Inpatient and outpatient programs both provide comprehensive and successful addiction treatment services. However, despite both focusing equally on helping you overcome addiction, some notable differences and qualities separate these programs’ benefits. These distinguishing factors may help you determine whether inpatient or outpatient rehab is right for you.

Inpatient programs, sometimes called residential programs or inpatient rehabs, are intensive treatment programs that require participants to “live” at the rehab facility for the duration of their 30, 60, or 90-day treatment program. Inpatient programs are often considered the best choice for someone struggling with a severe addiction. They are also beneficial if you are looking to overcome a dual diagnosis, if you need comprehensive detox care or if you have completed an addiction treatment program previously and experienced a relapse. As part of a residential treatment program, you will “check-in” at a residential rehab in Baja, Mexico, and remain part of the community while working with members of your treatment team to learn how to manage and overcome addictive behaviors.

When you choose inpatient treatment, you have access to 24-hour medical, emotional and nutritional support. Inpatient treatment provides another vital recovery benefit in addition to the above, and that is the benefit of distance. Although this may sound odd, it is an important part of achieving sobriety. For some who are just beginning their recovery journey, distance, whether from peers, their current environment, or other triggering factors, can be a crucial factor in their recovery. In addition, inpatient programs generally achieve a higher level of success over “lower” levels of care due to the structure of the inpatient care environment. This structure helps limit opportunities for triggers or relapse during the treatment process.

Outpatient rehab provides the opportunity to seek help overcoming addiction while remaining at home with family and loved ones. Outpatient rehabs are structured so you can maintain aspects of your day-to-day routine (such as work, school, and family obligations) while getting help to put addiction in the past. Like inpatient rehab, not all outpatient programs operate under the same model. Depending on the type of program and its intensity, you will attend therapy sessions between three and five days per week. The duration of sessions (how long your program lasts) and the treatment model provided will depend on the program and your unique treatment needs and goals. Due to their less intensive nature, outpatient programs generally last longer than residential programs, sometimes up to a year or more.