Can You Go To Drug Treatment Without Missing Work?
It’s always good news when someone suffering from an addiction makes the decision to stop using. Unfortunately, far too many addicts look for what they feel are good reasons not to get help. It doesn’t matter if the reasons are viable or attempts to justify not getting help. It’s still a significant problem when someone has to deal with obstacles related to getting treatment. Are you encountering such issues?
The biggest obstacle people face when they consider getting treatment from a professional drug and alcohol treatment center is the ability to commit to the treatment process. Of course, we have to start with the premise someone actually wants help. If they do but have responsibilities that make treatment inconvenient, there has to be options. The good news is many of the top addiction treatment centers offer a variety of treatment programs as do we.
Before we go any further, we need to make it clear you should be willing to do whatever it takes to beat your addiction. That should include submitting to inpatient treatment if at all possible. With that said, we understand you may be dealing with circumstances that are out of your control. We all have responsibilities. If the demands of your job or certain financial responsibilities make a 30-day stint in rehab problematic, you have other alternatives.
Can You Go To Drug Treatment Without Missing Work?
The short answer to the titled question is yes. You can pursue drug treatment without missing work. It’s called outpatient treatment. It’s worth noting the depth of one’s addiction should be the determining factor when trying to decide between inpatient or outpatient treatment. In most cases, inpatient treatment is going to be more effective. Still, there are people who simply can’t spend time away from work. As treatment alternatives go, outpatient treatment is still a viable treatment solution to drug and alcohol addiction.
Outpatient addiction treatment programs exist for patients with certain circumstances. Here’s a few circumstance that would make outpatient treatment a good alternative:
• Patient comes to rehab with a minor to moderate addiction
• You can’t afford the cost of inpatient treatment
• You have completed inpatient treatment but requires outpatient follow ups
• You have time restrictions related personal responsibilities
• You cannot afford to miss time from work
Generally, rehab counselors and clinicians will dictate the parameters of an outpatient program. It’s the patient’s responsibility to make sure they show up at the required times and do the required work. This isn’t an easy path through treatment. An outpatient program usually includes intensive counseling and attendance in group therapy sessions. The only major difference between inpatient and outpatient programs is the requirement to stay 24/7 within the facility for a designated time-frame.
As long as the patient makes good progress while in an outpatient program, they can continue moving forward with outpatient treatment. If the patient continues to struggle with their addiction, they may need to step things up and enter an inpatient facility if they are serious about recovery.
Let’s take a more in-depth look at the reasons why an outpatient program might be preferred over inpatient treatment.
You Come to Treatment with a Minor to Moderate Addiction
Not all patients come to rehab under difficult circumstances. There are plenty of people who recognize the early signs of addiction and seek help before things get out of control. Outpatient programs are quite effective for patients who are responsible and truly motivated to get the monkey off their back.
You Can’t Afford the Cost of Inpatient Treatment
Inpatient treatment programs can be very expensive. Unless a prospective patient has significant financial resources or a solid healthcare insurance plan, inpatient treatment might not be a viable solution. In such cases, outpatient programs become the next best option. They are more affordable, and treatment facilities are usually more flexible about the payment process.
You Have Completed Inpatient Treatment but Requires Outpatient Follow Ups
After a 30-90 day inpatient treatment program, patients head out into the real world to test their sober wings. For exiting-patients with issues that still need to be resolved, an outpatient follow up program might be the ideal solution. It allows the patient to stay involved with the recovery process until they feel confident about their ability to maintain sobriety under most any circumstances.
You Have Time Restrictions Related Personal Responsibilities
No doubt, we all have responsibilities. In some cases, people have responsibilities they simply can’t set aside for any amount of time. If the children need care, someone has to care for them. If the addict is the primary caregiver with no backup plan, an inpatient program wouldn’t be feasible. The important thing is to find a way for the patient to get treatment while working around obstacles.
You Cannot Afford to Miss Time From Work
This is the primary issue of this writing. As stated above, it is very possible to get treatment while working. We understand it’s not always convenient to walk away from work responsibilities. In a perfect world, work could be set aside long enough for you to get treatment. We hardly live in a perfect world. Therefore, an outpatient program is the second best solution.
As the patient, it’s your responsibility to make sure your abide by the terms of treatment. If you come to your appointments with absolute focus and a willingness to be open and honest, there’s every reason to believe you can handle your work responsibilities and find recovery at the same time.
If you are reading this information, there’s a good chance you are ready to stop using and seek treatment. For our part, we are ready to begin working with you to develop a treatment program that best suits your needs and circumstance. To get started on the road to recovery, you can contact one of our staff members at 866-754-9113. One call can make all the difference in your life.