|Inpatient vs. Outpatient |
|The Ongoing Battle on Drug Rehabilitation |
| |
|Student Name |
|Axia College |
|June 8, 2009 |
The first step on the way to recovery is admitting there is a problem. This is usually the hardest step for an addict of any kind since once the patient decides to take that first step, the real work begins. There will be many steps forward and quite possibly some back before a full recovery is made. Even after the initial treatment, drug and alcohol rehabilitation never really ends. Most patients use what they learn in their program and still need constant support to keep them on track so they do not use again. While constant monitoring in the form of inpatient rehabilitation is a possibility for some, is not an option for all. If inpatient rehabilitation is not an option, outpatient programs are also available to offer inpatient support while allowing the patients to recover at home. For most addicts, a combination of inpatient and outpatient rehab is the best treatment plan because the relapse rate is lower and patients have more support.
What is drug addiction? The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines it as “a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use...