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Addiction Treatment

Inpatient vs. Outpatient Rehabilitation

Answered by Jennifer Hamilton, LCSW, CADC

Question

I am addicted to cocaine but I am ready to quit for real this time but I also know that I cannot quit on my own without help. Does drug rehab work better than getting myself into an outpatient program? I am worried that if I stay at home I won’t be able to resist the temptations from all the people around me who still like to party.

I strongly suspect you would meet the criteria for inpatient treatment.  There is great help in getting away from easy access to your drug of abuse, everything that is a cue and triggers a craving in you and the people you use with for as long as possible.  It gives the brain time to get used to not having it all the time.  If you don't do inpatient (many of my clients have detoxed in jail) it is very hard to resist the urge to use early on in recovery.  The longer it has been and the more you learn to shape new behaviors, the easier it is. It may be worse for you to feel you "tried and failed" at outpatient.  If you are trying to use commercial insurance to get inpatient treatment, many times you have to "fail" at outpatient treatment (go for a while and continue to use) in order to qualify for inpatient.  There are plenty of places to get help that do not require this, however, if you meet their criteria for admission.  Hope this helps. 

About the Expert

Jennifer Hamilton

LCSW, CADC

Owensboro, United States of America

Specialties

Testing/Assessment, Anxiety or Fears, Child or Adolescent Issues, Divorce, Trauma and PTSD, Personality Disorders, OCD, Addiction or Substance Abuse, Mood Disorders, Parenting, Compulsive Disorders, Other, Spirituality, Chronic Pain or Illness, ADHD, Impulse Control Disorders, Relationship Issues, Women, Thinking Disorders, Depression, Finding Your Purpose in Life

License

my_license #0946