Does Every Addict Need Residential Treatment?

Residential treatment is extremely effective when it comes to addiction. It allows patients to focus solely on recovery without the distractions that are present in everyday life. For many with extremely severe addictions, inpatient treatment is necessary to successfully overcome their addiction. However, not every addict requires residential treatment. In fact, for some addicts, residential treatment would be overkill and outpatient addiction treatment is a much better option for them.  

Understanding Outpatient Treatment Programs

Much like inpatient treatment programs, outpatient treatment programs are structured programs that help individuals recover from substance use disorders and addiction. However, unlike residential treatment, outpatient treatment provides a large amount of flexibility. Patients do not stay at the facility 24/7 and do not live there. Instead, they continue to live at home and are able to maintain their daily responsibilities, such as work, school, or family obligations. This allows them to continue their day-to-day life while still receiving the therapy, support, and treatment they require to overcome their addiction. 

Levels of Addiction

When deciding between inpatient or outpatient treatment, one should consider what level their addiction is at. While there are differing opinions on how to define the levels of addiction, the following is a commonly accepted outline of the levels of addiction.

• Experimentation: This is when someone first begins using addictive substances. They usually try the substance because of curiosity, peer pressure, or social reasons. Many people will never leave this stage and it does not require addiction treatment.
• Regular Use: This is when someone begins using an addictive substance more frequently. They begin to develop a drug tolerance and become used to the substance’s effects. People in this stage still have control over their use of the substance but may begin to justify their use of it. 
• Problematic Use: At this level, use of the substance begins to affect daily life, including work, relationships and finances. The person may begin experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using. Additionally, they will begin ignoring consequences such as missed responsibilities and legal issues.
• Dependence: The person begins to become psychologically and physically dependent on the substance. They experience withdrawal symptoms when not using and require the substance in order to feel “normal”. The person continues using despite these negative consequences.
• Severe Addiction: The person has no control over their use of the substance. Substance use has taken priority over responsibilities and relationships. If use of the substance ceases, they experience severe withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and potential health risks. At this level, professional treatment is usually required to recover.
• Crisis: At this point, the person has reached rock bottom. Their addiction has led to life-threatening consequences, including overdose, legal trouble, and total loss of function in daily life. 

How quickly someone moves through the levels of addiction can vary widely. Some may reach crisis level in a matter of weeks, while for others, it may take years. 

Why Residential Treatment Isn’t Always Necessary

Residential treatment isn’t always necessary because some addictions are not severe enough to warrant it. In these cases, inpatient treatment can do more harm than good. For example, enrolling in residential treatment may cause someone to lose their job, have relationship issues, or lose their support system. These are severe consequences that can really change someone’s life. For this reason, residential treatment should only be used when someone’s addiction is so severe that it really is the only option. 

Benefits of Outpatient Treatment

Those who participate in outpatient treatment experience a number of benefits. The most appealing benefit for many is the level of flexibility, which allows one to still attend to day-to-day responsibilities such as work and familial obligations. Another benefit is the ability to practice coping mechanisms in the “real world”. Inpatient treatment centers offer a very safe environment. This can lead to people feeling overwhelmed when they leave the facility. However, outpatient treatment allows someone to practice the skills they learn as they learn them, lowering the chance of a drug relapse. 

Preparing for Outpatient Treatment

Preparing for outpatient treatment is much easier than inpatient treatment. The main preparation will be ensuring that your schedule allows for time to go to the treatment facility in order to receive treatment. One should also remove themselves from any drug-using friends or other influences that may trigger a relapse. Doing this will ensure that outpatient treatment has the best chance of being successful.