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10 Things You Need To Know About In-Patient Addiction Recovery And Therapy

More Articles · By Sleep Health Energy Team · 4 min read

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Addiction is a treatable disease, and many people recover from it. For some people, treatment in an in-patient (residential) facility is the right place to start.

This guide covers ten things to know about this type of treatment, so you can talk it through with a doctor or addiction specialist. Long-term recovery is a plus for those looking to beat addiction and get on with their lives.

Let’s take a look now at the following list of things you need to know about in-patient addiction recovery and therapy.

They provide a safe and supportive environment

Anyone recovering from addiction wants to spend time in an environment that is beneficial to them. Thus, an in-patient facility can provide that. One of the main benefits is that it can offer round-the-clock medical and emotional support.

It also gives individuals the opportunity to recover from addiction in a more controlled and structured setting. For people who need that level of structure or medical care, an in-patient stay can be a strong option. It is not automatically more effective than outpatient care for everyone.

The programs involve a combination of different treatments

An in-patient facility will provide you with detoxification, therapy, and support group options. Detox helps you safely stop using a substance while staff manage withdrawal. It is only the first step.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, detox alone is not treatment, and without follow-up care it usually leads back to drug use.

You may go through withdrawal symptoms when this happens, which is why medical staff are available around the clock. Aside from this, you also have individual and group therapy options.

You can also meet with support groups that will help you through recovery. They can also be part of your own support network that also consists of your friends and family.

It can be expensive

Needless to say, addiction recovery doesn’t come cheap. Of the available treatment options available, inpatient recovery is one of the most expensive options. The reason for this is due to the medical treatment you’ll receive during your stay at the facility.

Many facilities accept insurance, and US health plans generally must cover some substance use disorder treatment, but coverage for residential care varies a lot from plan to plan.

Check whether the facility accepts your specific policy and what your plan will pay. You may also want to consider other financing options alongside insurance so you can cover your bases as much as possible.

Aftercare services are available

After treatment, it’s important to maintain your sobriety. It can be challenging at times. Which is why aftercare services are available.

This includes therapy programs, alumni programs, and even support groups. It’s always important to take advantage of these whenever you need them. Some support services, such as helplines and online meetings, are available 24 hours a day. In the US, the free SAMHSA National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) is open around the clock.

There are no one-size-fits-all solutions

In-patient addiction recovery programs are not a one-size-fits-all solution. There are different programs that will be best suited from one individual to another. There will be several factors that can play a role in how a recovering addict receives treatment.

These factors include the severity of their addiction, medical and mental health history, and their personal preferences among others. That’s why a pre-treatment assessment will be needed before anything else is done.

This way, it will help design a treatment plan that will best fit your critical needs and preferences. Be open and honest during the assessment so the plan fits your real needs. NIDA notes that treatment should be tailored to each person’s drug use and related medical, mental and social problems.

It’s a good option regardless of how severe the addiction is

Inpatient care is not only for the most severe addictions. It can also make sense when withdrawal could be risky, when home life makes recovery hard, or when outpatient care has not worked.

Many people with milder problems do well in outpatient programs, so a professional assessment should guide the choice. Withdrawal from alcohol, benzodiazepines and opioids can be hard to predict, which is one reason medical supervision matters. It can also be useful when you want to be absolutely strict with your addiction recovery.

Some people simply recover better away from their usual triggers, in a structured setting.

There are several different inpatient programs

There are different inpatient programs that exist. Aside from drug addiction, there are inpatient facilities for those dealing with alcohol problems. Some programs also treat behavioral problems such as gambling or eating disorders.

There may be some differences from each program. Yet, some of the concepts still remain the same. One being the structured and controlled environment a patient will be in during their treatment period.

It can address co-occurring disorders

A person dealing with an addiction may also have a mental health disorder as well. Good programs screen for both and treat them together.

A mental health disorder should not be ignored in favor of your addiction problem (and vice versa). Ask any facility you consider how it treats co-occurring conditions.

It can lead to life-changing experiences

An inpatient program can be a turning point. That’s because you’ll be part of a community that will help you work towards your goal of beating addiction. You’ll also meet with recovering addicts that are aiming to live a healthy, fulfilling life.

The staff is professionally trained

The medical professionals, the therapists, and everyone in between are trained in their respective roles. Ask about staff licenses, the facility’s accreditation and whether it offers medications for opioid or alcohol use disorder.

Staff are available around the clock. Whether inpatient care is right for you depends on your situation, so talk with a doctor or addiction specialist before you decide.

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