Most psychiatrists and behavioral health
professionals agree that addiction is a complex disorder caused by a
combination of genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors. It can
also vary in intensity; The DSM-5 defines addiction as a spectrum
disorder that can be categorized as “mild,” “moderate,” or “severe.”
Many other mental health disorders, like depression and anxiety, can be
described in much the same way. Because there can be so much variation
in the causes and severity of an individual’s disorder, there are
varying levels of treatment to meet patients’ differing needs.
Generally
speaking, behavioral health and addiction treatment programs can be
described as inpatient, outpatient, or intensive outpatient (IOP). The
biggest differences among each of the three are in the complexity and
severity of the conditions they treat, the length of the programs, and
the patients’ living arrangements.
What is Inpatient Treatment?
Inpatient treatment programs,
also sometimes called residential treatment programs, aim to treat the
most severe and complex addictions and disorders. They are full-time
programs that are usually anywhere from 28 days to 6 months long. They
provide patients with a controlled environment in which they can begin
untangling the web of physical, emotional, and interpersonal havoc that
their out-of-control conditions have wrought.
In an inpatient
treatment facility, patients have no access to drugs or alcohol; so, the
chances of them relapsing while they are in treatment are extremely
low. They live at the treatment center—away from work, friends, and
family— so that they can focus exclusively on working through their
emotional trauma and behavioral and on developing new coping skills to
help them succeed in their recovery.
A good
Inpatient Drug Addiction Treatment
center will also offer 24-hour access to medical care. (The Meadows’
programs, for example, are certified by the Joint Commission, due to
their commitment to excellence in providing medical services.) They also
will have experienced well-qualified and credentialed psychologists,
counselors, and psychiatrists available to assess patients, develop
individualized treatment programs for them, and meet with patients
individually and in group settings.
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