Inpatient vs. Outpatient Rehab in San Fernando Valley: Which Is Right for You?

You’ve accepted that you need treatment for your substance use disorder and are ready to take back control over your life. However, wanting treatment and actually getting it are two different things. However, researching outpatient and inpatient rehab in San Fernando Valley is overwhelming. 

It can be hard to figure out whether you need 24-hour medical supervision rehab, or if outpatient addiction treatment programs would be a better fit for you. If you’re having trouble deciding which San Fernando Valley addiction treatment is the right one, read on for an exploration of inpatient and outpatient rehab.

How do I choose between inpatient and outpatient rehab?

When choosing between inpatient and outpatient rehab, the best strategy is for a person to consider their needs as a patient. For example, if a person’s symptoms are more intense, they may consider inpatient care. On the other hand, if they are lighter, they may only need to visit the hospital during the day. 

Cost is also big factor in choosing inpatient or outpatient rehab. Because of its more hands-on nature, inpatient care costs more than outpatient care, even for the same services. Thus, it’s important for a person to weigh the amount of care they require with the cost of rehab if they want to choose between inpatient and outpatient rehab.

What is Inpatient Rehab?

Inpatient rehab is around-the-clock treatment in which a person stays overnight in the rehab facility. This is because patients in inpatient rehab tend to have more serious symptoms, requiring monitoring, continual treatment, and recovery time. Inpatient rehab is best for people who have tried outpatient rehab and found it ineffective, for people with compounding health issues, a home situation that makes it difficult to stay away from substances, and for people who live far from an outpatient clinic.

Inpatient treatment can last up to several weeks or even months. Afterwards, it should be followed by outpatient treatment.

Pros and Cons of Inpatient Rehab

In inpatient rehab, a person will have the space to focus completely on recovery from addiction. As well, because care is constant, staff will always be nearby to help with withdrawal symptoms. Inpatient care also means access to education, support, counseling, and assistance in developing strategies for recovery management. And these strategies do work. For example, a study summarizing various papers studying the effectiveness of rehab found that people undergoing inpatient care experienced a reduction in their drinking.

However, inpatient rehab isn’t perfect. By far the biggest problem with inpatient rehab is the cost. Because a patient in inpatient rehab stays in the hospital overnight, they will accrue fees for care that an outpatient will not. As well, just because inpatient rehab is more intense doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll be more effective for a patient. One study examining outpatient versus inpatient care found that the rate of people completing their detoxes was actually better in outpatient rehab, at least in the short term. 

On the other hand, another study found their outcomes to be comparable. A third study found that inpatient treatment (followed by six months of outpatient care) had a statistical advantage over outpatient care in the first month after treatment, but diminishing returns across time.

What is Outpatient Rehab?

Outpatient rehab is treatment where patients return to their homes in the evenings and do not stay overnight. A person in outpatient rehab may visit mental health clinics, counselor’s offices, hospital clinics, or local health department offices. Treatment may look like one or two group therapy sessions a week, lasting for a year or more. These sessions may be in the evening or on weekends, and can even be online, allowing a person to go to work while still receiving care.

Pros and Cons of Outpatient Rehab

The major advantage of outpatient care over inpatient care is that outpatient rehab tends to be more affordable than inpatient rehab. Because a person goes home between treatments, they may be exposed to the same stressors that contributed to their substance use disorder. However, this situation may at least help them build the skills necessary to handle these problems. Outpatient rehab is also more flexible, allowing a patient to continue working and stay close to friends and family while still receiving treatment.

Unfortunately, outpatient care has been found to be less effective than inpatient care, with inpatients three times more likely to complete treatment than outpatients. That’s why, if a person chooses outpatient care, they have to put in the work to participate. Going to sessions regularly, having a stable support system, a place to live free of drugs or alcohol, and reliable transportation to treatment, are all very important to outpatient rehab. In addition, getting additional support from organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous can also help.

Find the Program Right for You with SoberMind Recovery

Whether you choose outpatient or inpatient rehab depends on your needs as a patient. Someone with a rough home life and more intense symptoms is going to need around the clock care and a safe space to recover, making inpatient rehab the better choice. Another person may still need to work through their care, and may have a safe home life, making outpatient rehab the move for them.

Whatever the case, nobody should have to recover alone. If you or a loved one is struggling with substance use disorder, SoberMind Recovery can help. Offering dual diagnosis treatment and holistic drug rehab in Los Angeles, SoberMind Recovery’s comprehensive, personalized care may be just what you need. No need to look up ‘drug rehab near me,’ our San Fernando Valley drug rehab center, located right in Los Angeles, offers inpatient drug rehab and drug and alcohol treatment. Call us at +1-213-464-0962 to find out if SoberMind Recovery is the right fit for you, or visit us online to verify your health insurance.