Pros and Cons of Inpatient Rehab

The tough choice of going to rehab is one many of us have to make. Rehab can be a great benefit to someone struggling with addiction or alcoholism. Most of us don’t want to admit we have to go to rehab and that we have a drug problem. Rehab has become a big business with the opioid epidemic raging throughout the US and other parts of the world. I believe in general most rehabs are good places trying to help people get clean and sober, but some are more worried about making money.

I have been to 4 different rehabs. The 4th one I was at which was an outpatient rehab was the one that helped me the most. This is because I was ready to get clean and sober. 

Here Are the Pros and Cons of Inpatient Treatment Centers (Rehab):

1. Break From Our Environment

Many people in active addiction have created an environment of chaos around them. I lived in Rochester NY during most of my addiction. Rochester like any other city is fine but has bad areas. During my addiction, I stayed in bad areas with bad people 24/7. I surrounded myself with others doing terrible things. Getting a break from this can be a huge benefit. Just getting a moment to clear your head and see the big picture can help so many people struggling with addiction.

2. Forced Clean Time

When someone goes to inpatient they have to detox. Most inpatients are not forced upon people like jail or prison, but they require a person to stay there and stay clean and sober during their time at the rehab. Along with number one just having some time to remain clean and sober can be a huge benefit to people who are on the street and in the middle of addiction.

3. Personal and Group Treatment

During inpatient rehab, they provide patients with all types of treatment to help them in their struggle with addiction. Usually, there is a group treatment setting that they do daily when everyone talks with each other. Also, there is one-one treatment with addiction counselors and specialists. Many rehabs bring in outside meetings from 12-step groups such as NA or AA.

4. One-on-One Therapy

Therapy can be very expensive to attend. Having one on one therapy inside of a rehab setting is a major plus for someone in active addiction. Most of us addicts have an underlying issue or issues that are driving our addiction. Getting to the root of the issue is a big part of recovery.

Every addict or alcoholic is going to have issues and trauma that they need to get off their chest and come to terms with. Some people may have traumas from childhood and all of us addicts are going to have some issues from our active addiction. Having a therapist to guide us is a wonderful thing in an inpatient setting.

5. 24/7 Medical Supervision

Withdrawal, detox, and general health concerns are all present in rehab. Depending on the drugs a person was using they could have life-threatening withdrawal symptoms which need to be monitored. Many addicts have underlying health issues such as high blood pressure, anxiety, or diabetes. All of these health issues can and will be monitored at an inpatient rehab. Most rehabs have nurses and doctors there 24/7.

6. Medically Assisted Detox

Detoxing from drugs and alcohol can be deadly and unbelievably painful. In a rehab setting, they provide medicines to ease the pain and make it a little more bearable. Many rehabs provide drugs like suboxone, which helps people come off opioids.

People coming off alcohol and benzodiazepines (Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, Valium) have to be monitored 24/7 during the first few days. Detox from these drugs can be deadly if not done properly. Detoxing from heroin, cocaine, meth and pretty much everything else is usually not life-threatening but can be very unpleasant.

7.  Detailed Treatment Plan

During the course of rehab, the counselors are going to teach everyone how to change their thinking and avoid negative or triggering situations. The patient and counselor will also create a detailed treatment plan. Having a treatment plan is a great first step towards a solid healthy recovery program. Treatment plans include things like: triggers, triggering people, phone numbers to call, meetings in your area, daily recovery checklists, Etc.

For more info on treatment plans check here. 

8. Community Bonding

In a rehab setting, there are others with you going through the same struggles as you are. There may be 10 others or 30 others depending on the rehab. Having other people to connect with that are going through similar struggles can be a great bonding experience and help everyone involved.

“My favorite part of rehab was when we did daily checkups. Daily checkups were to see how everyone was doing, what struggles they had, and how they are getting through them. This helped build a trusting community where everyone tried to help each other.” – MP 

9. No Distractions From Daily Life

Many daily distractions and worries can affect our recovery. At an inpatient rehab, those daily struggles aren’t present to distract people. You don’t have to worry about picking up the kids, or getting to work on time. Everyone there only has one focus, Recovery.

Cons Of Inpatient Rehab:

1. Inpatient Can Be Very Expensive

Arguably the biggest issue with inpatients rehabs is the cost. Inpatient can be very expensive for everyone involved. The person going typically has to pay a large amount upfront and if they are lucky insurance will cover some of the cost. Many addicts don’t have health insurance which makes the process even more difficult.

Depending on the rehab, the out-of-pocket cost for families or individuals typically ranges from $2500 – $100,000. There are rehabs in California and Florida that cost $50,000 a week. These places have spas and pools and are basically a 5-star hotel. I personally think that’s a waste of money. Rehab should be about recovery, not a vacation.

2. Waiting List/ Paperwork

In many cases, there is a waiting list and a lot of paperwork to get into inpatient rehab. With the opioid epidemic raging in our country rehabs are usually at maximum capacity. When an addict has to be placed on a waiting list for rehab this is never good. 

Addiction is a chaotic disease. If an addict says they’re ready for rehab the window to get them in is small. That person may change their mind and be out on the streets before a bed opens up. They may not be willing to go in a few days or even hours.

The good thing is many non-profits and organizations are stepping in to help people get the paperwork done and get placed in rehab quickly.

3. You Can’t Come and Go As You Please

Once a person enters an inpatient they have to stay. Inpatients are not jails a person can choose to leave but once they leave they’re not allowed back in. The rehab doesn’t want people leaving at night to potentially get high or drunk and bring drugs back in.

The whole point of inpatient is to completely get away from all the distractions on the street and be in a safe environment. Many people don’t like being at one place for 30 or 60 days without being able to leave.

4. Everything Is Structured

This can be a positive thing for some people but many others don’t like being told what to do. The rehab has everything pre-planned for everyone. The whole day including treatment, meals, and exercise is set on a routine. This is intentional to clear up the distraction of making decisions about what to do next, but many people don’t like their lives planned for them and may rebel against this.

5. You Will Need To Take Significant Time Off Work

Many addicts or alcoholics work full-time jobs. If someone has to go to inpatient rehab for 30 days, they will need to take all that time off work. Depending on the company they might have to use up sick days or vacation time.

Along with this, you will need to tell your employer the reason you’re leaving. If your employer or family doesn’t know about your addiction this is going to be a tough conversation but a necessary one. 

** Most states have put laws into effect to protect workers from being fired due to addiction. If you are upfront and honest with your employer about your addiction they can’t fire you.**

6. Childcare/Petcare

Rehabs range in time from 10 days to a whole year. Most are around 30 days. If you have kids or pets you will need to find some type of childcare or pet care for them during this time. Getting childcare for 30 days can be very expensive. Many people will have to ask friends or family to help in this situation which will lessen the cost but may burden them.

7. No Guarantee’s It Works

There are no guarantees that someone will go to rehab and remain sober upon their release. I attended multiple rehabs and didn’t stay sober after any of them. This is not because the rehab was bad or failed me. It was because I wasn’t ready to get and stay sober.

I know multiple parents who have spent their retirement funds on rehabs for their child with addiction and the child comes out of rehab and is getting high again with 24 hours. Even worse is when parents shell out big money and the child leaves the rehab after 2 days.

When it comes to rehab there are definitely different levels of care. Some rehabs are great and some not so great. In the end, it’s totally up to the person themselves to embrace the rehab and stay sober.

Conclusion:

I believe and know inpatient rehab can be a great benefit to someone struggling with addiction or alcoholism. There will be roadblocks to overcome but most rehabs are great places that teach people positive ways to deal with their addiction and stay sober. 

For the parents reading this, please don’t spend all your money continuing to send your child to rehab. There are many low-cost rehabs covered by insurance that will accomplish the same thing as an expensive one. Also, you can send your child to 20 rehabs and if they don’t want to get sober they won’t. It’s up to them!