Why You Need Inpatient vs. Outpatient Detox
Have you reached the conclusion that you want to live sober and start recovery? All recovery processes begin with a single step: detox. Like with all addiction treatment, however, patients like you have a choice to make between inpatient vs. outpatient detox.
Why does recovery start with detox? Addiction stems from chemical adaptations the brain makes in the continued presence of addictive substances. As you use more and more of a drug or alcohol or use it more often, the brain’s neurotransmitters change how they release their chemicals. The rest of the body also grows used to the presence of addictive chemicals. During the addiction, this growing tolerance forces the user to use more and more often to achieve the same high. Withdrawal is expressed as cravings that continuously drive the substance use disorder.
Once you decide to quit, however, the true cost of the body’s adaptations is revealed. Physical dependence means that, without the addictive substance, the body stops functioning at 100%. This in turns produces a number of withdrawal symptoms that begin anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days after you last consumed your substance of choice.
Inpatient vs. Outpatient Detox
As we mentioned above, all addiction treatment programs and facilities share the dichotomy of inpatient vs. outpatient. Inpatient means that you live in a rehab facility full-time for the duration of the treatment. You live under secure supervision and participate in a daily schedule of addiction therapies and assorted activities. Outpatient means that you live elsewhere and come to the facility for treatment part-time. Outpatient programs occur both during the day and at night, allowing working people to avail themselves of the programs. What are the differences between inpatient vs. outpatient detox? Read below to find out.
Inpatient Detox
Inpatient detox is the most common method of detox services. The major benefit of inpatient detox is that it provides medical supervision and security during withdrawal. In addition to comfort, medical supervision helps keep patients alive by heading off seizures and delirium tremens. A stay in an inpatient detox facility lasts for the duration of withdrawal, which is normally between a couple of days and a whole week. Inpatient detox is recommended especially for people with weak support networks, or addictions to alcohol, heroin, and benzos in particular. Those three drugs are notorious for having severe withdrawal symptoms which can in some cases be fatal. At San Antonio Recovery Center, we offer the following detox programs:
Outpatient Detox
Outpatient detox allows the patient to continue their daily life while also going through therapy. For parents, students, and working adults, this flexibility is crucial in deciding between inpatient vs. outpatient detox. In general, inpatient detox best serves people with strong support networks who can ensure relapse doesn’t occur outside the facility. Patients undergoing alcohol, heroin, or benzo detox are urged not to try outpatient detox; their withdrawal symptoms are too potent.
There are also clinics that offer medication-assisted treatment. This method of detox involves slowly weaning someone off of a more powerful substance with a weaker substance of the same chemical class. These clinics offer methadone, Suboxone, or other replacement drugs. Their patients often go through inpatient detox afterward to prevent methadone addiction.
Inpatient vs. Outpatient Detox at San Antonio Recovery Center
If you want to start the recovery process, get started with San Antonio Recovery Center. We take pride in helping people like you overcome their addictions, starting with our detox programs. Following detox, we also offer residential rehab and outpatient programming, centered around therapy and other activities.
Call San Antonio Recovery Center at 866.957.7885 for help choosing between inpatient vs. outpatient detox. Your journey to a sober life begins with a single phone call.
