Dear Friend,
Where someone receives addiction treatment matters. Treatment should be available when it’s needed and offered in environments that are supportive and promote healing and well-being. People seeking help should also have a voice in choosing a place where they feel safe and respected.
Just as recovery from a serious injury can only happen under certain conditions, people with addictions need access to places with the right specialists, tools, and atmosphere to regain strength and dignity.
Let’s jump into part two of our three-part series on our new addiction treatment resource: a wealth of knowledge on addiction treatment, including options, settings, and frequently asked questions.
Make sure to test your knowledge with our short quiz!
Part Two: Treatment Settings
Addiction treatment is provided in two main types of settings, inpatient and outpatient.
Inpatient treatment provides 24/7 support and intensive care to patients. This type of treatment may be best for people who have a long history of addiction, may have been unsuccessful in other settings, and/or need a safe, stable environment to address additional mental health and medical needs.
Outpatient treatment can include a variety of settings where patients attend therapy for several hours or days each week and return to their home. This type of treatment may be best for those with a stable support system and/or need flexibility for work or family commitments.
Many people find other supportive spaces (like sober living homes) or peer support (like Alcoholics/Narcotics Anonymous) to be helpful in their treatment goals, but they should not be mistaken for addiction treatment.
Jails and prisons are not treatment facilities. While it is essential that people who are incarcerated have access to treatment, jails and prisons are not treatment facilities — and they were never designed to be.
Instead of relying on incarceration as a pathway to care, our elected leaders must invest in systems where treatment is available at the moment someone asks for help — in the community. Treatment should be accessible, affordable (or free), and offered in environments that foster dignity, safety, and recovery — not punishment.
Knowledge is power. When we take the time to understand addiction treatment, we become stronger advocates for ourselves and our loved ones. At DPA, we work to ensure everyone has access to the information and care they need.
