Whether you choose inpatient or outpatient rehab should depend on your personal situation. But it helps to know what the benefits are for each type.

Benefits of Outpatient Rehab

Inpatient and outpatient rehab centres can both be effective addiction treatment options, but determining which is best for you requires knowing the key differences between the two.

Inpatient addiction treatment, such as The Cabin’s drug and alcohol rehab in Thailand, requires people to enter a residential facility where they will stay for the duration of their treatment. This provides the opportunity for people to get away from their normal environment and access to drugs, alcohol or other addictions and completely focus on getting sober. At an inpatient centre all of the daily activities are centred on developing the skills necessary to enter addiction recovery, and clients receive intensive individual and group addiction counselling. For people with severe addictions who need medically assisted detox, those who have chronically relapsed, or those whose home environment is enabling and fuelling their addiction — inpatient treatment may be necessary.

However, for many struggling with addiction, outpatient rehab is a suitable alternative to intensive inpatient treatment. Addiction treatment at an outpatient rehab centre, or ‘dayhab’, provides holistic and effective intervention that is comparable to that received at an inpatient centre, and generally includes both individual and group counselling. Of course, outpatient rehab is not for everyone, and some people will need the structure, medical support, and time away from home that an inpatient centre offers in order to begin their addiction recovery.

As you decide which type of treatment is best for you, it is important to understand the many benefits that attending an outpatient rehab can offer.

15 Benefits of Outpatient Rehab

1. Offers the chance to tackle addiction early.

Getting help for an addiction is never easy, but the earlier you take the first step the better. Outpatient centres offer the opportunity to address your substance dependence before it causes you to lose everything or develop an addiction that is so severe that inpatient treatment is the only viable option.

2. Located conveniently within your community.

To attend a residential rehab, many people have to travel to a completely new location to complete their treatment. Outpatient rehab centres however, are typically located within your community making it easier to access addiction treatment while staying close to your social supports.

3. You can continue your career or education.

One of the biggest benefits of outpatient rehab is that it allows individuals to get the treatment they need without taking long breaks from work or study. Group and individual addiction counselling sessions are conveniently scheduled during the evening and on weekends to allow those who simply cannot put their careers on hold to attend treatment.

4. Allows greater access to family support.

Social support is paramount for successful addiction treatment and recovery. For those who have the support of family and friends, outpatient rehab inherently allows for greater contact and access to these supports as compared to inpatient units.

5. You live at home.

When receiving addiction treatment at a dayhab, you will attend your treatment during the day or evening and return to the comfort of your own home at night.

6. You can continue to attend to family responsibilities such as parenting.

Because you will go home each night and can usually continue working while receiving treatment, parents and heads-of-house have the advantage of continuing to support their families and children while also tackling their substance abuse problems.

7. Greater flexibility.

Inpatient centres are generally very structured environments, which some people need in order to get sober. But outpatient rehab offers greater flexibility for high-functioning addicts who need to continue doing what is working well for them while also learning new skills to help them get and stay sober.

8. You learn the skills required for a sober life through therapy and education.

Dayhabs will generally offer similar types of therapy as inpatient rehabs. This includes individual and group therapy and an important focus on learning about the disease of addiction so you are prepared for the life-long journey of recovery.

9. Less stigmatisation.

Many people avoid entering an addiction treatment centre because they fear the social stigma associated with addiction. Receiving outpatient addiction treatment in a dayhab may carry less stigmatisation as you can receive treatment more discreetly, without taking long periods of time off from social and work obligations.

10. You begin practicing recovery skills in the real world from day one.

The transition from the safety and security of inpatient drug rehab to the ‘real world’, where temptation is rampant, is often extremely difficult and many people will relapse in the first three months of this transition. Attending outpatient rehab has the advantage of forcing you to practice recovery skills while you simultaneously live in your everyday environment and face everyday struggles and temptations.

11. Offers a good way to transition from a higher level of care.

If you have recently completed an inpatient drug or alcohol rehab, then continuing your treatment at a dayhab is an ideal way to make the transition to a sober life. You will continue to receive intensive counselling and support while you begin working again or taking on more responsibility.

12. Low cost.

Outpatient addiction treatment is usually cheaper than residential, as you continue to work and live at home. However, just because it costs less does not mean the treatment is subpar. Outpatient rehabs offer high-quality treatment that rivals the type of treatment provided in residential centres.

13. Gives you confidence.

By attending group and individual addiction counselling in an outpatient setting, you will gain the confidence needed to succeed and enter long-term addiction recovery. Taking this first step to acknowledge your loss of control over substance use can be the perfect catalyst to changing your lifestyle for the better.

14. Personalised treatment plan.

Addiction treatment is not one-size-fits-all. You will receive treatment that is personalised to meet your specific needs, and you can begin to build coping skills and utilise supports specific to your community from day one.

15. Greater anonymity.

For some, it can be difficult to take time off from work and personal responsibilities to attend residential rehab without an explanation. Outpatient treatment centres offer enhanced anonymity for those who wish to keep their addiction treatment completely private.

After considering the benefits of outpatient rehab, it is always best to consult an addiction treatment specialist to help you determine which type of treatment would be best for your own personal situation.