At some point in their lives, around one in 10 adults living in the United States have experienced drug use disorder. Studies have found that more than 23 million adults here have struggled with drug and alcohol addiction.

While this is a harrowing statistic on its own, findings have also shown that 75% of people with drug addiction have not received any level of treatment. Only one in four Americans who have experienced addiction have received treatment at some point in their lives, whether with inpatient or outpatient rehab.

For people with an alcohol use disorder, approximately 20% have received treatment. For those who have moderate-to-severe drug use, the figure is still less than one-third. In this post, we will shine the light on outpatient drug/alcohol rehab treatments and how they differ from inpatient treatment.

We will also look at the different types of outpatient rehab services, the benefits of outpatient rehab, and examine if outpatient rehab is a good fit for you.

The Five Levels of Care

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) has defined five levels of care for treating drug addiction. These levels highlight the range of services available. Depending on the severity of the individual case, the appropriate level of care can be selected.

The five levels range from early intervention (0.5) to medically managed intensive inpatient services (4). Levels 1 and 2 focus on types of outpatient services. In this post, we will focus on outpatient and intensive outpatient services, as well as Partial Hospitalization Services.

Intensive Outpatient Services

Also known as IOPs, this form of treatment is useful for people who are not in need of 24-hour care or medical detoxification. Studies have shown that intensive outpatient services play an important role in the treatment of drug addiction. For most individuals, they have been found to be as effective as inpatient treatments.

Generally, this treatment level requires nine or more hours per week (six or more hours per week for adolescents). IOPs provide a range of services that meet the needs of people with addiction, typically in the evenings or on weekends. This allows people to maintain their independence, see family and friends, and continue to work.

During an IOP, you will use a range of services including group therapy, one-to-one counseling, and education on relapse prevention. As a patient progresses through their stated individual goals, the time commitment decreases per week.

Partial Hospitalization Services

Also known as outpatient day programs. This requires a greater amount of time commitment than IOPs and provides a greater level of care and structure for patients. This level of service generally provides more than 20 hours of service per week.

You will continue to live from home during this treatment. This helps to foster and maintain links to friends, family, and general society. Treatments generally take place during the day. Here, you will use a range of therapies, often including music or art therapy, as well as group and one-to-one counseling.

General Outpatient Services

The ASAM has defined this level of care as level 1, between Early Intervention and IOPs. This service generally requires less than nine hours per week (six or fewer hours per week for adolescents). The services provided here may be delivered within a variety of settings and locations. They may entail continuing care groups, for example, Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous.

Benefits of Outpatient Rehab

Let’s take a look at some of the principal benefits of attending outpatient rehab services and how they can work for you.

Lifestyle/Treatment Balance

The primary difference between inpatient and outpatient rehab is where you stay during your treatment course. With outpatient rehab, you will stay at home, oftentimes with family. You will then attend treatment during the week (depending on the intensity of your outpatient treatment).

This also you to maintain a more normal lifestyle than if you were staying at a facility full-time. As it is less intensive, you will have greater opportunities to work, study, spend time with loved ones. This allows you to re-engage with society while still receiving treatment.

More Affordable

The cost of treatment is often a major stumbling block for those seeking help. By participating in an outpatient program, you will not incur the costs of living at a treatment facility on a full-time basis.

Equally, you will have a greater opportunity to work around your treatment hours, allowing you to afford treatment and to build a new future as you do so.

Best for Mild Addictions

While inpatient rehab services are designed to treat people with serious addictions, outpatient services are typically for people with less severe addictions. You may have previously attended an inpatient service and are looking for less-intensive, ongoing support.

Outpatient services are also valuable in reducing the need for someone to attend an inpatient service by not allowing addiction to grow progressively worse.

Which Outpatient Rehab Is Best for Me?

The right outpatient service for you depends on many factors. It depends on your goals, location, costs, and more. Click here to learn more about how to choose the best treatment facility for you.

At Addiction Answers, we are available to help and guide you in this decision. We are available over the phone, by email, or through live chat. Our team will be happy to assist you in making the best decision and to answer any questions you may have. Click here to speak to a member of our team today.

Take Action Against Your Addiction Today

Whether you are considering an outpatient rehab service or would like to enquire about one, feel free to contact our friendly and experienced team today.