Outpatient Rehab: How Does It Work?

Under an outpatient rehab program, patients talk to a therapist or a counselor on a regular basis. This may be done several times throughout the week. Sometimes sessions may be done over the weekend or during the evening. This allows people in recovery to balance their personal and professional obligations with their treatment needs. The schedule therefore varies from one patient to another. These programs may be designed to accommodate their responsibilities outside of rehab. It does involve frequent visits to the treatment facility, so it still requires a lot of hard work and commitment on the part of the patients.

Just like inpatient treatment, outpatient rehab is also highly personalized. There are support services like individual counseling, group counseling, family therapy, education sessions, psychotherapy, recreational therapy, medication-assisted treatment, and many others.

Outpatient rehab is only recommended for patients with mild to moderate cases of addiction. Those with severe addiction need a more structured environment so an inpatient approach may be better for them.

If the patient’s substance use disorder is relatively mild, their physician may recommend an outpatient drug rehab program instead of an inpatient program.

Having a strong social support system is also important because it means friends and family members are able to support the patient through this difficult process. This means outpatient treatment is also a good option for them because they have a safe and comfortable environment to go home to.

Inpatient rehab is a good choice for those with more toxic home environments wherein they need somewhere to focus on their recovery without distractions or triggers.

Patients who are motivated and have access to reliable transportation may not need inpatient treatment because traveling to the venue is easy for them.

Outpatient rehab programs may have different levels of intensity. There are partial hospitalization programs (PHPs), intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), and standard outpatient programs or (OPs).

Partial hospitalization is also known as “day treatment”. These programs are equipped with an interdisciplinary team that can treat a variety of medical and mental health conditions. Partial hospitalization is for patients who need a high level of support but do not need 24-hour supervision.

PHP programs last at least 20 hours per week. The patient is monitored in a structured setting even though they are not staying in a treatment facility.

Intensive outpatient programs also have an interdisciplinary team of experts, but provide less medical and clinical support than PHPs. Treatment lasts between 9 and hours per week.

Finally, standard outpatient programs have minimal medical services—if any. If the patient needs more intensive services, standard outpatient programs link them to the necessary services. This program is more focused on helping patients change behaviors associated with drug or alcohol abuse. Treatment lasts for less than 9 hours per week.

Depending on the patient’s progress, they may move to a less intensive treatment program over the course of their treatment. At the same time, if a patient is struggling to make progress with a less intensive program, they may have to move to a higher level of care.

Inpatient admissions are declining, while outpatient visits are only increasing per year. There are a couple of reasons why outpatient services have become so popular in recent years.

Better drugs have allowed procedures, therapies, and tests to be done outside of inpatient settings. There are also new technologies that make outpatient services more accessible. Patients can also use alternative payment models, which make it easier to pay for treatment.

On top of all these factors, outpatient services are just more convenient for people who have a lot of obligations and responsibilities outside of rehab that they can’t leave behind. Patients can go to the facility during their scheduled hours, receive treatment, and then go home to their families afterwards.

It is also perfect for former residential patients who need to continue to make progress in an outpatient setting.

The most glaring difference between outpatient care and inpatient care is where the patient resides. In an outpatient program, the client stays in their own home and travels to the treatment facility several times per week. There they may spend a couple of hours going through counseling, but they eventually go home afterwards. In between sessions, patients can return to their regular life.

People in inpatient programs need to stay in the facility for the duration of their treatment, but family members can visit them any time. Food and accommodations are provided, which is one of the reasons why inpatient treatment is generally more expensive.

Outpatient treatment is generally more affordable because it does not provide food and accommodations. However, it is also less focused and structured, which means there is also a higher risk of relapse. This is why it is better suited for patients who have more manageable conditions. That said, outpatient treatment can still work wonders for patients who are suited to this type of treatment.

Some outpatient facilities offer housing services or help patients arrange alternative living setups if necessary.

Both inpatient and outpatient rehab programs offer a wide variety of therapies to help patients overcome substance use disorders. However, they differ in terms of medical management and monitoring. Inpatient programs provide round-the-clock care and support.

It is possible to recover from drug and alcohol addiction, although it takes a lot of work. But when choosing a rehab program, patients may have to pick between inpatient and outpatient. The reality is that there is no correct answer and it all depends on the person’s specific needs.

For some patients, the comfortable environment provided by inpatient rehab can help them focus on healing. Inpatient treatment also takes them away from their usual environment, which may be toxic for them. For some people, their environment may be keeping them from fully recovering because they are exposed to various triggers, temptations, and stressors.

In a rehab facility, they can concentrate on getting sober while also learning ways to cope with a drug-free lifestyle. They will learn healthy ways to channel their energy and be productive without abusing their drug of choice.

But outpatient treatment also has its benefits. The patient can keep going to school or work while receiving treatment. They can keep taking care of their children. They can also apply the things they learn in therapy and actively practice it.

Because of its less focused nature, outpatient care tends to have a higher relapse rate compared to inpatient treatment. But that said, these two types of care have their own advantages and disadvantages. They each have their specific uses. Some patients will benefit more from one over the other.

It is possible to do rehab at home—but not on your own. When we say “rehab from home” it simply means receiving outpatient care. Outpatient treatment allows patients to go home in between treatments.

It is not recommended that you try to detox all by yourself, especially if you are dependent on alcohol or a certain drug. People who are dependent to a particular substance will go through a period of withdrawal once they stop taking their chosen drug. Withdrawal symptoms may range from mild to severe. Some withdrawal symptoms can even be life-threatening.

It is best that you receive care from medical experts. They can provide round-the-clock care and medications to help manage your cravings and withdrawal. If you want to go through rehab at home, look for an outpatient program.

Addiction treatment generally consists of a combination of medical detox and behavioral therapy. If necessary, medication will be prescribed to help with the patient’s cravings or withdrawal symptoms.

According to NIDA, detox should be the first phase of a complete treatment plan. This is because detox deals with the physical effects of addiction, including dependence and withdrawal. During detox, the patient’s intake is gradually lowered while their withdrawal symptoms are managed. Eventually, the patient’s body adjusts to the absence of the addictive substance.

Detox should then be followed by behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy and counseling are designed to equip patients with the knowledge and the coping mechanisms necessary to maintain sobriety for the long-term.

While detox helps them get sober, therapy and counseling teaches them how to stay sober on their own. This combination helps people in recovery to overcome their dependence on the addictive substance.

Generally speaking, treatments that last longer often yield better results. Aside from these methods, there are also programs that specialize in treating certain patients in different demographics. A specialized approach may work best for people with addictions to certain substances. For example, there are rehab facilities that specialize in alcohol addiction treatment.

When it comes to addiction treatment, there is a so-called “continuum of care”. Different treatment settings exist within it. Programs may have different levels of care, duration, and therapies. The right treatment level is determined after addiction treatment professionals have examined and assessed the patient’s condition.

There are a number of individual factors that can influence the duration of a person’s addiction treatment. These factors include: the severity of their addiction, their co-occurring disorders, their age, and even their progress in a treatment program. All of these can affect the length of an outpatient program.

Different clients will require varying levels of care. These can last for weeks to several months. But generally speaking, outpatient treatments don’t last as long as inpatient programs. The longest inpatient rehab programs last for more than 6 months for the most severe cases.

As treatment progresses, the person’s needs may evolve and change, which is why adjustments to the duration of treatment can sometimes be implemented.

If you or someone you love is struggling with an addiction, look for a rehab facility near you today and find out what kind of programs they offer. Whether it’s an outpatient or inpatient program, the road to recovery begins today.

Treatment is an addicted individualʼs best option if they want to recover. Beating an addiction not only requires eliminating the physical dependence, but also addressing the behavioral factors that prevent them from wanting to get better. Simply quitting may not change the psychological aspect of addiction. Some people quit for a while, and then take drugs or alcohol again, only to overdose because they did not detox properly. Recovery involves changing the way the patient feels, thinks, and behaves.