Posted On : July 12, 2022
Experiencing or seeing your loved ones dealing with addiction or substance abuse can appear to be a hopeless situation. Further, the prevailing myths and stigma surrounding the topic add to the woes and make it very difficult to seek help. Just so you know – addiction is not the end of the world, there are ways to get better. Addiction of any kind is a treatable condition and with proper guidance and medical attention, any person suffering from addiction can lead the path of recovery and attain sobriety.
However, when thinking about addiction treatment, an image from TV and movies of “going off to rehab” floats in mind. The thought of quitting regular life and living in isolation in a restrictive and expensive situation often becomes taxing. While such can be a mode of treatment for many, it may not be the one that you need to overcome the abuse. Amidst, outpatient Addiction Treatment can emerge as a better suitable for you and can lead you to the path of recovery.
Addiction Outpatient Treatment Program is a treatment method wherein the patient is not required to leave the comfort of his/her home and live at a rehab center but can follow a treatment by simply making scheduled visits to doctors, and attending therapy sessions regularly. This non-residential approach allows much more flexibility for people to carry on with regular daily life – they can continue to go to work, attend school, or even go on holidays because treatment is scheduled around the patient’s availability and with their consent.
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The main difference between the two types of treatment lies in the core concept of the two. As the name suggests, an inpatient treatment program involves necessary hospitalization where the patient is treated under the continuous surveillance of doctors and caregivers. Such programs are often helpful for those who are suffering from severe addiction issues and require an acute level of care. It provides an immersive and comprehensive experience as the patient stays in the rehab facility and is given 24-hour medical supervision and community support.
However, this does not make Addiction Outpatient Treatment Program any less effective. Instead, outpatient treatment programs are ideal for patients diagnosed with mild to moderate levels of addiction and require less intensive care. As in the treatment method, the patient is not separated from regular day-to-day life, he/she gets to have a flexible schedule of therapy sessions ranging from 3 to 30 hours a week.
Another difference between the two is the treatment duration. While an Inpatient treatment program can last for a longer period of up to one year or as needed, an Addiction Outpatient Treatment Program usually spans between 30-90 days. The longer time duration often makes inpatient programs an expensive deal. Thereby, making outpatient treatment programs more cost-effective that often get covered by insurance.
It should be noted that apart from the aspect of hospitalization both programs also differ in terms of approach. Therefore, the best suitable mode of treatment is often decided by the doctor based on factors such as level of severity, duration of addiction as well as other nuances in the diagnosis. Rest assured, both the treatment mentions have recorded a high success rate in helping patients with substance use disorder.
There is no one size fits all solution when it comes to treating addiction as every individual has a different story, there are many factors that are essentially considered when selecting the program method. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), which recommends treatment for addiction and mental health disorders outlines 4 categories of substance abuse – physical dependence, risky use, social problems, and impaired control. This further spread across 11 identifying criteria:
- Taking the substance in larger amounts or for longer periods than recommended
- Unable to cut down or stop using the substance, despite wanting to
- Spending a lot of time getting, using, or recovering from use of the substance
- Cravings and urges to use the substance
- Not managing to do what you should at work, home, or school because of substance use
- Continuing to use it, even when it causes problems in relationships
- Giving up important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of substance use
- Using substances again and again, even when it puts you in danger
- Continuing to use, even when you know you have a physical or psychological problem that could have been caused or made worse by the substance
- Needing more of the substance to get the effect you want (tolerance)
- Development of withdrawal symptoms, which can be relieved by taking more of the substance
The severity of the abuse is considered ‘mild’ if the patient is displaying 2-3 of these symptoms; ‘moderate’ if displaying 4-5; and ‘severe’ if 6 or more symptoms are present. Outpatient Addiction Treatment is best suited for patients with mild to moderate symptoms. However, the decision is necessarily based on the clinical diagnosis, severity of the addiction and recommendations by doctors.
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In general, the steps to sobriety in an Addiction Outpatient Treatment Program are a combination of physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Some programs may also provide other services like that of nutritionists, counselors and other aid from rehabilitation professionals if needed in order to enhance the recovery and rehabilitation process. However, it is always prudent to have some knowledge about the various steps that lead to the path of sobriety: few terminologies with regards sobriety that may come handy while looking for an outpatient treatment program:
This is generally the first step of addiction treatment in most cases of substance abuse. In the detox process, all traces of drugs/ alcohol or other abused substances are removed from the body so that the patient becomes physically and mentally fit for the treatment ahead and is able to receive the therapy better.
Detox is important as during an addiction, the patient’s body develops a dependency on the abused substance. Consequently, the body loses its natural ability to create a defense mechanism or fight against any foreign and unwanted element. Therefore, during a detox process, the body is prepared to live off the abused substance and return to its natural form by gradually reducing the dosage of the substance of addiction.
Detox is a delicate process and should be necessarily undertaken in the guidance of a medical professional. It is advisable to go only for medically assisted detox procedures where trained healthcare specialists take care of the patient to minimize the negative effects of withdrawal and ensure their safety. Trying detoxing remedies at home may lead to severe and lethal complications.
During a detox process, when the presence of substance becomes low or absent in the body, it becomes difficult for the brain to adapt the new changes, even when occurring gradually. As a result, the patient often experiences pain or other discomforts and bothering symptoms that are commonly as withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms range from cravings to hallucinations. Withdrawal symptom of any kind is uncomfortable at best and miserable at worst.
Also, withdrawal symptoms can differ from one patient to another. The severity of these symptoms depend on factors like how long the patient has been addicted, the type of substance abused, the amount of drug consumed, and his/her general mental and physical health.
Some common physical withdrawal symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, shaking and shivering, sweating, increased heart rate and blood pressure, headaches, abdominal cramps, muscle, and bone pain, and exhaustion, while some of the common psychological withdrawal symptoms are anxiety, depression, mood swings, paranoia, agitation, insomnia, and vivid and unpleasant dreams. The most severe withdrawal symptoms include hallucinations, delirium, and seizures. In order to cope with the withdrawal symptoms, patients are given controlled medications that help them with anxiety and depression and ensure adequate sleep.
Typically, the detox process lasts for between 7 and 10 days. However, this can vary for different patients. After detox and managing withdrawal, patients will be ready for the next step of the treatment where they will receive further medication and psychological therapy.
While medication, in general, helps in minimizing the withdrawal symptoms such as decreasing cravings and re-establish normal brain functions, they are used to prevent relapse as well. These can be used too. The type of medication depends on the type of abuse and addiction, for example, medication for the treatment of opioids (heroin, prescription pain relievers) differs from tobacco (nicotine), and from that alcohol addiction.
In addition to prescribed medication, behavioral therapies are also a major part of addiction treatment. Such therapies help patients to modify their attitudes toward drug use, encourage healthy life skills. While these therapies are often paired with medication, they can also be prescribed in isolation depending on the course of treatment of the patient. Some of the most common types of behavioral therapies are:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy- helps patients to recognize, avoid, and also manage situations in which they are enticed to use drugs.
- Multidimensional family therapy- developed for adolescents with drug abuse problems and their families, which addresses the various influences on an individual’s drug abuse patterns and is designed to improve overall family functioning.
- Motivational interviewing- which basically convinces the affected individuals to change their behavior and pursue treatment
- Motivational incentives (contingency management), which encourages abstinence from drugs through positive reinforcement.
Completing the addiction treatment course is only half the battle as it is more important to continue with the new lifestyle and maintain the achieved sobriety to ensure a long lasting recovery. Aftercare plans may include the following:
- Family counseling
- Recovery support groups
- Psychiatric appointments
- Ongoing psychiatric medications, and/or medication-assisted treatment
A sober, healthy, supportive environment is a must for any addiction patient. Family, friends, home and other surroundings play a great role in after care and motivating the patient to continue on the path to long lasting recovery.
Fits to schedule: Since an outpatient treatment program does not require hospitalization, it offers schedule flexibility to the patient, thereby giving a lot of control over the treatment duration. In an outpatient treatment program, a patient can decide the factors such as how often to go, when to go as well as choose the medical professional of choice. This type of control is important because it allows the patient to tailor outpatient rehab to meet their specific needs.
Allows more privacy: In-person visit/ one-on-setting in an outpatient treatment program helps the patients to ensure more privacy. As it is structured to a one-on-one setting premise, it prevents the patients from the harshness and prejudices of the world.
Gives more affordability: While, the cost of outpatient rehab facilities varies vastly and is based on a number of aspects like the location, treatments offered, amenities provided, and medications used during the treatment, it is much more affordable when compared to other types of treatment programs. Additionally, more often than not, the cost of outpatient treatment programs gets covered under insurance policies.
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Addiction Outpatient Treatment Program often happens in facilities like local health department offices, counselor’s offices, mental health clinics, or hospital clinics. There are different types of outpatient rehab options available based on various factors, like the substance abused, the individual’s severity of addiction, and stage of recovery the patient is at. Broadly speaking, there are three categories of Outpatient Treatment: Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP), Intensive outpatient programs (IOP), and Support Groups
Among all the outpatient treatment settings, PHP is the most intense one as it involves the highest level of care. A patient participating in PHP commits to attending therapy sessions 5-7 days in a week for several hours a day.
The program consists of ongoing therapy, group counseling, helping in forming a strong network of support, and also recreational therapy like learning or developing skills in art or music. Also, this program helps the patients have more control over his/her mind and body.
Being an outpatient program, those who opt for a PHP, do go back to their home after the sessions, but continuing with the daily life routine becomes challenging because of the intense level of the treatment.
An intensive outpatient program is ideal for those who are serious about quitting drugs but alongside want to continue with their daily life responsibilities like work, school or attending to family needs. An IOP establishes a treatment plan for each individual, which includes measurable and defined milestones or short-term goals to be achieved. As these goals are met, it indicates progress in the path to recovery and the number of hours of sessions over a week keeps decreasing.
Intensive outpatient programs consist of group therapy, relapse prevention education counseling sessions, and forming support groups. A patient needs to commit a few hours per week for a successful outcome in an Intensive Outpatient Program
Support groups are the secondary phase of addiction treatment. It is a term given to any kind of service that helps patients to continue moving forward toward recovery and encourages them to stick to sobriety. This phase comes after one has received the primary treatment.
The secondary phase comprises less intensive and tapered care.. While licensed therapists facilitate the groups and formal aftercare programming, the role of peers and family becomes very crucial in providing support to the affected person.
A strong support system is crucial to the success of Addiction Outpatient Treatment and is most effective if the patient has a healthy environment and is surrounded by caring people in their regular life. Both family and friends can be crucial in making sure that the patient lives in a healthy and trigger free environment. Also, it is important that the patients are supported financially and logistically to be able to seek treatment and complete the entire course of the outpatient program.
Recovering from an addiction isn’t easy. It will take a significant amount of willpower and self-discipline to achieve and maintain long-term sobriety. However, you’re never alone on this journey. During rehab, you’ll build strong relationships with others in recovery who can relate to what you’re going through. Your family, friends, and other loved ones also have your best interests at heart during this time.
Your recovery from an addiction is dependent on how much you put into the process.