Residential vs. Inpatient Treatment Programs

What Are the Differences Between Inpatient and Residential Rehab?

Inpatient and residential rehabs are similar in that you live at your treatment center. However, beyond that, your treatment will look different depending on which type of rehab you attend.

Setting and Level of Care Available

One of the main differences between inpatient vs. residential rehab is the level of care they provide based on their setting. According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, residential treatment programs offer care that does not require the resources of a hospital.⁴ 

Inpatient treatment programs provide the highest level of care, which requires hospital services with medical supervision. It’s typically for patients experiencing severe addiction or mental health issues: 

• Overdoses 
• Dangerous withdrawal symptoms 
• Chronic or serious co-occurring mental or physical conditions 
• A history of non-response to other treatments

Intensity and Goal of Treatment

Because inpatient programming is for serious situations,⁵ it tends to be more intensive. The goal is to manage severe symptoms of withdrawal, overdose, or mental health conditions. Your treatment team will be focused on treating and stabilizing your condition. 

Meanwhile, in residential rehab, the primary goal is sustained recovery, so you’ll learn relapse prevention and coping strategies, be able to process past trauma and develop healthier habits. And while it’s still an intensive healing experience for the patient, it’s usually less medically intensive. 

Length of Stay

Inpatient care has a fixed length⁶ and is also usually short-term. In the U.S., many states have different laws dictating how long patients can be in inpatient treatment. For example, in most circumstances in California, inpatient services cannot last longer than 30 days.⁷

On the other hand, residential treatment is longer-term.⁸ The National Institute on Drug Abuse recommends at least 90 days of treatment⁹ in most cases. And the longer you stay in treatment, the more likely you are to have a successful recovery. Your length of stay may also depend on your insurance coverage, responsibilities at home, and recovery goals.

Choosing the Right Treatment Program for You

When deciding on which type of treatment to attend, consider the level of care you may need. If you’re detoxing from alcohol, opioids, or benzodiazepines, have a serious co-occurring disorder, or have not responded to treatment in the past, then an inpatient rehab may provide the higher level of care required. 

You don’t have to make this decision on your own. Your therapist or primary care physician can help you make the best choice for your unique circumstances. And, you can call admissions teams at rehabs to find out what level of care they offer. 

You can browse our list of rehabs to see reviews, pricing, insurance information, and more. To learn about RehabPath, including the latest announcements, visit us here.