Addiction Treatment Center in Colorado: Outpatient or Residential?
A person in the throes of drug or alcohol addiction finds him/herself in a position of not being able to function without his/her substance of choice. Even those who are substance abusers rather than full-blown addicts find life without their substances challenging. The effects of drugs and alcohol on the body are so profound that simply stopping is neither practical nor effective. The average addict needs some sort of treatment to completely and permanently overcome.
Colorado
Drug Center in Arizona
Alcohol Recovery in Arizona
Denver
Colorado Springs
Aurora
To that end, substance abusers and addicts can choose from a variety of treatment programs. Those treatment programs can be based on one of the following three models:
Residential Treatment Preferred
According to the National Institute for Health, there are currently some 14,500 specialized addiction treatment centers in the United States. The centers are considered 'specialized' in that they provide no other care. The vast majority of these centers are residential in nature, offering the kinds of treatment that patients just cannot get from a primary care physician or local hospital. In light of that, residential treatment at one these specialized facilities is preferred for full-blown addicts.
A residential program at a private addiction treatment center offers a number of significant advantages not found in outpatient programs or doctor's offices. At the top of the list is concentrated care. As valuable as the family physician is to the overall healthcare environment in this country, primary care physicians are already overwhelmed with having to take care of so many people with so many problems. They simply don't have the resources to devote to specialized addiction treatment.
The same is true for local hospitals and walk-in clinics. They have to deal with every kind of injury and illness imaginable, and they must devote equal attention to every patient they see. Their resources for addiction treatment are limited as a result. The specialized addiction treatment center is different. There are no such limitations or restrictions because addiction recovery is the only kind of care they provide.
Other benefits of private, residential treatment include:
There is obviously some debate as to whether residential treatment is significantly more effective than its outpatient counterpart. That debate will likely continue as long as there is a need for alcohol and drug addiction recovery. Nonetheless, there is no denying that the work done at both the outpatient and residential addiction treatment center is necessary work. Far too many people need help to allow the debate over outpatient and inpatient care get in the way of effective treatment.
Sources:
1.NIH – https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition/drug-addiction-treatment-in-united-states
Colorado
Drug Center in Arizona
Alcohol Recovery in Arizona
Denver
Colorado Springs
Aurora
To that end, substance abusers and addicts can choose from a variety of treatment programs. Those treatment programs can be based on one of the following three models:
- Outpatient – An outpatient treatment program involves the individual going to an alcohol treatment center four to five days per week for several hours at a time. While in treatment, the individual receives counseling and support services. Patients return home at the end of each day.
- Residential – A residential program involves the patient residing at an addiction treatment center for the duration of the program. As a resident, the patient undergoes three to 12 weeks of therapy along with participating in certain house activities with other patients.
- Combined – A combined program involves hospitalized and medically supervised detox that can last anywhere from 7 to 10 days, followed by outpatient treatment. Those who are put into a combined program must have a stable home environment that is not likely to contribute to relapse after detox has been completed.
Residential Treatment Preferred
According to the National Institute for Health, there are currently some 14,500 specialized addiction treatment centers in the United States. The centers are considered 'specialized' in that they provide no other care. The vast majority of these centers are residential in nature, offering the kinds of treatment that patients just cannot get from a primary care physician or local hospital. In light of that, residential treatment at one these specialized facilities is preferred for full-blown addicts.
A residential program at a private addiction treatment center offers a number of significant advantages not found in outpatient programs or doctor's offices. At the top of the list is concentrated care. As valuable as the family physician is to the overall healthcare environment in this country, primary care physicians are already overwhelmed with having to take care of so many people with so many problems. They simply don't have the resources to devote to specialized addiction treatment.
The same is true for local hospitals and walk-in clinics. They have to deal with every kind of injury and illness imaginable, and they must devote equal attention to every patient they see. Their resources for addiction treatment are limited as a result. The specialized addiction treatment center is different. There are no such limitations or restrictions because addiction recovery is the only kind of care they provide.
Other benefits of private, residential treatment include:
- Expert Care – The doctors, nurses, and therapists working in residential treatment centers are experts in their fields. Just as one would go to a cardiologist for heart surgery, a drug or alcohol addict should seek treatment from experts in addiction recovery.
- Conducive Environment – One of the biggest challenges of outpatient treatment is that addicts return home to their lives and circumstances at the end of every day. Often, those homes and circumstances are such that they enable continued addictive behavior. In a residential program, patients are completely separated in a distraction-free environment that is conducive to recovery.
- Medical Care – There are times when a recovering addict needs immediate medical care to go along with counseling and therapy. The residential addiction treatment center provides around-the-clock medical care throughout a patient's stay. Medical emergencies will always be handled in a timely manner by qualified professionals.
There is obviously some debate as to whether residential treatment is significantly more effective than its outpatient counterpart. That debate will likely continue as long as there is a need for alcohol and drug addiction recovery. Nonetheless, there is no denying that the work done at both the outpatient and residential addiction treatment center is necessary work. Far too many people need help to allow the debate over outpatient and inpatient care get in the way of effective treatment.
Sources:
1.NIH – https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition/drug-addiction-treatment-in-united-states