Why is Outpatient Treatment Important for Recovery?

Drug or alcohol addiction rehabilitation will help you fight a disease that is hard to overcome on your own without professional treatment of the disease. When a person is addicted to a substance they may need inpatient treatment. However, outpatient treatment is equally if not more important for sustained sobriety.

Outpatient programs offer some advantages that inpatient does not.

Outpatient Care Advantages

Outpatient care has some distinct advantages that are not part of inpatient treatment. First, recovering alcoholics and those with drug addictions will be able to live at home while they receive treatment. This is an important benefit that they can continue to work and support themselves and their dependents. Students can continue attending school and receive treatment in an outpatient setting without disrupting their studies.

Living at home a person can receive family support as the patient is involved in treatment. This is usually very helpful to the family and the family members can participate in groups for loved ones that is critical because this is a family disease.

Outpatient care also helps patients to learn skills to cope with life’s issues without the use of substances. Patients learn how to take care of themselves both physically and mentally as they deal with life on life’s terms. Different triggers and situations that lead to using in the past can be discussed and formulate a healthy way to cope instead of the unhealthy use of drugs and alcohol.

Sober support networks need to be formulated outside of the treatment facility. Some of these are 12 step programs like AA or NA, returning to church, the support of sober family and friends. Sometimes medication management by a doctor and individual counseling with a therapist can help with sustaining a sober life.

There are different types of outpatient treatment programs. Some are held in the evenings and there are also daytime groups. Spiritual and cognitive behavioral health programs are common. Most outpatient treatment programs are 12 step based and deal with the healing of the mind body and spirit.

Before selecting a level of care for treatment, it is critical that an assessment is performed by an addiction professional to make the appropriate recommendation for care.