How Outpatient Addiction Treatment Centers Work

Understanding The Difference Between Inpatient And Outpatient Treatment Programs

If you aren’t particularly familiar with the recovery process that takes place when someone sets out to conquer a substance use disorder, you may also be unfamiliar with the idea of outpatient addiction treatment programs.

In contrast to inpatient treatment programs (also known as residential treatment centers), which require patients to reside full time at their inpatient facility, outpatient care allows patients to live at home while they complete their recovery process.

In a partial hospitalization program, the highest level of care excluding inpatient treatment, clients may spend up to eight hours a day up to five days a week at their treatment facility. This means that an intensive outpatient program can provide a similarly comprehensive and immersive environment to an inpatient program.

However, outpatient programs are often able to do so at a far lower cost than inpatient rehab, which could make outpatient programs more accessible to people who might find the cost of inpatient programs prohibitive.

Outpatient rehab programs also allow far more personal freedom than inpatient rehab. This can make an outpatient rehab program a lot more bearable than more restrictive residential treatment, which in turn makes outpatient programs easier for many patients to stick with.

This also makes outpatient programs more accessible than inpatient rehab programs to people who have work or family obligations that prohibit them from being able to stay full-time in an inpatient rehab facility.

However, there are certain situations in which inpatient care would be more appropriate than outpatient care. Patients who are at high risk of relapse, such as those who have a long history of drug abuse or have already spent time in treatment centers but were unable to stay sober, may be better served by inpatient rehab programs than by an outpatient treatment program that may offer them too much freedom.

Patients who do not have a strong support system at home may also be better candidates for inpatient treatment centers. Additionally, an outpatient drug rehab program or outpatient alcohol rehab program may not be appropriate for patients whose substance abuse has escalated to a physical dependency.

In this case, the patient may be at risk for severe withdrawal symptoms if they are not supervised by treatment providers as in inpatient rehab. Inpatient rehabs are also the proper choice for patients who have co-occurring mental health conditions that may cause them to pose a danger to themselves in outpatient drug rehab programs or outpatient alcohol rehab.

What To Expect In An Outpatient Treatment Program

Inpatient and outpatient programs work much the same way in many respects, so much of the information below will be applicable to inpatient and outpatient treatment alike, including that an outpatient treatment program is likely to include mental health services as a part of their addiction treatment program.

Substance use disorders often correlate with other mental health disorders, which are known as co-occurring disorders. Addressing these co-occurring disorders in outpatient treatment is critical for the achievement of lasting sobriety, or else symptoms that drove a patient’s drug abuse in the past are likely to continue to do so in the future.

Group therapy is also an important part of outpatient drug treatment programs. Through group counseling functions similarly to support groups, the presence of a treatment provider to oversee and guide the conversation allows for a safer and more controlled environment for patients to discuss their substance use disorders.

Many American addiction centers also offer family therapy, which invites family members into the treatment facility so that the treatment provider can address the family unit as a whole. Family members have often been significantly impacted by the addiction of the person in the outpatient program, so giving them, too, a chance to heal may be critical to allowing them to become a more robust support system for the family member in the outpatient rehab program.

Some outpatient rehabs also offer medication-assisted treatment as part of their drug or alcohol rehab program. Though this practice is still considered controversial by some American addiction centers, evidence suggests that such treatment options are correlated with lower rates of overdose and drug abuse for opioid abusers, as attested to by this factsheet from the National Institute of Drug Abuse.

Drug rehab centers also often work to provide their patients with relapse prevention skills that will guard them against future substance abuse, or provide career counseling that will help patients to build a productive life free of drug and alcohol problems.

Finally, though whether or not your rehab facility will accept insurance varies based on your specific treatment program and your insurance provider, recent regulations mean that most forms of insurance cover rehab. If uncertainty about finances is part of your reasoning for delaying outpatient treatment, you can contact individual rehab centers to discover what kinds of insurance they accept, or you can contact your insurance company to ask what American addiction centers are covered.

Outpatient Rehab Programs At Reco Intensive

One of the leaders among American addiction centers, Reco Intensive is a substance abuse treatment center located in scenic Delray Beach, Florida. At our rehab center, we offer an intensive outpatient program equipped with a wide variety of treatment options.

And, along with incorporating a variety of evidence-based treatment practices, our outpatient rehab programs work to heal the whole person by incorporating a wide variety of holistic treatment services as well. Our staff also includes a variety of qualified treatment professionals who make an effort to foster an empathetic environment as they provide drug and alcohol counseling.

We are accredited by the National Institute of Health, the Substance Abuse And Mental Health Services Administration, and many other reputable organizations regulating drug and alcohol rehab centers. We will also be able to direct anyone for whom inpatient care might be a better fit to one of our trusted partners for inpatient rehab.

To learn more about our intensive outpatient programs and how you or a loved one can expect to have our outpatient rehab work, you can contact us at 844.955.3042 or contact us online anytime here if you want our professional treatment advice. There’s no time like today to get back on the road to a brighter future.