Substance abuse centers are places that provide counseling and treatment for people with addictions. They offer different types of rehab, including residential, outpatient and intensive outpatient.
Relapse prevention helps patients recognize potentially high risk situations or emotional “triggers” that may cause them to relapse into substance use. They learn new coping strategies and develop contingency plans.
Residential Treatment
In residential treatment, you live on-site in a controlled environment and receive around the clock care. This includes a medically supervised detox, individual and group therapy, education about addiction and recovery, relapse prevention, and coping skills. It also may include medication.
A residential program may offer drug and alcohol rehab, mental health treatment or even a combination of both. These facilities range from long-term, self-contained therapeutic communities to less supervised halfway and quarterway houses.
Residential treatment is effective for some people with serious substance use problems, but more research is needed to examine the effectiveness of residential programs and to assess how to improve outcomes. These outcomes include relapse rates and length of stay in residential treatment, as well as participation in mutual-help groups and other support programs after discharge from treatment. In some residential programs, family members are allowed to visit and participate in treatment with the client. However, these visits must be arranged in advance and often require a fee.
Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient treatment, whether in the form of standard outpatient therapy or an intensive outpatient program (IOP), offers a range of strong benefits. It helps people with a variety of conditions to manage their addictions in the context of daily life, with the ability to continue work or school and be close to family and friends.
IOPs and standard outpatient programs typically involve weekly sessions with group or individual counseling, but offer a greater level of flexibility to accommodate schedules. Many of these programs also incorporate psychoeducation, family, and/or group therapy and recovery skills training.
Residential treatment, on the other hand, is best for those with severe symptoms that are unable to function independently in their home environment. Residential treatment may run for 30 days or longer, and provide a fully controlled environment away from the stressors of daily life that can trigger addiction and relapse. Residential facilities are highly structured and usually provide 24/7 care.
Partial Hospitalization
Substance abuse centers who offers partial hospitalization is a treatment option for people with a mental health disorder or substance abuse problem (dual diagnosis). Also known as a “day program,” PHPs involve structured treatment sessions several hours a day, five days a week. People who enroll in PHPs live at home or elsewhere outside the treatment facility at night.
Individuals in PHPs typically undergo a thorough initial assessment to evaluate their unique challenges, needs, and goals. A personalized treatment plan is then developed to address these issues and circumstances. The treatment plan may include medical care, therapy, support groups, and alternative modalities such as yoga or art therapy.
Individuals in PHPs receive therapeutic counseling to understand the root causes of their addiction. Through this process, they develop healthier coping mechanisms and learn to manage their symptoms without the use of drugs or alcohol. They also gain a better understanding of the challenges that they face at home and at work.
Intensive Outpatient
Intensive outpatient treatment, or IOP, is a more structured version of traditional outpatient rehab. It’s more time-intensive than standard outpatient programs, but does not require participants to live at the facility like in an inpatient level of care.
Typically, people who enter IOP programs have already completed a residential treatment program or inpatient detox center, but are not yet ready to resume their daily lives and responsibilities at home. They are able to attend IOP sessions several times a week for a few hours at a time, and can build a support network of peers as they participate in therapy and recovery meetings.
IOP therapy is a great option for people who need the extra support and structure of a treatment program but cannot afford inpatient care, or who are still experiencing moderate to severe symptoms of mental illness. However, it’s important to note that IOP therapy is not a good fit for people who are at risk of hurting themselves or others, or who need 24-hour supervision or detox.