Can I Recover With Outpatient Rehab Alone?

When you are struggling with a substance use disorder (SUD), rehab is your best chance for recovery. However, if you choose to enter an outpatient treatment program, will it be enough?

Inpatient rehab offers intensive, 24/7 treatment, medical assistance for withdrawal symptoms, and a full-time focus on recovery. Outpatient care helps those struggling to overcome their addiction while managing other priorities in their lives.

Can outpatient rehab really offer the same level of care and chance for success as the more intensive treatments? Measuring the differences between inpatient and outpatient rehab is worth considering.

The Benefits of Outpatient Rehab

Outpatient rehab is not a watered-down version of inpatient rehab. In fact, the success rates between the two are quite similar. It all depends on the client's needs at the time of treatment. 

The medical journal, Psychiatric Services, says that outpatient rehab is designed to establish psychosocial supports and facilitate relapse management and coping strategies.

For those who do not require medical supervision for drug detox and have a stable home environment and support system, outpatient rehab allows the client to work through their recovery while keeping their job, caring for family, and taking part in other activities.

Although outpatient treatment is loosely described as attending therapy during the day and going home at night, each program will differ. Some outpatient treatment programs will be more intense, with full days of treatment, five days per week, while others will be less often.

The shift of intensity during outpatient treatment depends on your needs and progress throughout the process. 

Outpatient rehab also offers a greater focus on involving families in the treatment program. Because you would likely be living with family during treatment, they can play a more significant role in your recovery than during inpatient treatment. 

Most outpatient treatment centers also offer group therapy. This provides you with a community of peers to provide support and to learn from. Hearing others' experiences can reduce isolation and inspire. 

With that, outpatient treatment requires an immense amount of determination. There is a lot of freedom in outpatient rehab, leaving you with the power to choose your actions. 

How Outpatient Rehab Works

Although outpatient rehab is considered less intensive than inpatient rehab, its focus is a bit different. Inpatient rehab offers a lot of clinical support and aid from professionals, while outpatient rehab relies heavily on your home life and family influence.

Outpatient rehab is highly successful for those with a supportive family unit and stable environment to go home to after treatment. 

Just like any treatment, outpatient treatment alone cannot be your sole means for working on recovery. Recovery has to be a priority in your life, whether you are in a treatment center or at home. 

Focusing on the treatment services, therapies, and interventions while in the treatment center is vital, but taking what you learn from those sessions and incorporating it into your life is how treatment works.

Like other forms of rehab, your outpatient care is customized for your specific needs. Even though you don't reside at the facility, you are under the supervision of professionals. Having access to them while maintaining your life's responsibilities can significantly impact your recovery.

Taking advantage of all that outpatient rehab treatment has to offer will further your recovery in the future.

Although the success rates of outpatient rehab are similar to inpatient rehab, recovery success is most closely correlated to continuing care. Once you graduate from rehab, being sure to continue being active in your community, participating in therapy, and going to peer meetings is what makes the true difference in overall recovery.

The vital thing to take away from outpatient rehab is that it is not a cure. Rehab is only the first step in a lifelong journey of recovery.

Addiction is a chronic disease with no cure but is manageable with the proper treatment, care, and focus.

Can Outpatient Rehab Work by Itself?

Yes and no. Yes, you do not necessarily need inpatient rehab to enter recovery and maintain your sobriety. Outpatient rehab will teach you all the other coping mechanisms and tools you need for it to be enough for you long-term. However, no one's addiction is the same, so while outpatient rehab can be enough for some, it cannot be enough for others.

If you are dedicated to focusing on your recovery and having a healthy home environment, outpatient rehab can be the ideal starting point for you to work off from for the rest of your recovery. Recovery is possible with the proper treatment and the will to apply that treatment to your life.

Outpatient rehab can be your main source of addiction treatment, but in order for it to be successful, you must be able to take those lessons and use them in your everyday life. Learning how to live your life in recovery is something that takes time in treatment and applying what you learned in treatment to your life is a vital aspect of your success.

Regardless of what level of rehab you’re aiming for, detox is always the first step in recovery. The critical time when addictive substances are allowed to leave the body, detox provides a firm foundation for successful long-term recovery. Finding a detox center can be a challenge, however.

Enter DetoxNearMe.com. A massive directory of reputable detox providers, we’ll help you find the ideal detox provider for your needs, situation and history. Start your search with DetoxNearMe.com today!