Is Inpatient Rehab a Last Resort?
Some people think of inpatient care as a last resort and often it is but it does not have to be true. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, inpatient treatment is extremely effective for treating all manners of drug abuse. This makes it the perfect first choice in certain circumstances. Although many people prefer outpatient treatment there are some that only inpatient care will help. Knowing which type of treatment to try first is extremely important. If that type of treatment works well for you, there might be no need for further rehab.
Why Try Inpatient Care?
There are many reasons to try inpatient care. During inpatient care, you receive a level of service that is not available in a nonresidential program. Some of these services are:
- daily individual and group counseling
- daily exercise instruction and routines
- aquatics and other water activities including spas and whirlpools
- alternative therapies such as music, art, hypnosis, and equine therapy
- herbal and eastern medicines and treatments
- nutritional programs and dietary counseling
- medical help for physical illness
- medical help for psychiatric illness
- medical help during withdrawal
- helpful staff 24 hours a day
There are many other reasons to try inpatient care first. Everyone has their own reasons for seeking treatment; these are just a few of the common benefits.
Circumstances where Inpatient Care is Necessary

You should seek inpatient care if you live in an environment where it’s easy to access drugs.
There are certain circumstances where inpatient care is necessary. Many patients who come to inpatient care are:
- homeless and in need of a place to stay during detox
- in jobs that require extreme privacy, such as high profile careers like police, court officials, doctors, and medical personnel
- in an abusive environment, many people become drug or alcohol addicts due to mental or physical abuse
- in a home where there is drugs or alcohol readily available
- in a neighborhood where it is easy to acquire drugs or alcohol
These circumstances are very good reasons to try inpatient rehab first. Other factors might make you consider inpatient treatment first. These factors include:
- inability to deal with your triggers
- too many triggers in your home environment
- people that would encourage drug or alcohol use
- problems at home that are too stressful for you to control your drug or alcohol abuse
Each of these can only be solved in inpatient treatment. There are situations where outpatient treatment is just not the logical choice for treatment. Before choosing outpatient treatment there are some negative things about inpatient care to consider. These are:
- you have to be able to take the time off school or work to seek treatment
- you cannot leave treatment without having to start over if you come back
- you are away from your friends and family for at least a little while
Although these disadvantages exist, they are not significant for those in dire need of treatment. Many people look to other options before they turn to inpatient treatment, even though inpatient treatment is the best first course of action for them. For more information on inpatient treatment or to locate a treatment center near you, call us at800-430-1407Who Answers?.
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