Addiction is now proven to be a chronic brain disease, a sea change from the older perception a behavioural issue or a moral failure. Recognition of addiction as a chronic disease suggests that it should be treated on an outpatient basis like other chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension or HIV. The shift to outpatient addiction treatment is further enabled by the advent of detox medications, such as buprenorphine, Suboxone, Subutex, naltrexone, Vivitrol, etc., that effectively address withdrawal symptoms and cravings, increasing compliance and reducing the probability of relapse.

While enablers are in place to move addiction treatment to an outpatient setting, addiction treatment has not evolved sufficiently to treat addiction on par with other chronic diseases. It largely remains stuck in the dated inpatient detox model, dictating that patients be isolated from their living environment in the initial acute phases of treatment to “rectify” their behaviour problem or moral failure. The incumbent inpatient treatment model also reinforces the stigma associated with the disease of addiction. Additionally, the inpatient detox model makes access to treatment difficult as individuals suffering from addiction have to drop out of their “life” to access addiction treatment – as a result, many patients postpone addiction treatment to a more “convenient” time while they slip deeper into addiction. In reality, most patients attending inpatient detox programs find it anxiety-provoking, as they are stressed about how their family is coping in their absence leading to less than optimal participation in treatment. Outpatient detox, on the other hand, is fully aligned with the disease model of treating addiction and leverages the benefits of modern medications such as buprenorphine, Suboxone, naltrexone, Vivitrol, etc. developed specifically to mitigate withdrawal symptoms and cravings effectively.

Outpatient detox allows individuals suffering from the disease of addiction to access the most acute level of addiction treatment, detox, from the comfort of their home while continuing to care for their family and fulfilling familial responsibilities.
Consequently, they can access treatment immediately, as there is no need to abandon their responsibilities at home. Remember that almost all treatment for other chronic diseases is provided on an outpatient basis.