subject: Residential Drug Treatment Vs. Outpatient Treatment Understand The Difference [print this page] Drug treatment programs are popping up all across the U.S., and the world. Some of these programs tout vacation-like resorts where those battling addiction can leave their toxic environments and focus on sobriety. Others promote the opportunity to get clean without having to leave home through outpatient programs.
But which is the right way to go? Which provides results that last?
Much of this debate depends on the structure and duration of drug treatment. It also depends on the philosophy of treatment. For starters, addiction is an ongoing condition. A person who wishes to achieve lifelong sobriety must recognize that his or her troubles wont be over the moment he or she leaves rehab. The battle is ongoing. Its day-to-day. A person must develop the necessary coping strategies to refrain from using drugs.
But the first step in all of this is quitting drugs. And often times the urge is too strong to use in a persons current environment. Thats why many people advocate residential detox programs to help a person get clean and safely detoxify their bodies from drugs. In a way, this prepares a person to begin the real battle getting to the underlying cause or heart of the addiction, which can be even more painful that the detox and withdrawal process itself.
If a person is in a loving, supportive environment where there is understanding of whats going on, and all parties are 100 percent committed to achieving sobriety, a person can rehabilitate at home, but this should be overseen by a medical professional. Medical supervision is highly recommended while a person withdrawals from drugs, particularly opiates. Drugs like morphine can have dangerous, even fatal withdrawal effects.
After drug use has ceased, a number of treatment options are available. A person can enter residential drug treatment. He or she can even undergo Ibogaine Therapy, a controversial but promising detoxification method that is said to wipe out cravings completely. This isnt available in the U.S. but many Americans are traveling to South and Central America and Europe to undergo treatment. A person can also enter outpatient treatment which typically involves group and individual counseling sessions.
Both residential and outpatient therapy may involve medication such as methadone or suboxone. Ibogaine therapy does involve the administration of the Ibogaine pill. Use of suboxone and methadone is ongoing whereas Ibogaine is only administered once.
Residential treatment and Ibogaine Therapy means a person will have to leave work and their families. Sometimes this is the leverage thats needed to ultimately achieve sobriety. Outpatient treatment allows a person to continue working, going to school, and take care of their families. But sometimes the stress of day-to-day life can be too much.
Bottom line rehabilitation is highly individual and sometimes more than one method or a combination of treatment methods have to be pursued before a person can ultimately achieve sobriety.
