Pros and Cons of Inpatient Rehabs for Addiction Recovery

When addiction has seemingly taken over and there’s nowhere else to turn for help, suddenly treatment won’t seem all that bad—the truth is, treatment isn’t all that bad and it never was! Inpatient rehabs for addiction recovery can provide an array of potential benefits for those in need, and while there could be some cons, in most cases (especially when addiction is creating a path of destruction in your life) the pros far outweigh the cons.

Pro: Removal from Situation

When choosing a rehab program, there are many things to consider. Cost, support, and whether or not you have co-existing conditions are some considerations.

People who receive treatment in a residential treatment program are removed from the lifestyle and situations that have been problematic in their lives. This can greatly reduce the risk of relapse and improve the overall chances of recovery.

Pro: Relapse Prevention Therapy

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, inpatient rehabs can include both short-term intensive treatment or longer-term treatment programs in which, “models use a variety of therapeutic approaches.” Generally, inpatient rehabs provide extensive in-house therapy including RPT or Relapse Prevention Therapy which focuses on helping, “individuals [to] learn to identify and correct problematic behaviors,” according to Evidence-Based Practices for Substance Use Disorders.

Con: Can be Costly

Unfortunately, inpatient rehabilitation can be expensive and may not always be readily available or attainable for some users. According to NIDA, “treatment needs to be readily available. Because drug-addicted individuals may be uncertain about entering treatment, taking advantage of available services the moment people are ready for treatment is critical.” If treatment is unaffordable, cannot be immediately obtained or is otherwise out of reach the individual may change his or her mind and fall back into a lifestyle of substance abuse.

Con: May make Family life Difficult for a Period of time

According to the UNC School of Medicine, patients, “must be able to benefit from inpatient treatment here, and this should be the least restrictive approach to treatment for the patient.” Sometimes, inpatient rehabs for addiction recovery are not the least restrictive approach to treatment that can be utilized and, therefore, are not the most suitable choice for the patient.

Spending time in an inpatient program can make family life difficult. For men or women who have children, there can be a void in the home when a parent is absent. While this is a con, it’s not necessarily a deciding factor as a mother or father who is addicted can be just as absent as one who is in treatment and as such this potential should be considered.