Drug addiction is a serious illness impacting many. The first step in treating said ailment occurs when the dependent realizes that they possess an appreciable problem and demonstrates the willingness to seek help.
The process’s next major phase often involves determining what type of treatment program would best serve the recovering soul’s needs. For some healing subjects, outpatient treatment is a serious consideration.
Outpatient Treatment Overview
When many people think of drug rehabilitation therapy, they conjure images of isolated treatment centers in tranquil locations where recovering addicts stay for extended periods.
This may be true for individuals with long-standing or serious dependencies. However, those with lesser addictions or the inability to seek inpatient care might benefit from outpatient services. In its simplest definition, outpatient treatment means patients receive treatment without having to stay at said facility for prolonged intervals.
Rather, said subjects receive therapy and reside in other locations such as their homes or other supervised or sanctioned locations.
Types Of Outpatient Rehab
There exist several types of outpatient substance abuse treatment. Addiction specialists differentiate these programs into three categories:
Day Treatment
Day programs are offerings in which patients visit treatment centers and participate in programs sponsored by said establishment for several hours each day. Patients might receive:
- Individualized and group counseling sessions
- Biofeedback
- Various therapies, such as art, music, or other creative endeavors
Once the day’s work is completed, the recipient is usually free to return to their family home or some type of sober living facility.
Typically, day programs are the most intense and structured outpatient programs requiring a significant time commitment and effort on the patient’s part.
Continuing Care
Continuing care are support groups sponsored by licensed counselors, therapists, or addiction treatment professionals. Common such entities include Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.
In many instances, these gatherings meet weekly or at other established time frames. Occasionally, these meetings can be age or gender-specific and may focus on a specific aspect of the recovery process.
Intensive Outpatient Programs
These offerings, sometimes abbreviated as IOP’s, patients initially receive intensive treatment. However, during the process of IOP participation, the treatment facility’s staff members and patients establish specific goals and aims and as said achievements are met, the patient in question’s required participation gradually decreases.
Optimal Candidates For Outpatient Treatment
The decision to commit to a specific type of addiction treatment should be made in close consultation with:
- Healthcare providers
- Close family members
- Mental health professionals
- Treatment specialists
Additionally, everyone’s circumstances are different and should be factored into any final choices.
That said, certain individuals might be better suited to benefit from said programs than others. Optimal candidates are those who:
Do Not Possess Crippling Addictions
Drug dependency is not a one size fits all concept. There are those subjects who can overuse a substance but still possess the capacity to function socially and professionally. That said, they might not be able to keep said efforts up forever and participation in an outpatient setting might prevent the dependency from worsening and necessitating more in-depth therapy.
Cannot Afford Inpatient Treatment
Though valuable, inpatient treatment can prove quite expensive. Persons lacking health insurance coverage or large sums of disposable income might simply not be able to afford long-term inpatient treatment.
Hold Numerous Obligations
Recovering addicts with minor children or other familial, personal, or professional obligations might not have several months to devote to traveling far away from said responsibilities.
Carry A Good Frame Of Mind
It is important to reiterate that outpatient treatment places a large degree of emphasis on individual involvement and responsibility. Therefore, those possessing a solid frame of mind and the capacity to handle such duties as tasks and deadlines are likely the most suitable candidates.
Finding An Outpatient Program
Fortunately, many organizations, medical facilities, and treatment centers offer outpatient rehab programs. Typically, said initiatives are not difficult to find and can be identified through efforts such as:
Professional Referrals
Individuals seeking outpatient treatment might garner referrals on suitable locations after consulting with their doctors and mental health professionals. Said subjects might enjoy working relationships with said establishments.
Online Searches
Those with internet access are encouraged to utilize their favorite search engines by entering search terms like the city or general area they reside in followed by the words outpatient drug treatment.
Such efforts will likely yield numerous returns. Prospective patients are implored to carefully review information about facilities most matching their needs and investigate further through interviews and even visits to said locations.
Directory Searches
Those lacking internet access can use old-fashioned search methods like perusing through their local telephone business directories and cold calling suitable establishments or places like hospitals or clinics who might offer such programs or know of entities offering them.
Contacting Us
Individuals experiencing difficulty deciding between inpatient and outpatient care are urged to contact our team. We possess a dearth of experience evaluating such cases. After learning the facts surrounding a prospective patient’s circumstances, we can offer suggestions regarding the most befitting solutions. Call us now at 833-680-0165.