Being addicted to opiates, such as heroin or prescription painkillers, is devastating and potentially deadly, but finding and choosing help can pose many challenges, especially if you’re unsure about the various types of rehab that may be available to assist you. Every case of opiate addiction is different, every individual circumstance is different, and every individual him or herself is different—therefore, the best opiate rehab for you may be quite different than what was or is best for someone else. As such, most treatment centers have devised an array of different treatment options with varying levels of support and care to ensure that all people who are addicted to opiates have an equal chance at recovery.

When determining the best opiate rehab for your individual needs, you’ll need to consider elements such as the severity of your addiction and how long you’ve been addicted, whether or not you suffer from other health conditions or co-occurring disorders such as anxiety or depression, how much you can afford to pay for treatment or whether there is insurance coverage available to help you pay for treatment, and the proximity of treatment to your home or place of work. Some factors may carry more weight in determining the best opiate rehab for you than others but ultimately, your decision will be based on an array of different elements and your own individual circumstances.

Inpatient Opiate Rehab

The best rehab program for you depends on your own goals and your current situation.

For those who are addicted to opiates and who have been addicted for a long time, inpatient rehab may be the best solution. This method of treatment for opiate dependence includes around-the-clock care, medical intervention, support and counseling that is aimed at helping the individual to focus all of his or her time on recovery without interruption or distraction. Unfortunately, inpatient rehab tends to be more expensive than other forms of treatment and it may not be openly available to everyone who needs it—for this reason, those who are most well suited to inpatient opiate rehab should consider seeking out treatment early on to avoid having to wait for an opening.

Inpatient opiate rehab is a viable option for you if:

• you are heavily addicted to heroin, prescription drugs or other opiates
• you have insurance to help pay for the treatment or you are financially able to cover the costs associated with around-the-clock care
• you have tried to quit on your own and relapsed
• you suffer from co-occurring health disorders

Outpatient Opiate Rehab

People who are not heavily addicted to opiates or who do not suffer from co-occurring health conditions are often able to get the help that they need in an outpatient treatment program. These programs provide counseling and therapy in a more casual setting in which the user will come to treatment for regularly scheduled sessions and will later return home to continue to work on their recovery. Around-the-clock care is not provided in outpatient rehab but this doesn’t mean that it cannot be an effective means of recovery for those who are mildly to moderately addicted and who have a strong system of support at home.

Outpatient rehab is a viable option for you if:

• you have already completed an inpatient treatment program
• you have the strong support of your friends and family
• you are highly committed to your sobriety and recovery
• you do not suffer from other forms of addiction or co-occurring health conditions
• you live close to an outpatient rehab center or work close to one
• you are able to commute to rehab when necessary