Deciding between inpatient and outpatient treatment is a key step in your recovery journey. Both can help with substance use disorders as well as mental health needs, and the right fit depends on your circumstances.
Discover Recovery offers medical detox and upscale residential care in Camas, WA and Long Beach, WA, and outpatient services at our treatment center in Portland, OR. Here we explain the key differences between inpatient and outpatient care levels and how to decide which is right for you.
What is inpatient rehab?
Inpatient rehab, also referred to as residential treatment, is a live-in level of addiction treatment where you stay at a treatment facility for a set period, usually at least a month. Inpatient substance abuse treatment offers a controlled environment away from addiction triggers, with structured daily schedules and medical care onsite.
Key features of inpatient care:
- Length: Inpatient programs often range from 30 to 90 days, depending on individual needs and clinical recommendations.
- Daily structure: Schedules usually include morning check-ins, therapy blocks, skill groups, wellness or fitness sessions, and evening recovery activities.
- Therapies: Inpatient programs typically include some combination of individual therapy, group counseling, psychoeducation, and family therapy.
- Holistic and experiential therapies: At Discover Recovery treatment centers, additional wellness options include art therapy, yoga, sound baths, equine therapy, and other whole-person approaches to healing.
- Discharge planning: At the end of inpatient treatment, your care team helps you transition to outpatient programs such as PHP, IOP, or a sober living program to continue the recovery process.
Discover Recovery’s addiction treatment program includes psychiatry and medication management as needed to address co-occurring mental health disorders. Treating addiction and mental health together is a more effective approach, in line with NIDA’s Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment.
Who is inpatient rehab best for?
Inpatient treatment programs are often recommended for severe addiction, people at high risk of complicated withdrawal symptoms who require medical monitoring, or those with co-occurring mental health conditions who need more structure.
What is outpatient rehab?
Outpatient rehab is addiction treatment that you attend while living at home. You travel to the treatment center for scheduled treatment sessions, then return to your daily life. Outpatient treatment programs range from a few hours per week to full-day programming, depending on need, and let you continue school, work, and family life while still receiving structured therapy and support.
Levels of outpatient care
Standard outpatient treatment typically includes individual and group therapy sessions each week, and in some cases family therapy, medication management, and broader case management services.
There are also more intensive levels of outpatient treatment that offer more of the benefits of inpatient care while still allowing you to live at home:
- Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs): A full-day, high-intensity option that offers multiple therapy hours most days of the week.
- Intensive outpatient treatment programs (IOPs): A step down from PHP that typically meets several days per week for several hours each day (9-20 hours per week total).
- Outpatient detox: Some providers offer medically supervised outpatient detox, though many people need inpatient detoxification to safely manage withdrawal symptoms.
Discover Recovery provides PHP and IOP at our Portland, OR center, including dual diagnosis and medication management for mental health disorders. We also offer sober living programs in Camas and Long Beach, WA, for clients transitioning from medical detox and residential treatment programs who can use extra support during recovery.
Common outpatient treatment services
Outpatient drug rehab commonly includes group therapy, individual counseling, education, and relapse prevention support. Some outpatient programs offer broader case management.
Like our residential rehab, Discover Recovery’s outpatient treatment includes expert professional dual-diagnosis support when both addiction and mental health needs are present.
Who is outpatient rehab best for?
Outpatient treatment is a good fit for people with mild to moderate substance use disorders, a stable home, transportation, and a reliable support system. Our outpatient programs work well for clients who can engage in treatment while maintaining responsibilities at home, school, or work.
Inpatient vs. outpatient rehab: pros and cons
Inpatient treatment |
Outpatient treatment |
|
|
Pros |
24/7 medical care and supervision; structured schedule eliminates decision fatigue; safer detox for severe withdrawals; more intensive therapy; fewer distractions and triggers |
Flexibility to maintain work, school, and family life; recovery skills integrated into real-world settings immediately; more affordable |
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Cons |
More expensive; requires substantial time off work and other outside responsibilities; possible limited visitation |
Less medical supervision; potential exposure to triggers at home and elsewhere; requires stronger personal discipline and support system |
Whether you choose inpatient or outpatient rehab, keep in mind that not all treatment facilities treat co-occurring disorders. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers help finding treatment centers for people looking to address drug or alcohol addiction and mental health together.
Next steps: deciding between treatment options
Inpatient and outpatient treatment programs both help people move forward in their recovery journey. If safety, medical care, and structure are top needs, inpatient treatment may be the right fit. If you have a strong support system and need flexibility to attend treatment while living at home, outpatient care like PHP or IOP can work well.
We’re available 24/7 to talk through treatment options with you, answer questions, and help you determine which type of care is best for you.