When someone finds themself caught up in the cycle of drug addiction, they have one of two ways to go. They can continue down that path until they devastate their lives or they can reach out for help. Here’s to hoping that a great majority of the country’s addiction sufferers will choose the latter. Admitting they need for help is just the first step in the addiction treatment process. The next step is to find a drug and alcohol treatment center where they can get the help they need. When it comes to treatment, residential care is almost always the option addiction treatment professionals prefer. It allows them to closely monitor a client’s progress and stay on top of potential issues. Of course, not everyone is in a position to go through residential care. Some addiction sufferers have logistical reasons why inpatient care isn’t going to work. Here are a few common reasons why an addiction sufferer might need to pass on residential care in favor of an outpatient option:
- Primary responsibility for the daily care of another individual like a child or parent
- Inability to miss time from work or school due to scheduling issues
- Financial constraints that prevent them from being able to miss work
When someone won’t or can’t submit to a residential treatment program, most reputable rehab centers will respond by offering outpatient options. Here are the three most common outpatient options (listed in order of restrictiveness, most to least):
- Partial Hospitalization (PHP)
- Intensive Outpatient (IOP)
- Standard Outpatient (OP)
For people who prefer outpatient care, intensive outpatient programs offer a good middle of the road alternative. Clients are generally required to spend 3 to 5 days a week for 4 to 6 hours a day in the treatment facility. This could go on for as long as two to three months. While in the treatment facility, IOP clients will get the opportunity to work closely with a therapist during hours of intensive one on one therapy. The goal of said therapy is very clear. Each client needs to focus on digging up the root causes of their addiction issues. By doing so, they can begin to work on preventative measures that will help them avoid relapses in the future.
Is IOP Drug Treatment Enough to Prevent Relapse?
IOP programs have a success rate that is generally commensurate with the success rate of residential care. What clients have to avoid is believing that going through an IOP treatment program is going to solve all their problems. That’s simply not the case. An IOP program is a tool. Addiction treatment professionals use this tool to help clients identify the root causes of their addiction issues. They also use this tool to help clients develop better coping skills. Unfortunately, that is not enough. Each client that completes an IOP program has to accept one fact: there is no cure for addictions, they can only be arrested. What does that mean? The work that is done in an IOP program only establishes the beginning of recovery. When a client leaves rehab, their work has just begun. Every day of their life, the person in recovery has to keep working on their recovery. That means making a conscious effort to avoid drugs at all costs. Since so many people new to recovery are still vulnerable, they must find resources they can use to help maintain their sobriety. The addiction treatment community calls these resources aftercare programs. For drug addiction sufferers, there are some very good aftercare options. Right out of rehab, a sober living home is a great place for someone in recovery to settle down. These types of homes provide a great transition resource between rehab and going home to responsibilities and potential stress. Other effective aftercare resources include 12 Step Meetings, Narcotics Anonymous (NA) for drug addiction sufferers. If a client feels they need additional therapy, they can always enlist in a standard outpatient program where they can continue working on their issues. Finally, many quality rehab centers offer alumni programs. These programs help bring people in recovery together for fellowship. We hope you now have a better sense of how IOP programs work. If you need help, you have come to the right place. We would be glad to bring you in and offer you a treatment option that works for you. For more information, please give us a call at 833-820-2922 as soon as possible.