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The Pros and Cons of Outpatient Rehabs

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Treatment for Three Decades and Counting

If you or a loved one is experiencing addiction, we’re here to help.

The US National Library of Medicine estimates that some 20 percent of people who live in the United States have taken prescription painkillers for reasons that have nothing to do with pain. Sometimes, this experimentation leads to addictions that only intensive treatment can heal, but people who need help may wonder if an outpatient program could really provide them with the intensive support they’d need to really change their ways.

Pros of Outpatient Treatment

intensive support in outpatient treatmentOutpatient prescription drug rehab is often less costly than residential prescription drug rehab. There are no fees involving room and board, and the facility isn’t required to keep professionals on hand around the clock. The overhead costs are lower, and those savings can be passed down to clients who need help. In addition, the costs that are involved might be covered, at least in part, by health insurance providers.

Those who participate in outpatient drug rehab might also be able to pay their bills, because they might be able to schedule their care in such a way that it doesn’t conflict with work. Responsibilities involving elderly family members or children at home might also be attended to while the addiction is addressed. In the same way a person has juggled addiction and life’s tasks, that person might handle the demands of rehab and outside obligations.

An outpatient program also provides people with the opportunity to put their skills to the test on a daily basis. Rather than spending the majority of the day in a sterile, sober environment, people in outpatient care are still working, living and socializing. They have the opportunity to try out their skills right away, and that might make those lessons stick.

Cons of Outpatient Treatment

For many, the daily stresses of life play a big part in their prescription drug addiction habits. Choosing outpatient prescription drug rehab means dealing with pressures every day, including the following possibilities:

  • Housemates who take prescription drugs
  • Dealers who call with enticing offers
  • Online pharmacies that offer quick and free shipping
  • Environments that remind them of the good times they had while on drugs

Rehab clients might also be enticed to see a doctor for a new prescription for painkillers, and that visit might be successful, as a study in the journal Medical Care found that 20 percent of doctor visits due to pain result in an opioid prescription. These drugs are just easy to get.

In addition to outside pressures, the help provided in an outpatient program just might not be intense. With a finite amount of time each day, many programs can only hit the highlights, expecting clients to supplement treatments at home. Additionally, the amount of support in terms of psychological treatment, therapy and other holistic addiction treatment amenities may not match the healing a person needs.

Rehab at Michael’s House

At Michael’s House, we provide both residential care and outpatient care for prescription drug abuse, and our counselors can provide an assessment that can allow you to make a good decision about the best care for you. If you’d like to talk to someone about this, please call us. We have years of experience, and we’d be happy to talk things over with you.

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