Inpatient treatment can be beneficial for people that need a higher level of care when first beginning addiction treatment. Medical detox services and a highly-structured environment are not the norm in outpatient treatment. However, outpatient treatment can be beneficial for those with busy schedules who still need to engage in recovery. Flexible morning and evening programs combined with medication can still be effective treatment. Studies have also shown that intensive outpatient treatment programs can be just as effective as inpatient treatment in treating addiction.