Since addiction is a disease, most people are not able to choose to easily stop abusing their substance of choice cold-turkey on their own. Relapse is inevitable, especially in the early stages of recovery. Substance abuse is a cycle, and when you think you can stop, it always pulls you back in. That’s why people require long-term professional care at a rehab facility to recover and attain continued abstinence.
When choosing a drug and alcohol treatment in Prescott Valley, Arizona, and the surrounding areas, a person typically has a choice between an inpatient and/or outpatient drug rehab.
At Granite Mountain Behavioral Healthcare in Prescott Valley, Arizona our outpatient rehab facility is a convenient way to get help and fight against drug and alcohol abuse.
Whichever addiction treatment program is chosen, our multidisciplinary team of specialists will help individuals abstain from using drugs or drinking alcohol. The main benefits of outpatient rehab are the resources available. This drug and alcohol treatment program gives people the tools to achieve a happy, healthy, and meaningful life.
What Is Outpatient Treatment?
Outpatient rehab for people suffering from substance abuse is commonly the level of treatment completed after an inpatient/residential treatment program. The level of recovery needed is chosen by addiction specialists based on a variety of factors.
These factors include the following:
- The severity of one’s addiction
- If someone is experiencing any co-occurring medical or mental health complications
- Previous addiction treatment experience
- The type of addiction or co-occurring mental health condition
- If there is support from the family
For those with more mild levels of addiction, outpatient rehab is ideal for people who can recover while at home instead of at a rehab facility. Those who work, attend school, and have other important responsibilities can do so while still attending treatment sessions while living a more independent lifestyle at home.
Outpatient programs are part-time programs that allow the recovering user to keep going to work or school, while still attending treatment sessions rigorously throughout the week as needed. It’s important for both the addict and family to determine together which type of outpatient treatment program will be the right one.
Benefits of Outpatient Rehab
The main benefit of an outpatient rehab facility is that people suffering from drug and alcohol abuse can effectively receive treatment without interfering with normal life. Treatment sessions are usually scheduled to accommodate a person’s schedule, making them available both during the day and at night.
Other benefits of outpatient rehab include:
- The patient stays home and goes to treatment during the day
- More affordable
- 3 months to an over 1-year program
- Good for treating a mild addiction
- Attending treatment sessions 10 to 12 hours a week or as discussed
At Granite Mountain, there are different levels of outpatient treatment available to fit everyone’s unique needs. Our process allows a person to transition easier and progress from more frequent and intensive therapy to less intensive therapy, as they show an ability to manage their recovery with less clinical support.
Treatment protocols will not work the same way for everyone, and therefore, we make it easy for our patients to transition from each stage of treatment in a progressive manner so that they can learn to manage their recovery, but with the necessary support.
What are Common Types Of Outpatient Rehab Programs?
There are various types of outpatient treatment for people suffering from addiction. Below are the most commonly used to treat drug and alcohol addiction.
Short-term vs. Long-term Outpatient Rehab
The length of time spent in an outpatient program varies from person to person. The long-term vs. short-term decision will be based on several factors including:
- Cross addiction diagnosis
- Dual diagnosis cases
- Individual motivation to change
- Intensity and number of life responsibilities
- Personal need for psychological support
At Granite Mountain Behavioral Healthcare, our addiction specialists will help determine which type of outpatient program below is right for you. They include the following:
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for Addiction
Individuals diagnosed with more severe cases of addiction usually attend a program several days each week and stay for several hours each day. This is known as an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). Those with mild diagnoses of addiction may only be required to travel to a facility a couple of times each week for an hour or two each visit. IOPs typically last three to four months.
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) for Addiction
Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) are short-term treatment programs for those struggling with addiction and/or mental health issues. A PHP does not require patients to reside in a treatment facility but does require them to attend daily treatment sessions that last several hours each day. The duration for these types of programs is usually several months or weeks.
Aftercare Program for Addiction Treatment
When a person completes outpatient treatment, they will typically continue to attend outpatient therapy sessions for several months or up to a year afterward. Aftercare helps individuals with addiction maintain a continuum of care. Aftercare programs utilize what was taught during treatment and give people access to other resources available to maintain their sobriety and cope with triggers that may arise.
What To Expect During And After Outpatient Treatment?
The majority of time spent in an outpatient program is spent in addiction counseling. There are various therapy options to accommodate everyone’s needs. Recovering addicts in outpatient programs will spend several hours each week in individual and group therapy. Depending on your needs, this can last several weeks or several months.
Some of the things to take care of before entering our facility include:
- Talking to your employer if you work
- Finding living arrangements for children or other family members if need be
- Planning how to get to and from the rehab center (transportation)
- Finding out what personal items are and not allowed
- Gathering all medical information (medical history, medications, etc.)
After completing an outpatient program, recovering addicts will usually spend several weeks in an aftercare program. This requires recovering addicts to continue to attend weekly therapy sessions to cope with everyday stressors and maintain their sobriety.
The Intake Process for Outpatient Drug Rehab
Before a person begins any treatment program, they undergo the intake process. During this time, individuals will go over their medical history, including mental health and medications with the addiction/mental health specialists, and then be psychologically evaluated. From there, diagnoses will be made, and decisions on which treatment plan is right for you will be made.
For those who go to outpatient drug rehab, it is important to note, that these programs still maintain some structure and strict guidelines to follow. This type of treatment usually offers a step-down approach to attendance with more intensive treatment occurring in the first weeks.
Addiction Counseling
Like residential programs, outpatient programs also focus on family support and involvement. For family and friends of drug or alcohol-addicted individuals, addressing the addiction is one of the most difficult aspects of helping the loved one seek treatment.
Involvement in an outpatient addiction counseling program means that patients are not separated from their families. They can attend therapy sessions and meetings in a facility close to home and can continue substance abuse treatment for an extended period of time.
What Is The Cost Of Outpatient Rehab?
Costs for outpatient rehab can generally range between $1,400 – $10,000 for around 3 months of care. This is of course a very large range and depends on each individual situation.
Inpatient treatment is more expensive, and better for those with severe addictions. This is especially true if you have relapsed after attending outpatient treatment in the past. This is also true if you are living in an environment with people who are abusing drugs and alcohol.
Major savings to the individual stem from fewer interpersonal conflicts, greater workplace productivity, and fewer drug-related accidents.
According to several conservative estimates, every dollar invested in addiction treatment programs yields a return of between $4 and $7 in reduced drug-related crime, criminal justice costs, and theft. Drug addiction treatment has been shown to reduce associated health and social costs by far more than the cost of the treatment itself.
Does Insurance Cover Outpatient Rehab?
In many cases, your insurance provider can help you sort out the costs. No matter what you choose, bear in mind that the cost of treatment pales in comparison to the cost of addiction in the long run.
At Granite Mountain, our admissions team will work with you to figure out your insurance/payment needs and provide you with a solution. You no longer have to worry about not being able to receive the help that you need.
How Long Does An Outpatient Rehab Program Last?
An average stay in an outpatient rehab program is about 10 weeks. So, depending on the individual, the number of times necessary to travel to the treatment facility, and the duration of each session will vary.
If you are considering an outpatient program, you should understand that the length of time spent in the program will vary based on several factors. The worse an addiction is, the longer a person will spend in treatment. Duration will also depend on the type of program.
An outpatient program for drug or alcohol addiction can be successful, especially when the person is highly motivated to change. Unlike inpatient programs, outpatient programs do not require participants to reside in a treatment facility for several weeks or months. Instead, participants travel to addiction rehab facilities to attend treatment sessions.
Inpatient Vs. Outpatient Addiction Treatment
Depending on the person and their condition, there is no type of treatment better than the other. The best treatment plan is the one that is chosen for each unique individual because of their specific needs. However, evidence has shown that people have found success with outpatient rehab after undergoing inpatient treatment.
It’s important to note, that people who have not yet undergone treatment may not require both levels of care. It is up to you and your medical or counseling professional to decide which program is right for you.
What’s The Difference Between Inpatient And Outpatient Treatment?
Outpatient rehab facilities work the same way inpatient treatment does in terms of treatment and therapy. The main difference between the two is that residential programs require people to stay at the facility, with around-the-clock monitoring/treatment, with supervised medical detox periods. Whereas, outpatient programs don’t require people to live at the rehab facility, and meet for a specific number of hours, multiples days per week.
A typical residential program runs anywhere from 28 days to 6 months. For those who have more mild to moderate symptoms, outpatient rehab programs work best.
At Granite Mountain Behavioral Healthcare, our outpatient treatment incorporates evidence-based holistic methods and treatment services such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and medically assisted detox.
Aside from the main components of outpatient treatment, to effectively treat co-occurring disorders (addiction and mental illness), we incorporate one-on-one addiction counseling with therapists, such as individual psychotherapy, group therapy, and family therapy. Telehealth services are available for all services at this level of care.
The First Steps Before Entering Outpatient Rehab
Medical Detox
Before entering an outpatient program, you will first need to undergo an initial assessment. You will have to have gone through medical detox and withdrawal so that no drugs or alcohol are in your system at the time of entrance into an outpatient program.
Because outpatient treatment is designed to treat various levels of addiction, the first step before undergoing outpatient treatment, or any program for that matter, is medically assisted detox (MAT).
Medical professionals and addiction specialists monitor vital signs while the drugs exit the system. Cravings are common during medically assisted detox and can be difficult to overcome. Our team can provide the necessary medicine and expertise to help lessen cravings and withdrawals.
After drug and alcohol detox, patients learn about the disease of addiction in a supportive, immersive environment. Residential programs are safe, structured environments. Patients are removed from stressful situations that promote the urge to use.
Since the influencing factors have been removed, patients can now focus on building the necessary life skills to help them maintain long-term recovery and prevent relapse.
Addiction Affects Family Too
Alcohol and drug addiction are both considered “family diseases.” Often, over time, family involvement may, unfortunately, do more harm than good, and enable the addict. Ultimately, it must be up to the person who is struggling with addiction to seek out and get help.
Friends and family members can offer emotional support for the decision and ensure that the person has access to the resources necessary. Support is probably the number one benefit to someone recovering from addiction.
Importance Of Family Support During Outpatient Rehab
Addiction doesn’t just affect the one suffering, but everyone around them, including family and friends. With that being said, one of the most important aspects of treatment, in general, is support. That’s why the outpatient rehab process includes family involvement in the form of family therapy, education, coping and life skills, and other addiction treatment resources.
These are beneficial in helping people and their loved ones work through the underlying issues they’ve experienced by learning how to better communicate, how to express themselves, set healthy boundaries, and most importantly rebuild relationships.
Successful clinics know family involvement is crucial to recovery. Each facility’s policy regarding how and how often residents can communicate with their loved ones is different. Some rehab centers also provide counseling for the addicted person’s family. This, of course, depends on the proximity of the treatment center to the recovering person’s home.
In addition, patients benefit from having a therapeutic community. A community of patients who support one another through treatment by encouraging each other to stay on task of recovery. It is often this camaraderie through empathy and shared experience that often helps patients overcome addiction while completing drug or alcohol treatment.
How To Approach A Loved One Who Needs Help
Families should understand that approaching their loved ones should be a gentle and supportive process. They need to understand that most patients seek substance abuse treatment because of positive family reinforcement. However, each family is different and the best way to approach family involvement with addiction therapy will differ with every person.
It may be necessary to find a counselor in your area that is trained to work with drug and alcohol-addicted patients and their families. Insisting that a person seeks help exactly as dictated by others is rarely going to bring about a positive change. Instead, family members and friends should reach out to the person and let them know that they are not alone, and there are resources and options for help available to them.
Personal involvement with people combating drug and alcohol addiction requires continual attentiveness to understand the disease and learn how to support someone they care about. Ongoing family addiction counseling sessions will also assist family and friends with their emotional support during what is usually an extremely stressful time.
Is Outpatient Rehab Right For You?
You and your medical or counseling professional are best suited to know which type of treatment is ideal for your situation. Be honest with yourself and your counselor about how independently dedicated you can be in an outpatient program.
When you talk to an addiction treatment professional about voluntarily entering drug and alcohol treatment, talk about your circumstances to figure out which aspects of outpatient or residential treatment would be best for you. Both programs have life-changing benefits. Understanding which program will best help you achieve long-term recovery is one of the first steps to becoming sober.
Seeking addiction treatment can be scary. We applaud you for taking the first step, even just by reading this. Whether it’s you or a loved one that’s struggling, we’re here to help. The road to recovery takes effort, but there are most certainly brighter days ahead.
Most likely, you have tried to do it on your own in the past. Know you are not alone! Contact us at Granite Mountain today to speak to one of our qualified specialists. We are here for you every step of the way on your journey to recovery.
References:
https://www.recoveryunplugged.com/treatment/treatment-process/rehab/outpatient-rehab/
