A standard outpatient program (OP) is a relatively low-intensity form of rehabilitation. Patients typically spend less than nine hours each week undergoing treatment at the facility. This standard approach is in contrast to intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), including up to 20 hours of weekly treatment and partial hospitalization programs (PHP). Patients spend considerable time receiving treatment each day. 

What Services Are Included in an Outpatient Drug Rehab Program?

While less intense than other forms of drug and alcohol rehab, outpatient programs provide patients with a full range of services. By drawing on all the forms of assistance an outpatient program offers, you can receive the type of comprehensive care that successfully combats addiction.

Medical Treatments

While inpatient care certainly emphasizes medical treatments, you can still seek medical assistance from a rehab facility while participating in an outpatient program. Facilities can administer most medical interventions without keeping the patient hospitalized overnight. You can also receive prescriptions and take medications from your home.

Therapy and Support Groups

Therapy is always an essential component of the rehab process, and it fits perfectly within the outpatient model. When participating in an outpatient program, you’ll typically visit the rehab facility several times a week for therapy and group support. Psychological approaches like cognitive-behavioral therapy can help you overcome addiction while improving your mental health. Group-based discussions will give you the peer support necessary to move on with your life. By attending these sessions regularly, you’ll reap the primary rewards of a rehab program without having to live at the facility. 

Skills Building and Educational Services

Outpatient rehab programs generally offer a set of skill-building and educational services. While these sessions don’t technically count as therapy, they can go a long way towards helping you establish a substance-free life. Learning new skills can make it easier to re-enter the workforce, begin a new career, and build a life beyond addiction.

Mentoring

Mentoring is a big part of most outpatient treatment programs. Talking with experts and people who have successfully overcome addiction is a great way to build strength and overcome substance abuse. Outpatient programs provide the perfect structure for maintaining consistent contact with kind-hearted mentors. With wise, sympathetic advisors on your side, you’ll have an easier time avoiding relapse and getting over your addiction. 

The Benefits of Outpatient Rehab

Like every type of rehab program, outpatient treatment has advantages and disadvantages. While outpatient programs don’t offer the same level of intensity and supervision as some other models, they have a lot to offer patients. As a prospective patient, it’s your job to determine which of the several options is right for you.

Greater Flexibility

When working with an outpatient program, you can schedule sessions and meetings around whatever you have going on in your life. This makes it much easier to participate in a rehabilitation program without putting your work and family obligations on hold. You can effectively participate in an outpatient program while working a full-time job, socializing with friends, and spending time with your family. This flexibility makes rehab a more enjoyable, less intrusive experience for many patients.

Lower Costs

Standard outpatient care is generally cheaper than inpatient or intensive outpatient rehabilitation. Not only will the lower cost help your finances, but it might also allow you to stick with the program longer. Being able to afford more weeks and months of treatment usually increases the chances of successfully overcoming addiction.

Opportunity to Apply New Skills

Skills training is often a big part of drug and alcohol rehabilitation. In an outpatient program, you have the opportunity to apply the new skills you’ve learned immediately. Let’s say your program offers a course on creating a resume and interviewing for jobs. Since you have the freedom to leave the facility and pursue a career, you can apply what you’ve learned in the real world by actually applying for positions. This immediate application of new skills makes it more likely to have a genuine impact on your training. After all, it’s always best to learn through experience. 

Signs That Outpatient Rehab Is Right For You

Outpatient drug rehab isn’t the right recovery option for everyone looking to overcome substance abuse. Many factors determine the best treatment option for each patient. While you might be tempted to opt for outpatient rehab because of the convenience and flexibility it provides, you should take a moment to consider whether you’re a good fit for such a program. Only sign up for an outpatient drug rehab if your case fits specific criteria.

You Are Not Suffering Withdrawal Symptoms

During the early phases of recovery, it’s common to suffer a painful withdrawal process as the substances work their way out of the body. In some cases, withdrawal symptoms can even be dangerous. Medical assistance and constant supervision is often the only way to ensure a patient undergoes a safe withdrawal. If you’re experiencing or expecting to experience physical withdrawal, then you’re better off seeking an inpatient program that offers the intensive care you need. 

You Have a Stable Home Environment

By definition, outpatient programs require patients to continue living at home while undergoing treatment. This makes outpatient care a poor choice for anyone with a toxic domestic situation. If you’re dealing with abusive relationships, constant substance use, or a generally stressful atmosphere at home, you should seek an inpatient program that can provide a more stable environment.

You Have a Reliable Mode of Transportation

Outpatient programs generally require patients to transport themselves to the facility for treatment. If you own a car, can count on receiving rides, or have access to reliable public transportation, this requirement won’t be a concern. Inpatient programs, meanwhile, are a better option for anyone who struggles to get around on their own. 

You Have a Supportive Network of Friends and Relatives

When you’re working with an outpatient program, you’ll spend much of your time outside the structural confines of the program. This means you’ll need to count on outside sources for motivation and support. Having a reliable network of friends and relatives can make navigating the world beyond the treatment facility much more accessible. 

You Are Highly Motivated to Seek Treatment

Outpatient programs provide greater freedom, but with that freedom comes increased responsibility. Since you’ll continue living at home, you’ll always have the option of skipping treatment or abandoning the program altogether. If you don’t trust yourself to stick with the program, you’re better off going with an inpatient option that comes with more supervision and obligation. On the other hand, if you’re highly motivated to attend every session and get all the treatment you need, then the outpatient model should work for you. 

Finding an Outpatient Treatment Program

Once you’ve decided that outpatient rehab is your best option, you need to find a program that fits your needs. Mid Hudson Addiction Recovery can help match you with an outpatient treatment program in New York. You should have no trouble finding the program that best suits your specific circumstances with the right approach. 

No two cases of addiction are the same. Everyone has their struggles, and everyone needs something different from treatment. You deserve to get the exact type of care you need in your pursuit of recovery. Mid Hudson Addiction Recovery is the simplest way to access essential addiction services for patients around New York. Don’t wait to get started. The road to recovery begins here.