs outpatient—Fighting alcoholism and drug addiction

RCA strongly believes that no matter which type treatment you choose, when it comes down to inpatient vs outpatient rehab, the most important outcome of treatment is breaking free from the chains of addiction.

At RCA we believe our comprehensive treatment and various levels of care will help those suffering from addiction finally achieve and maintain recovery. For inpatient treatment this could mean 30 days and for outpatient treatment it could mean up to a year or longer. RCA will stand by you however long it takes.

Successfully fighting drug and alcohol addiction is a lifelong process. Addiction never quits and neither can you! If you are thinking about entering either an inpatient or outpatient rehab program now is the time. Make the call that will change your life. Call RCA at 844-429-3795 and get connected to someone who will help.