If you have a drug or alcohol abuse problem and are experiencing feelings of remorse, guilt, and shame, you may be asking yourself, “What treatment is right for me? You have come to the right place.
Considering rehab treatment’s inpatient and outpatient phases is the first step towards positively changing your life. Although it can be an overwhelming decision to make, this article will put to rest many of the questions you may be asking yourself about addiction treatment.
Is Addiction Treatment For Me?
People’s lives can become severely impaired due to substance abuse – this is why we are here to help.
If you find that you relate to any of the following behavioural symptoms, then addiction treatment might be a solution for you:
- Inability to stop using/drinking after ingestion of the first hit/drink.
- Skipping work/school to use.
- Showing up late to work/school.
- Losing interest in relationships.
- Using substances in inappropriate situations, i.e., driving, at work, etc.
- Becoming aggressive and increasingly violent.
- Stealing or borrowing money from work, friends, and family.
- Changing social circles.
- Loss of interest in personal hygiene.
- Increased paranoia.
- Changes in eating and sleeping patterns.
- Acting secretive and lying frequently.
Upon identifying with any of the symptoms mentioned above, it is with urgency that help be sought out.
What Can I Expect From Inpatient Treatment?
Inpatient care is the highest level of rehab treatment for individuals who have been diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder. It involves 24-hour supervised care by our clinical team, nursing staff, and medical health professionals. Our inpatient rehab facility includes a medical detox administered by healthcare professionals as part of the integrated therapeutic process.
We recognise that every patient’s situation is unique at Changes. The clinical team will evaluate your substance abuse history and conduct a mental health screening so that an individualised inpatient rehab program can be made for you.
With your consent, we may contact your family, friends, and any other healthcare professionals who may have been working with you to better understand your situation and what challenges you may be facing. We use this approach so that you may benefit the most from our rehab program.
The disease of addiction is complex, affecting the physiological and psychological aspects of the individual; this is why we are equipped with a multidisciplinary clinical team who come together to create a holistic approach to treating substance abuse disorders.
Our clinical team consists of:
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Occupational Therapists
- Registered Counsellors
- Addiction Counsellors
- Recovery Assistants
- Nurses
How Does Detox Work? Is It For Me?
The detox phase is a vital step toward your recovery and process during your inpatient rehab treatment. Detox helps medical professionals wean individuals off the substances abused in a controlled environment using medications that mimic the drug abused.
Everybody’s detox needs differ, so one of our healthcare professionals will perform a medical evaluation before administering an individualised detox.
Changes will work closely with you throughout your detox to consistently evaluate your level of discomfort and provide medical attention when necessary.
When the detox phase has been completed, you will be transitioned into the inpatient program.
What Is The Inpatient Rehab Program?
After the transition, you’ll begin to settle down and experience more mental clarity. This is where the work begins.
You’ll meet your peers and participate in daily therapeutic duties and activities in the community.
Inpatient rehab programs are designed to get you fit mentally, physically, and emotionally. Our rehab programs are backed by science; we have years of experience and evidence that our method works. We treat co-occurring disorders and implement mental health treatment strategies.
The inpatient treatment program at Changes Addiction Rehab starts early and runs until early evening. You will engage with your peers, counsellors, and therapy sessions throughout the day.
Inpatient activities include:
- Group Therapy
- Individual Counselling Sessions
- Occupational Therapy Groups
- Lectures
- Doctors Appointments
- Psychiatrist Assessment
- Yoga Classes
- Family Therapy
- Re-integration Strategy Planning
- Walks
How Long Is Inpatient Rehab? What Does It Cost?
Your inpatient stay at Changes will depend on what your medical aid covers; it usually lasts 21-28 days, including a medical detoxication phase.
In some instances, patients may be liable to pay a co-payment to cover the shortfall between their medical aid coverage and the cost of our treatment centre.
Most of the costs are covered by medical aid or hospital plan patients.
Depending on the medical aid and scheme, these costs may include all/some of the following;
- Medication
- Treatment Stay
- Psychotherapy
- Registered Counsellors
- Occupational Therapists
- Psychiatrists
- Social Workers
We are partnered with the following medical aid health providers;
- Discovery
- Bonitas
- Gems
- Polmed
- Momentum
- Bankmed
- Medihelp
- LAhealth
- Bestmed
- Medshield
- Fedhealth
- Sizwe Hosmed
What Is Outpatient Treatment?
Outpatient is the solution for individuals who cannot commit to inpatient due to family, work, and other obligations.
This phase of treatment provides a safe environment for connecting with like-minded individuals who can share and identify with each other in groups; this therapeutic process is imperative for long-term recovery success.
Aside from group therapy, you will receive specialised treatment through individual sessions.
Outpatient treatment is more affordable than inpatient because it does not include 24/7, round-the-clock care. Individuals meet for a set number of hours and days per week.
Our Outpatient Program runs from Monday to Friday, starting at 16:30 to 19:00. Our program includes a variety of different activities, such as;
- Group Therapy sessions
- Lectures on various topics, such as relapse prevention and addiction.
- Write and present your “life story” to the group and receive feedback.
- Supplied material handouts.
We encourage our patients to take radical responsibility for their recovery and understand that they need to commit to the outpatient process if they decide to skip residential treatment care.
It is important to remember that substance abuse disorders are on a spectrum, and the level of severity may vary. Outpatient treatment is suitable for individuals who are on the mild-moderate end of the spectrum; if you find yourself on the severe side, inpatient treatment might be the better option for you.
How Long Is Outpatient Treatment And What Are The Costs?
The length and cost of an outpatient program will vary depending on the facility you choose.
We emphasise that the length of an outpatient program will depend on several factors: the severity of your addiction, individual treatment goals, and your current progress in recovery. We will assess and decide whether you are suitable for outpatient treatment.
Medical aid does not cover the outpatient treatment program at our inpatient facility, and we will require full payment before admission.
What Is The Difference Between Inpatient And Outpatient Treatment?
Inpatient and outpatient are different levels of addiction care phases. Both stages of treatment share many vital components, but they differ slightly.
Changes offer both high-quality and professional levels of treatment. Listed below are the key differences between the two:
Inpatient
- Setting – Residential/inpatient involves residing in a facility for an extended period.
- Focus – Peeling away the layers of denial through daily individual counselling, group therapy, medical care, partaking in therapeutic duties, and attending in-house 12-step meetings.
- Intensity – Inpatient rehab is a highly contained environment and is best suited for an individual whose substance abuse disorder is severe.
- Support – Individuals who choose inpatient care will be surrounded by 24-hour supervision and have access to counsellors, nurses, and doctors.
- Price – Due to the nature and intensity of the inpatient level of care, it will be more costly than outpatient treatment.
Outpatient
- Setting – More autonomy to tend to daily obligations and responsibilities while simultaneously receiving treatment.
- Focus: Treating struggles in everyday life while living in recovery, getting support from the group, and receiving guidance from individual sessions.
- Intensity: Individuals will have the freedom to move around daily. The program is not as highly contained as inpatient treatment. At Changes, we believe in trusting individuals at this level of treatment to take responsibility for their lives and recovery. At the same time, we understand there is still a certain level of vulnerability, so we conduct drug tests at random to enforce accountability.
- Support – Outpatient attendees will still have support from counsellors, but not medical professionals, who are only accessible during the inpatient program.
- Cost – This phase of treatment is generally more affordable because it does not include 24/7 supervision of residential stays.
What Benefits Will I Get From Treatment?
Taking the first step and admitting you have a problem takes tremendous courage! Your inpatient or outpatient program stay will have many ups and downs, and your progress will look different from those around you.
Here are some of the key benefits you will receive and take home with you:
- Medically administered detoxification.
- Eating well, exercising, and getting adequate sleep will help heal your body and mind.
- Mental, emotional, and spiritual health begins to stabilise.
- Deal with cravings.
- Reflect on your behaviours and see how they didn’t serve you.
- Develop new and healthy behaviours and put them into practice.
- Make sober friends.
- Replace drugs and alcohol habits with new hobbies.
- Learn to speak about your feelings.
- Learn to be comfortable with being vulnerable.
- Have fun in recovery!
Conclusion
Choosing between inpatient and outpatient treatment will depend on various factors. Changes will always have the client’s best interest at heart, and we will guide you to what is most appropriate for your needs, considering the following: financial constraints, progression of illness, family support structure, commute, and goals.
The disease of addiction is chronic and progressive. The sooner it is treated, the better the chance of long-term recovery.
For any further inquiries about the different phases of treatment, contact us today.
FAQS
What Happens If My Medical Aid Does Not Pay?
If your medical aid does not cover our inpatient facility, you will be referred to a facility that will.
Changes has your best interest at heart, and we will ensure that you get the treatment you need, even if it is impossible at our facility.
Can I Skip The Detox Process?
It is vital to complete a detox as it is incorporated into the rehab treatment process. The length of stay at the primary care facility is limited, so it is essential to be at optimal physical health and emotional clarity before jumping into the program on offer.
Do I Have To Make A Co-Payment?
This depends on the medical aid and scheme you are on; some require a co-payment, others do not. The best way to solve this issue would be to call your healthcare provider and get pre-authorization before admission.