Inpatient vs. Outpatient Rehab

Drug and alcohol rehabilitation have different levels of care that are suited to each person’s needs. Inpatient and outpatient rehab, while two of the most common treatment settings, provide patients with different experiences. With inpatient drug rehab, you often stay at a treatment facility for several days to weeks and receive care the whole time you are there. With outpatient drug rehab, you remain in your home and visit the treatment facility for care at least once a week. Understanding the benefits of inpatient and outpatient treatment can help you make an informed decision about which treatment track is right for you.

What Is Inpatient Rehab?

Inpatient or residential rehab is a treatment program where you live in a treatment facility or hospital program short-term. ¹ Inpatient drug rehab is often the next step for people after detox. ²

In this setting, round-the-clock medical care is provided for the duration of treatment. ²

What to Expect at Inpatient Drug Rehab

When you stay at an inpatient facility, the treatment you receive will be tailored to your needs. Therapy, counseling, and medication are usually all part of the inpatient treatment process. ¹

You may engage in various types of therapy, including:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Helps you examine your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors regarding substance use to replace them with healthier habits and attitudes. ³
• Motivational interviewing. Helps assess your readiness for change and how to take steps toward change. ³
• Family therapy. Helps restore family functioning and may also help you examine the impact of your addiction on your family system. ³
• Group therapy. Helps you connect with others who may be going through similar experiences seeking treatment for substance misuse. It also teaches you new skills to manage your recovery. ¹

One’s inpatient treatment program may differ depending on several factors, such as a person’s medical history and how long a specific substance or substances were used. As a result, while there may be similarities, one person’s experience in inpatient treatment may vary when compared to another’s.

What Is Outpatient Rehab?

Outpatient rehab is a treatment program that allows you to participate in work or school while attending treatment several times a week. Many people attend outpatient rehab after an inpatient stay. ²

Outpatient rehab has different levels of care, with partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) and intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) being the 2 standard types. ¹

A PHP is usually the first step in outpatient treatment. ⁴ In a PHP, the days and hours are varied but usually involve more than 9 hours of treatment per week. ⁴ When you’re in PHP treatment, you can still expect a combination of group and individual therapy sessions and medication.

An IOP may involve about 9 hours of treatment per week, though the number of days and hours varies by person. ⁴ Treatment through an IOP may also involve participation in group and individual therapy sessions along with medication. ⁴

What to Expect at Outpatient Drug Rehab Programs

When you are part of an outpatient program, you live at home and often visit the treatment facility for a set number of hours each week. ¹ You can work while in outpatient therapy, but you also have to schedule work hours around attending treatment. ⁴

You may go to group therapy, where you learn about certain topics, such as relationships and relapse prevention, and receive psychoeducation. ^{4 pg. 20 second section} You may also have individual therapy where you can have more specialized treatment to help you navigate recovery. ⁴

How to Choose Inpatient vs. Outpatient Rehab

There are benefits to both inpatient and outpatient treatment. Both offer the support of professionals and others going through the same experience. Depending on where you’re at in your recovery journey, inpatient or outpatient may be suitable for you. Talk with your doctor or treatment team to determine whether inpatient or outpatient suits your treatment needs.

Inpatient care is a high level of care that involves 24/7 monitoring. When you’re in inpatient care, you stay at a treatment facility or hospital. In inpatient rehab, you follow a structured treatment schedule to help aid in your recovery. When you’re in outpatient rehab, you stay at home and make weekly or multiple visits per week to a facility for treatment.

Many people start their treatment journey in inpatient rehab and then move to outpatient care. If you aren’t sure where to start, talk with your treatment team to learn what might best suit your treatment needs. Your doctor can also provide guidance on what you might need.

Inpatient and Outpatient Facilities

American Addiction Centers (AAC) offers various inpatient and outpatient programs. The programs provide multiple groups and specialized services depending on your needs. Some potential programs may include:

• Mental health groups.
• Relapse prevention groups.
• Family therapy.
• Recovery meetings.
• Individual therapy.

Each program is tailored to your specific needs. Some people may need more groups or specialized therapy services than others. Choosing to attend inpatient or outpatient therapy is a positive step toward healing from addiction. It’s okay if you need lots of support at the beginning of treatment; many people do. As you progress through treatment, you will likely attend fewer groups over time.

Find an Addiction Treatment Rehab Near You

If you’re looking for addiction treatment near you and need help finding an inpatient or outpatient facility, the recovery.org treatment directory can help you find a facility near you. There are thousands of treatment facilities in the directory.

You can also use the AAC addiction helpline at to connect with inpatient and outpatient facilities. The team can even help you verify your insurance benefits for treatment. Recovery is possible; make the call today.