When you are in need of substance addiction treatment, the terms used in the process can be difficult to comprehend for the average individual. Addiction disorders are conditions defined on a continuum that ranges from mild to severe to life-threatening. Every substance abuse victim, through their abuse habits and situations, may qualify to meet the criteria for different levels of addiction treatment.
Due to the barriers revolving around seeking addiction treatment, many people wait until they require high levels of treatment and attention. This reason makes it essential for individuals to understand the various levels of care provided at rehab centers and what every level of care entails.
Medical detox and stabilization
Typically, detox is the first critical step during addiction treatment. Nonetheless, not all patients go through this step. Medical doctors determine if detox is necessary using the following factors:
- Current level of substance use.
- Type of substance abused.
- Length of abuse.
- Presence of withdrawal symptoms.
The rehab facility will isolate you in a private room and monitor your withdrawal symptoms as you gradually wean off the drugs from your system. Experts recommend 4 to 14 days of monitoring and medical stabilization as your body adjusts to the elimination of drugs you’ve become dependent on. Your doctor may prescribe certain medications to help tone down the withdrawal symptoms and make the detoxification process more bearable.
Outpatient treatment
Under the outpatient level of care, you are required to attend treatment sessions at the rehab center, although you will be allowed to go back home. This level of care will enable you to carry on with your normal life routines while attending your one-on-one addiction treatment programs with the therapists and addiction health professionals. This kind of arrangement is best suited if your level of addiction struggle is mild, you have to attend to work or school, and you have a reliable support system back at home.
Outpatient rehab treatments typically cost less compared to other levels of treatment, which makes them preferable to many patients. Outpatient services include addiction treatment, evaluation, and after-care services.
Intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization program
Getting enrolled in partial hospitalization programs means that you get to receive more than 20 hours of treatment each week at the facility. You are allowed to go home or live in sober-living housing when you aren’t getting treatment. On the other hand, intensive outpatient programs entail of 9 or more hours of addiction treatment per week. Both of these programs focus on equipping you with therapy and education on how to cope with treatment, recovery, and relapse prevention.
You may access this level of care as your first entry point to addiction treatment if your level of addiction is moderate. Also, patients who’ve been released from detox and residential programs may find partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs helpful.
Inpatient/residential programs
If your doctor examines your current state and finds out that you need stable living space, frequent professional monitoring, and perhaps you have functional deficits, he or she may recommend a residential level of treatment. What is it? Inpatient or residential level of care revolves around getting professional treatment and assistance in a facility that’s staffed 24 hours a day for seven days a week. You will live in proximity to the rehab or within the facility for close monitoring and treatment.
If you choose to enroll for residential treatment, you will put a slight halt to your career or school work to focus on getting better. On average, doctors and therapists recommend a minimum of 28 days in residential treatment for patients struggling with high levels of addiction.
Residential programs may further be divided into three:
- Clinically managed high-intensity inpatient services.
- Clinically managed low-intensity inpatient services.
- Clinically managed medium-intensity inpatient services.
After-care services
The treatment and recovery process doesn’t stop after being discharged from the rehab facility. It’s a life-long process that depends on how well you employ skills taught during therapy sessions back at the treatment center. As part of the customer-eccentric approach, after-care services aim at following up with recovering patients after being discharged. Your doctor or therapist may recommend follow-up therapy sessions to monitor your progress and prevent relapse.
There you have it! You don’t have to go through all the five levels of addiction treatment and care. Now that you have a better understanding of what to expect once you are admitted into rehab, reach us on our contact information to find out more about addiction treatment and its process. Call us now at 833-820-2922!