If you are seeking treatment for a drug or alcohol addiction, you may have considered an inpatient treatment facility. With this type of rehab center, residents live at the facility during the duration of their treatment, which typically lasts around 30 days. During this time, their recovery is monitored closely by professionals.

If you are thinking of an inpatient facility, consider the following pros and cons:

Pros:

• Help through the hard parts. The first step of a rehab program is the detox period, in which you wean yourself off of the substance that was addictive. This period of time is considered the most difficult, as it is physically and emotionally draining. An inpatient facility provides constant monitoring by professionals during this time, making it easier to deal with.
• Difficult to get access to substances. Inpatient treatment centers control and monitor the center and anyone coming and going to ensure drugs and alcohol are not allowed on the premises. Removing this temptation makes it easier to get through the treatment program.
• Support 24 hours a day. The beginning of any addiction recovery program is difficult. An inpatient program offers support and medical assistance around the clock.
• Better environment to recover in. The support of peers and counselors, as well as a structured environment free of temptation and access to substances, makes it a much better environment to recover in.

A few of the cons of an inpatient facility include:

• Cost. Some rehabs cost tens of thousands of dollars. What’s more, many insurance companies don’t cover this type of treatment program, so it must be paid for with loans or out of pocket.
• Confining. Some residents may feel like they are being too closely monitored or “punished” for trying to get help by taking away a sense of their freedom. With a negative attitude towards rehabilitation, it makes it harder to recover.

Knowing the pros and cons can help you make a better decision regarding inpatient treatment.

Selecting a rehab center to help you through the addiction recovery process can be daunting. There are basically two main types of rehab facilities: outpatient and inpatient. In an outpatient center, the patient receives therapy and treatment and then goes home, whereas with an inpatient facility, the patient lives there until treatment is complete.

When deciding if an outpatient facility is for you, it’s important to take into account the pros and cons:

Pros

• Flexible schedule. An outpatient facility is a good choice if you have responsibilities and obligations such as school or a job you have to go to each day. An outpatient allows you to make appointments based on your schedule.
• Family responsibilities. If you have a family you must take care of, an outpatient facility will allow you to go home to them each day, get them ready for school, and so forth.
• Cost. Outpatient centers are more affordable than inpatient, and most insurance companies will cover the cost.

Cons
• Greater temptation. The biggest threat of outpatient is the uncontrolled environment. This is especially true in the beginning of treatment and during the difficult detox period, when it’s easier to go back to old habits when not under constant monitoring.
• Less monitoring. An outpatient facility does not provide the constant monitoring that an inpatient facility provides. This is important because 24/7 monitoring of the facilities and patients’ coming and going means less chance of relapse. Once they leave the outpatient facility, patients may go back to surroundings that don’t monitor usage.
• Less support. 24/7 support is important to help recovering addicts get through the most difficult parts of their treatment. Outpatient facilities don’t have the 24/7 support that is so important for recovery.

Choosing the right outpatient facility is an important part of recovery. Weighing the pros and cons of each type can help you choose the best one for you.