Addictions treatment: Residential vs Outpatient vs Online

Hope Trust offers a choice of addiction treatment deliveries – inpatient, outpatient and online. Which is most effective?

Residential treatment

Withdrawal management: Most rehabs offer withdrawal management services. When the alcoholic or addict stops using chemicals, the physical and psychological discomfort needs to be managed under competent medical supervision.

Protected environment: Drugs and alcohol are obviously not available within the treatment facility. This helps avoid a relapse, whatever the emotional or psychological need of the individual. He or she is also protected from the usual relapse triggers: the places, sounds, companions, tastes that tend to trigger a craving for re-use of chemicals.

Positive community: The individual is surrounded by like-minded persons in recovery. In groups, the positivity is enhanced and clients help each other in so many formal and informal ways to identify and resolve personal issues.

24/7 therapy support and supervision: Most rehabs have residential counsellors and medical staff to monitor and support the addict. This way, any issue can be rapidly handled before it becomes a crisis.

Adequate time to stabilize: When an addict stops using alcohol or drugs, there is withdrawal and craving that may continue for weeks, even months. Though a 28 day program may not be adequate, the new ‘Gold Standard’ of a 90 day residential stay is safe and somewhat adequate to help the alcoholic or addict to stabilize emotionally and psychologically to face the outside world.

Outpatient addiction treatment

Appropriate for motivated clients: Since their participation is voluntary, outpatient is good for clients whose denial is minimal and they are highly motivated to recover.

Testing their resolve: The counselor meets the client two or three times a week. In between, the client goes about attending to his business and stays at home. If the motivation is strong, the client may be able to sustain his sobriety. If not, it becomes clear to the individual and his or her counselor that an inpatient option is required.

Client can continue his work: An outpatient program allows the individual to continue attending office and stay at home while undergoing addiction therapy. This can especially useful if the client for whatever reason cannot afford to take a break from work.

Online therapy

No geographical barriers: Using modern technology like Skype, anyone from anywhere can access therapy. 

Comfortable: Some individuals are not comfortable (at least initially) with face-to-face counselling. Such individuals may feel more comfortable with online therapy. Moreover, it saves the hassle of going and meeting the therapist at his or her office and can be facilitated in the comfort of one’s home.

Before you decide which option suits you best, check out the profile of the rehab and therapist. Once you decide, give it all it takes – which may be more that what you initially thought!

Hope Trust rehab in India is Asia’s leading treatment facility offering residential, outpatient and online options. Since it was established in 2002, it has provided support to individuals and families from all over the world.  From detox to relapse prevention, Hope Trust has a proven track record in safe, effective and confidential treatment of addictions, dual diagnosis, emotional and psychological issues.