Inpatient
Inpatient treatment is when an individual is admitted as a patient overnight for one or more nights for treatment and observation at a program or medical facility. Inpatient treatment is generally reserved for people with acute medical concerns due to withdrawal from substances, existing health factors, or a combination of both. Inpatient treatment may include detoxification, or may be suggested prior to being accepted into a formal detox or other treatment center (such as residential treatment).
Individuals with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) often start with a medical detoxification process to detox the body from drugs and/or alcohol in a safe, comfortable manner. Ongoing inpatient treatment provides a structured environment that is focused on individual, group, and family therapy in addition to educational sessions, recovery and/or 12-step activities, and community sessions. Depending on the inpatient program, individuals may also receive psychiatric, nutritional, spiritual, and other services when needed. These sessions are overseen by a qualified team of masters-level clinicians, therapists, social workers, case managers, and medical professionals.
Some individuals with SUD find inpatient treatment to be more effective than outpatient treatment during the early stages of recovery. The home environment may be full of triggers to alcohol and/or drug use, as well as people who enable addictive behavior. These triggers can severely impact the healing process. Leaving these distractions behind to live temporarily at a residential facility helps an individual focus on their recovery.