How Does Inpatient Drug Treatment Work?

What Is Inpatient Drug Treatment?

Inpatient drug treatment is rehabilitation where a patient spends 24 hours a day in a facility away from their home. The process works to keep patients away from their regular lifestyle and the temptation to use drugs and/or alcohol. This type of treatment plan allows the patient to focus entirely on beating their addiction. Treatments may include detox, medical assistance, and a combination of therapy techniques.

Inpatient treatment may take place in a hospital or a residential treatment program. The length of treatment often varies and is usually followed by a step-down program to ensure continued success. Inpatient rehab focuses on recognizing negative behavior and learning how to replace unhealthy habits with constructive healthy choices.

Who Needs Inpatient Drug Treatment?

There are many reasons to choose inpatient care. Recovery from drug and alcohol addiction can be difficult without full-time support, and temptations are often impossible to resist when patients have to face them daily. Drugs and alcohol can strongly affect the body, and it is sometimes necessary to have medical assistance when suffering from withdrawal.

Who Might Choose In Patient Treatment:

• Patients with a history of relapse are likely to benefit from inpatient treatment. 24-hour supervision and access to therapists, doctors, and other medical personnel can help prevent impulse drug use.
• Heavy drug users may need medical assistance to get chemicals out of their system, and medication may be necessary to assist with cases of serious withdrawal.
• Patients with multiple addictions. It might be possible for a patient to drop one addiction and turn to another substance.
• Patients without a strong support system. Sometimes a patient is surrounded by people who also suffer from behavior issues and addiction, and an inpatient facility allows them boundaries away from those people.
• Patients with mental or physical conditions need full-time medical assistance offered by impatient therapy. Doctors and therapists have knowledge about how these conditions affect drug and alcohol abuse patterns.

Types of Inpatient Care

There are some variations in the types of inpatient treatment needed by each patient. Some of the things that change within types of inpatient treatment include place of residence, length of stay, and types of therapy involved.

• Residential Treatment – Residential treatment programs are one of the most effective ways for patients to recover from addiction. Patients are offered full-time support and medical assistance in a safe environment away from stressors and triggers of drug addiction. Treatment often includes detox, medical treatment, and therapy. Residential drug treatment can last from 30 days up to several months or a year.
• Hospital-based treatment – Hospital-based treatment occurs in a hospital facility. This treatment is often used when patients have other medical or mental health issues (co-occuring) that coincide with substance abuse. Sometimes these patients can be a danger to themselves or others before getting their addiction under control. This treatment may be followed by a residential program.
• Hospitalized detox – For heavy drug users, detox must be carried out in a hospital to prevent medical emergencies. Failure to use proper medical treatments while removing harmful substances from the body can be fatal. After a person is free from drugs and alcohol, they can safely continue with outpatient or residential drug treatment.

How Does Inpatient Treatment Assist Recovery?

Drug abuse treatment always begins with detox. Detox can be achieved in residential treatment with or without medication under the supervision of medical personnel. Depending on the severity of drug or alcohol use, detox can last from several hours up to weeks or even months.

After harmful substances have been eliminated, patients participate in scheduled therapy to begin rebuilding a healthy lifestyle. Group and individual therapy are used to help patients learn to take responsibility for abuse and learn how to change their behavior. All mental and physical conditions are addressed during treatment.

Inpatient therapies may include regulated schedules including group therapy, exercise and creative therapy, and education therapy. Patients are often scheduled for regular group sessions and individual therapy. Relaxation techniques like yoga and art therapy are encouraged. Education on certain life skills like nutrition, self-care, and behavioral changes is applied.

Inpatient drug treatment programs have one of the highest rates of success. It is important for patients to take time away from the triggers of their addiction to learn how to live without substance abuse. Continued participation in outpatient treatments including sobriety meetings increases rates of success.

Avalon Malibu is a world-renowned, California state-licensed mental health and substance abuse recovery center. If you are ready to seek treatment to develop the tools you need to overcome life’s obstacles and be on the road towards happiness, health, and well-being, call us today at 888-343-3248 for a consultation.