Inpatient Addiction Treatment Pros and Cons
Substance addiction is no different from hypertension and diabetes since all of these are considered chronic diseases which need to be treated. Unfortunately, there are about 21 million people in the United States who suffer at least one substance addiction in their lifetime, but only 10% of this number receive adequate treatment.
The rapidly increasing overdose deaths caused by substance use disorder have incredibly tripled since 1990 and that is an alarming rate. Substance use disorder is a serious mental condition that affects the quality of life intended for a person to experience. Anyone suffering from substance addiction is highly encouraged to seek professional help.
What is Inpatient Addiction Treatment
Although it is one crucial thing for someone to decide to go into treatment, it is also another crucial matter to decide which treatment option to take. There are a lot of factors to consider to make that choice but the most important step is to work hand in hand with one’s physician so that the treatment plan chosen can ultimately attend to the needs of the patient.
The most common treatment option for individuals with substance use disorder is inpatient treatment. This requires patients to stay in a treatment facility for an average of 30 days for the treatment to be effective. People who are advised to take inpatient care are those who have severe conditions which need to be attended by doctors round-the-clock.
The conditions in the treatment facility are controlled since patients follow a set of routines without any interruption from the day-to-day experience outside. Some treatments take place in a psychiatric facility located in a special area inside a hospital while there are also residential facilities that provide a more homey environment to the patients.
How Does Inpatient Treatment Work
There are two general things to expect inside an inpatient facility. First is the detoxification process and the second is the rehabilitation routine. The detox process usually lasts for up to two weeks. This is when the patient is constantly monitored to prevent complications brought by the discomfort of withdrawal.
The rehabilitation routine, on the other hand, engages patients in counseling and therapies which can be done individually or in groups.
They are also actively engaged in tasks that allow them to establish a healthy lifestyle such as exercises and meditations, as well as new hobbies such as sports, music, or arts and crafts.
The Advantages of Inpatient Treatment
Maximum inpatient care is provided to patients who stay in a rehabilitation facility. One can be assured of the safety of the treatment since professional medical workers can attend to patients immediately when necessary. The following are more specific points to look at when it comes to the advantages of this kind of treatment.
Highly Supervised Medication
The initial phase of the treatment is the detoxification process where patients can commonly experience the discomfort of withdrawal. With inpatient care, medically-assisted treatment is more effective since all medications are given at the prescribed time and responses to the treatment are always observed.
As soon as negative reactions to the medication occur, physicians can immediately intervene to make the discomfort more bearable. It is a guarantee that all patients get full attention from professional staff for 24 hours. Be it doctors or therapies, all behaviors are annotated which helps assessment of the patient more accurately.
Sometimes, substance use disorder coexists with other mood disorders such as depression and anxiety, and both conditions must be treated at once to attain full recovery. Integrated medications given to patients with co-occurring disorders can also be supervised more effectively in an inpatient facility.
Free from distractions
It helps a lot when the patient is conditioned in an environment where they are free from the distractions of their usual responsibilities. They are more focused on the goal of recovering from their addiction and they are more directed to attend to tasks structured by the facility as part of their routine. Getting back to their usual addictive habits is much prevented.
Belongingness to a Community
Staying in a facility where people are grounded on the same goal – recovery from addiction – patients may get to know people who share similar struggles and find comfort in understanding themselves way better. They can also create friendship among these people and this can help them in their therapy even as soon as they exit the inpatient facility.
The Disadvantages of Inpatient Treatment
More Expensive
Treatment inside a rehab facility can be expensive since you will be paying for the cost of the medication, the services given by the staff, as well as the amenities inside the facility itself.
However, there are a lot of options available to fund this kind of treatment. Aside from insurance, some facilities offer alternative arrangements to afford the cost.
Structured Environment
Some patients may find it uncomfortable to follow a new routine inside a rehab facility. Once a patient is admitted inside, the choice to go outside and attend to personal needs is not possible. All responsibilities at work and home must be left behind and this can be a cause for concern to some.
Requires Transition to After-Care
There is an extreme level of adjustment that patients go through as soon as they set foot outside the rehab facility. The reality of usual responsibilities coupled with day to day struggles may trigger stress and open an avenue for a relapse. It is important to continue the prescribed after-care treatment to be dissuaded by the temptations of the world.
Addiction treatment is a challenging phase that patients, as well as their loved ones, need to courageously get through. Given the disadvantages of treatment inside a rehab facility, it is important to understand that the benefits of a full recovery are worth the journey. The chance to get back one’s control in life is worth any other cost there is.
Start Your Treatment Today
Despite the rigidity of an inpatient addiction treatment, still, it is most suitable for serious cases of substance abuse. For you to know if it fits you or your loved one, consult a doctor. They will give you custom-fit advice for treating substance abuse.
