An outpatient addiction treatment is a phase in addiction treatment which offers alcohol and drug treatment sessions which can be programmed through different times in the week.
Hence, with this structured schedule, the patient has the opportunity to continue with their everyday life, however, they need to check into treatment at the scheduled times for medication and counseling.
The format of outpatient addiction treatment is different from inpatient treatment. For inpatient treatment, the care being offered is on a 24/7 basis. However, outpatient works with a time format, meaning it can only be accessible during specific times and days during the week.
Outpatient addiction treatment includes Day Programs. This offers an intensive schedule of treatment; outpatient day programs would typically need individuals to be available during certain times in the week.
The patients who are in outpatient addiction treatment would gain access to individual, group and family therapies. They would also be exposed to medical treatment in order to treat underlying health problems.
Then, there is the Intensive outpatient programs, which offers more flexibility than what a day program would offer. This program is great for clients who need intensive treatment but their school, work and family have allowed them to use outpatient rehabilitation.
In addition, there is continuing care in outpatient addiction treatment which is often referred to as aftercare. The goal of this is to provide accountability measures and continuing support for individuals who have left the intensive outpatient treatment.
These care groups are usually controlled by a therapist who has been professionally licensed.
Outpatient treatment comes with a good number of benefits which are listed below:
- Enhanced autonomy levels than inpatient rehab
- Enhanced flexibility when it comes to scheduling treatment program sessions
- Being able to leave at home and be committed to an intensive program
- Liberty to work, school or be with the family
- Reduced cost than inpatient rehabilitation
- Proficiency in the treatment of mild and moderate substance addiction
There are some determining factors for outpatient addiction treatment, and they are as follows:
- Physical and emotional stability
- Living in a sober house
- No intensive care requirements
- Being able to invest energy in recovering