Drug and alcohol treatment generally falls into one of two categories: inpatient or outpatient treatment. Both focus on rehabilitation and help people in recovery unearth the root causes of their addiction, and both help people develop effective methods of coping with life’s stresses and drug/alcohol triggers through counseling, holistic therapies, and other methods.
The main difference is that inpatient programs provide intensive residential care designed to treat serious or life-threatening addictions, while outpatient treatment is non-residential, part-time care that allows people to live off- site and continue working or going to school while in treatment.
Who Needs Inpatient Treatment?
Inpatient rehab is appropriate for people who have serious addictions, especially those who are physically dependent on drugs or alcohol. A person who is physically dependent on alcohol, for example, cannot safely detox on their own; he or she will require medically supervised alcohol detox in an inpatient alcohol treatment facility to manage potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms.
Inpatient substance abuse treatment programs are overseen by qualified medical professionals and provide round-the-clock care and support in a residential treatment center.
How Long Does Inpatient Treatment Last?
The typical inpatient rehab program can last anywhere from 30 days to 6 months. How long a person will need in inpatient rehab depends on several factors, including:
- The severity of their addiction
- The presence of co-occurring mental health conditions (e.g., depression or anxiety)
- History of rehab/relapses
Life During Inpatient Treatment
Inpatient care usually starts with medically supervised detoxification (“detox”) overseen by a team of doctors, nurses, and addiction specialists. The care team may provide medications to ease withdrawal symptoms, as needed. The goal is to ensure the person’s safety and make the detox process as comfortable as possible.
After detox, patients usually transition to an in-house therapy program, during which they can expect to attend individual counseling sessions and possibly group therapy sessions, both of which have their own unique benefits.
Inpatient treatment schedules are usually very full—a typical day might begin with breakfast, followed by chores and an individual or group therapy session. The afternoon might include a nutrition and wellness program and exercise, and another therapy session. The evening might include dinner, followed by a 12-step meeting (AA/NA) before bed.
After Inpatient Treatment
After completing a residential treatment program, many people choose to continue their treatment in an outpatient program, which provides ongoing structure and support while allowing those in recovery to work or go to school and live at home.
Counseling is a core part of outpatient treatment. At BlueCrest Recovery Center in New Jersey, our compassionate counselors work with clients one-on-one and in groups to address issues surrounding family relationships, romantic partnerships, work-related issues, legal troubles, and more.
We take a holistic approach to treatment, tailoring programs to meet each client’s emotional and spiritual needs as well as their physical needs. We utilize a range of proven therapeutic modalities, including dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), and motivational interviewing (MI), along with 12-step groups. We offer a holistic track, which includes (but is not limited to):
- Music therapy
- Meditation
- Art therapy
- Yoga
- Eastern philosophy
- Experiential education
Outpatient treatment can help ease the transition back into “normal” life after residential care. BlueCrest’s outstanding outpatient programs provide structure and support in a safe, welcoming environment.
If you or someone you love is struggling with substance abuse, we can help. Please contact us at (973) 298-5776 to learn more about our drug and alcohol treatment center in New Jersey. We are well-connected to facilities providing inpatient rehab in New Jersey and are glad to make referrals for our clients.
The path to healing continues at BlueCrest Recovery Center.
