In the United States, drug addiction treatment is broken down into four categories: inpatient, residential, outpatient, and partial hospital-based. Each category has its own special goals, methods of treatment, and patients. Each of these four areas of treatment focuses on different aspects of a person’s addiction and recovery and each area has their own set of standards and processes to follow when working toward the ultimate goal.
On an outpatient level treatment for drug use is usually centered around counseling, therapy, education and recovery support. A variety of programs are offered to address the mental and emotional aspects of addiction and recovery such as individual, group, couples, family, peer support, professional coaching and many others. Family and marriage counseling, professional coaching and addiction treatment groups can be offered through various means including group therapy, private counseling, etc. This type of outpatient addiction treatment is most often used by family-based or residential programs where individuals can meet with and get help from their families.
On an inpatient level treatment for substance abuse, addicts are treated in a hospital setting. These programs focus more on the physical and mental aspects of recovery and are usually more intensive than outpatient programs. Detoxification and stabilization are often the goal of this inpatient addiction treatment. Detoxification deals with removing substances from an addict’s body in order to rid them of their drug addictions. Stabilization involves an addict having to face their addiction and come to terms with it. A detoxification plan is developed and followed to help the patient overcome their addiction. Many times detox is also required prior to entering a complete substance abuse rehabilitation program.
