Do you need inpatient or outpatient treatment for your drug and alcohol addiction? What’s the difference?

Those who suffer from alcoholism or from a drug addiction, eating disorder, or gambling addiction will already be aware that rehab help is out there. No matter where in the world you live, you can get help for an addiction in your local area. If you live in the UK, you can even get help through the NHS[i].

When you do choose to receive help for addiction through your local NHS branch, you will notice that most of this help comes in the form of outpatient rehab care. If you go private on the other hand, you get the benefit of inpatient care. This article will explore the differences between the two in the hope to get you the best rehab help for you.

What Is Outpatient Care For Addiction Treatment?

When you have an addiction and you live in the UK, the first stop is always your local GP. Your local GP works for the NHS or the National Health Service. The National Health Service gives everyone in England and Wales access to free healthcare. Unfortunately, the NHS is chronically underfunded and notoriously understaffed. If we learned anything from the Covid crisis, it’s that we can never have enough doctors and nurses.

When you go to your GP for addiction treatment help, they will refer you to any number of programmes or charities which can provide you with support. Your GP will put together a tailored plan which will detail your strategy for recovery. You will be expected to attend all workshops and programs they provide.

This will mostly be done as an outpatient. The NHS do provide access to private rehab clinics for NHS patients, but this is rare. There are lengthy waiting lists and those that do get admitted to private rehab through the NHS have already gone through every other option.

What Is Inpatient Care For Addiction Treatment?

If you need rehab help, you are admitted as an inpatient. When you go through detox in a medical facility, this is also inpatient treatment. Detox at home is not recommended. Rehab treatment for addiction involves things like instilling an exercise routine, helping you achieve a balanced diet, and workshops and programmes aimed at advancing your recovery.

This is called inpatient care because you stay within the rehab centre while you are recovering. You do get outpatient rehab clinics though. If you must stay the night, then you are in inpatient care. Inpatient care has a slightly better success rate. This is due to the round the clock care. The level of service that you receive between inpatient and outpatient care is the same.

What’s right for me?

If you can’t afford to go to rehab, go down the NHS path. If you can afford to go to rehab, we recommend you go for a private rehab clinic. There is no difference in the level of care that you will receive, however, private rehab is the faster way to recover from drugs. The choice is yours.

[i] https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/drug-addiction-getting-help/