The Ins and Outs of In and Outpatient Care

For an alcoholic, the decision to finally ask for help with overcoming the addiction is a major step in the right direction. Nonetheless, the road to recovery is not an easy process.

Undergoing Alcohol Detoxification

For many alcoholics, the first step toward recovery is alcohol detoxification. If the alcoholic is a binge drinker, which means he or she drinks occasionally but drinks to excess on these occasions, alcohol detoxification may not be necessary. This is particularly true if the alcoholic has not binged within the last week or so. An alcoholic that drinks on a regular basis, however, is most likely going to need to undergo detox.

In the alcohol detoxification process, the alcoholic receives medical assistance with overcoming the physical withdrawal symptoms associated with abstaining from alcohol. Of course, the physical aspect is only one battle the alcoholic must face. The underlying reasons for the addiction must also be explored and overcome. In order to address this component of alcoholism, the alcoholic may choose inpatient or outpatient care.

Outpatient Care

A person receiving outpatient care that also needs to undergo alcohol detoxification may remain in the hospital setting for the first one to two weeks while going through the detoxification process. After this is complete, he or she will then return to living at home while returning to the hospital or other setting in order to receive counseling. The counseling is usually in the form of both group and individual therapy. Through group therapy, the alcoholic can gain support from other alcoholics and learn from their mistakes and successes. With individual therapy, on the other hand, the alcoholic can set personal goals and work on his or her own personal issues.

The number of days per week that the alcoholic will be called upon to participate in counseling will depend on the severity of the addiction, as well as that individual person’s needs and the policies of the facility. Regardless, the benefit to outpatient care is that it allows the patient to continue with his or her “normal” life. The patient can remain at home with his or her family and can still hold down a job. In addition, the patient does not have to explain why he or she has been seemingly gone for a long period of time. A person that does not have a strong support system at home, however, may find it difficult to succeed with outpatient care.

Inpatient Care

With inpatient care, also sometimes referred to as residential treatment, the alcoholic actually lives at the facility or hospital for a period of time. Here, he or she receives the same sort of treatment program as with outpatient care. The treatment will, however, be more intensive. In addition, the patient is monitored 24 hours per day, which makes it more difficult for him or her to “slip up” and have a drink.

Inpatient care is often recommended for those with a severe alcohol addiction and for those that have tried outpatient care and have relapsed. It is also a good option for a person that is surrounded by other addicts and, therefore, will have a difficult time resisting temptation during outpatient care. For those individuals that live a far distance away from a rehab center, inpatient care may also be necessary simply because traveling to and from outpatient care will be too difficult.