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When you think of “rehab,” you may picture a residential environment where you eat, sleep, and undergo therapy with other people in a center. You may imagine dorm rooms, cafeterias, and AA-style group therapy sessions all in one place. This type of treatment program is known as “inpatient rehab,” and it’s what’s depicted in pop culture when “sending someone off” to rehab.

However, the truth is that inpatient rehab for alcoholism—known as Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)— is an extremely expensive and time-consuming program. It’s only one of a variety of options available, and it’s not as easily accessible as you may think.

It’s important to consider the pros and cons of inpatient rehab to make an informed decision on your recovery path. Let’s explore what inpatient rehab is, its disadvantages, and its alternatives.

What is Inpatient Rehab?

Inpatient rehab is for patients who need a level of care including round-the-clock access to clinicians, need a break from their environment and triggers, or need to be watched for safety or medical purposes. Here, patients live, eat, and sleep at the center between 30-90 days and undergo various treatment plans ranging from group therapy, detox, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), holistic therapies, and more.

Pitfalls of Inpatient Rehab

Unfortunately, inpatient rehab has many limitations that make it difficult or unrealistic for many patients needing treatment for alcoholism (AUD).

1. High Costs: Inpatient rehab can cost anywhere from $10,000-$30,000 and insurance does not always cover it. Some facilities require upfront out-of-pocket expenses, accept a small number of insurances, or have strict payment policies. Learn more about the cost of alcohol rehab in our other article on the topic.

2. Social & Professional Disruptions: A huge part of inpatient rehab is that it requires you to put your life on pause for an amount of time. Work, family, and other responsibilities are placed on hold while you practically move out to undergo rehab. It’s a major risk to take, and, unfortunately, many people don’t have the luxury to do so.

3. Isolation: A benefit of inpatient rehab is that you’re removed from outside distractions affecting treatment, but a downside is that you’re removed from outside distractions affecting treatment. The isolated nature of residential rehab facilities can sometimes be more harmful than helpful, as you’re removed from reality where triggers and relapse risk can occur. In fact, almost 60% of people relapse within 1 week after an inpatient detox program.

The Appeal of Outpatient Programs

The biggest alternative to inpatient rehab is outpatient programs. At Master Center, you’ll find the best parts of inpatient services, just in an outpatient setting. Most outpatient providers focus on one or a few services, meaning that you may need to work with more than one service provider to find everything you need.  Services include medical care, group and individual therapy, care coordination, addiction psychiatry, intensive outpatient programs, community support, and more.

A lot of people may not know that outpatient treatment is even an option. Many tend to think that rehab is where you go away and stay for weeks at a time, but not everyone can be away from their job, family, or other responsibilities for that long. Local treatment removes these barriers for a lot of people, and there are many benefits to this alternative.

1. Flexibility and Personalization: Outpatient treatment allows patients to go at their own pace in the comfort of their homes. Plus, with developments in technology, telehealth is now an option for many rehab centers. They can schedule appointments, attend group therapies, and, at the discretion of their provider, even detox from wherever they feel comfortable. 

2. Lower Barrier to Entry: Inpatient rehab facilities not only have excessive costs but also long waitlists at times. With outpatient, many insurances provide a percentage of or full coverage, and there’s a much less likely chance of being put on a waitlist. Master Center even offers walk-ins and same-day appointments, so it’s much easier to access treatment when you’re ready. 

Other Alternatives to Inpatient Rehab

Within outpatient rehab, there are other ways of accessing treatment plans and programs that don’t require the high demands of inpatient rehab.

• Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs): PHP allows patients to attend a structured alcohol addiction program for 8 hours a day while also living at home under medical supervision.

• Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs): IOPs offer intense treatment that includes 4 hours of therapy multiple times a week and the option for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in an outpatient environment.

• Relapse Prevention Programs: Relapse prevention programs teach people the strategies and skills to avoid relapse and maintain long-term sobriety. They help patients identify triggers, develop coping mechanisms, and create a solid support system for their recovery journey through support groups and peer recovery coaching.

You can explore more about alcohol rehab options in our other article on the topic.

How to Choose the Right Program for You

There’s no one correct method to life-long recovery, but there are ways you can choose the path you want to take that best fits your needs, situations, and goals.

You may not want to spend thousands of dollars or want to take a 4-week leave-of-absence from your job to receive treatment. You might have children, family, or pets to take care of, and physically removing yourself from your day-to-day life might be unrealistic. Consulting with your insurance company, family, work supervisors, healthcare providers, and friends is the best way to ensure that you fully educate yourself before deciding.

Overall, outpatient alcohol treatment is an option that is often more effective and realistic than residential alcohol rehab. It keeps patients in their normal environment while receiving the care they need. The support of family and the outpatient program, while practicing the skills learned in the program, adds value, and may improve outcomes. Of course, everyone is different, so always do your homework and choose what is right for your personal recovery journey.

Concerned About Alcoholism (AUD)? Get a Consultation from Master Center for Addiction Medicine

Addiction is a chronic disease that can be treated, but never cured. And, when left untreated, AUD (like any substance use disorder) gets worse. If you have some of the symptoms of alcoholism (AUD), you may be wondering if you really have an addiction or something else and what to do now, before things get worse.

If you’re feeling this way, it’s time to speak with an addiction specialist – the same way you might consult a specialist in heart disease or diabetes for those medical concerns. A specialist in addiction medicine can provide a proper diagnosis of addiction and recommend an appropriate treatment pathway.

Seeking aid for alcohol dependency can be intimidating, but it’s the first step to restoring your health and well-being. Give us a call at 804.332.5950 to discuss your options.

About Master Center for Addiction Medicine

Master Center for Addiction Medicine is a fully outpatient leading addiction treatment center in Virginia, offering comprehensive and personalized care for individuals with substance use disorders including alcohol, opioids, pain medications, and others. This evidence-based approach provides a physician-oriented response to addiction, staffed by experienced addiction physicians, psychiatrists, counselors, therapists, and peer recovery coaches.

With 10 locations in the state of Virginia, programs are designed to meet individual needs and lifestyles, and they accept most insurances to make treatment accessible to as many individuals as possible. If you have questions about alcohol rehab costs and treatment options, you can reach out to Master Center at 804.332.5950 or [email protected].