Differentiating between drug rehab programs

In addition to the types of addiction treatment and recovery facilities that exist today, each of them have a variety of programs. You have a choice between the more traditional facility and the more alternative format but both of them offer out-patient and/or in-patient programs for dealing with addiction treatment and recovery. As the names of each imply, there are significant differences between the two that you need to be aware of as follows:

1. Out-patient programs – typically, the out-patient addiction treatment and recovery program is considerably shorter in duration than the in-patient drug rehab center programs. It is a much less intensive format and involves more some education on the addicted individual’s behalf. The clients that participate in out-patient programs are free to come and go as they please during the addiction treatment and recovery stages so that they can continue with their lives as normal.
2. In-patient programs – these programs are also referred to as residential addiction treatment and recovery programs and there are two types of these that are currently being offered to addicted individuals. You have the short-term stay programs which can be as brief as 14 days. Conversely, there are in-patient drug rehab center programs that are defined as long-term residential stay programs and can last up to 3 or 4 months depending on the severity of the person’s addiction.

Choosing the right drug rehab program

Aside from admitting that they have a problem with substance abuse and addiction, the most frustrating experience the addicted individual encounters is choosing an addiction treatment and recovery program that is going to effectively treat them so that they recover successfully. The key differences between the traditional and alternative in-patient drug rehab center are numerous but there are three critical differences to be aware of:

1. Appearance – the traditional facility still looks like a clinic or a hospital compared to the residential appearance of the alternative in-patient drug rehab center. For the addicted individual, the traditional facility can be extremely intimidating whereas the alternative one is more comforting and offers an apartment like environment to recover in.
2. Lack of recovery tools – the alternative in-patient drug rehab center offers a variety of recovery tools that the traditional facility does not. There are classes for the person to take and educational materials that they can study while they are recovering in the alternative addiction treatment and recovery facility.
3. Conventional therapies vs. more innovative ones – the traditional addiction treatment and recovery center still relies on conventional therapies that are now considered as being out of date and ineffectual. Conversely, the alternative in-patient drug rehab center can customize their programs to target the personal and specific needs of the individual.