While addiction treatment is more accessible than ever, there are a number of factors that can make actually getting it more complicated than it should be. For example, many people cannot put their jobs on hold or other life obligations in order to attend inpatient treatment for weeks or months, even though federal law offers some forms of job protection for those seeking treatment.
The truth is, despite existing stereotypes, many individuals facing alcohol and opiate addiction still lead relatively normal lives. They still face many of the same challenges that everyone else does: having to pay bills, support their families, and work on their careers.
Is getting treatment really that difficult? Luckily, there are different options available depending on your needs, level of dependency, and schedule.
Outpatient Rehab
Outpatient Rehab, such as what IHAT provides, allows patients to maintain their current obligations while getting treatment. As a preferred OBOT (office-based opiate treatment center), IHAT combines office visits with medically-assisted treatment options, some of which can be used from home (like Suboxone) or don’t require daily dosing (Vivitrol).
Outpatient treatment is ideal for those that have demanding jobs, family obligations, or other duties to take care of, and can’t make it into an office for treatment every single day. Given the flexibility, it can more easily integrate into one’s schedule without requiring employer notice or interfering with existing obligations.
In addition to maintaining your normal daily routine, outpatient programs are typically more affordable, have easy accessibility to social circle support, and can be part of a more comprehensive program that goes beyond medically-assisted treatment (such as CBT or group therapy).
Inpatient Treatment
On the other hand, inpatient treatment is more demanding and may require total life adjustments in order to work, as well as being more expensive. The patient stays in the facility and has access to 24 hour medical and emotional support.
Treatment can involve a full agonist like methadone, as opposed to partial agonists like Suboxone. Methadone is typically used in an inpatient setting as it cannot be prescribed for take-home use.
In order to make inpatient treatment work, the patient will usually need to talk to their employer, make living arrangement adjustments for children or other family members, and plan how to get to and from rehab.
Is Rehab Possible While Working?
Simply put, yes! With an outpatient program like the one that IHAT offers, patients can maintain their full time job while getting the help they need.
For more information on IHAT’s outpatient treatment program and all of our related services, please call 757-938-3654.
