At any given moment, there are right around 20 million Americans dealing with a substance use disorder. If you’re one of them, you might be kicking around the idea of going to rehab to get the help you need.
If you do, you’ll have two options. You’ll be able to take part in either an inpatient or outpatient program.
Many people battling addiction choose to go with outpatient programs. They like that they’re able to participate in intensive outpatient programs while still living at home and maintaining a somewhat normal life.
Does an intensive outpatient program sound like a good idea to you? If it does, you should learn about what you can expect from one before you agree to participate in it.
Here are five things that you can expect from an outpatient program so that you can properly prepare yourself for it.
1. An Outpatient Program Will Be Good for Those With Mild Substance Abuse Issues
If you’re someone who is trying to combat a very serious drug or alcohol addiction, an outpatient program probably isn’t going to be for you. You’ll benefit from an inpatient program in a big way.
But if you’re addiction is still on the milder side, you might be able to get away with joining an outpatient program. It’s not going to provide as much oversight as an inpatient program. But it’ll still provide you with the tools you’ll need to fight back against addiction.
Just make sure you don’t try to utilize an outpatient program if you suspect that you might suffer from severe withdrawal symptoms when kicking a drug or alcohol habit. In that case, you’ll definitely need to have an inpatient program in place so that you can get the necessary medical care.
2. It’ll Help People Find the Right Treatment Programs for Their Situation
Just because you sign up for an outpatient program doesn’t mean you won’t get access to all of the latest and greatest treatment options for addiction. There are lots of different treatment programs that you can use to keep your addiction at bay.
Some of the most popular options will be:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
- Group therapy
- 1-on-1 counseling
You should be able to land on a treatment program that will work wonders for both your physical and mental health. A reputable treatment center will speak with you about which treatment program you should try based on your drug and/or alcohol history.
3. It’ll Enable People to Continue to Work, Go to School, Care for Family, Etc.
The best part about going with an outpatient program versus an inpatient program is that it won’t force you to put your whole life on pause. You can continue to go about your business on most days without being confined to a rehab facility.
If you have a job, you can keep on working during the day and attend treatment for addiction at night. You can also do things like go to school and even provide care for your family members while you’re in an outpatient program.
You will, of course, need to be able to maintain your sobriety when you’re away from your outpatient program and living your life. But as long as you can do that, you’ll love the fact that an outpatient program will get you the help you need without derailing the rest of your life.
4. It’ll Require People to Have Strong Support Systems in Place
One thing you should keep in mind if you’re going to sign up for an outpatient program as opposed to an inpatient program is that it’s going to call for you to have a very strong support system. You’ll need to have lots of people in your corner who can help you when you’re away from a rehab facility.
If you surround yourself with people who are still actively using drugs and/or alcohol while you’re on the road to recovery, it isn’t going to bode well for you. You might be tempted to begin using drugs and/or alcohol again when this is the case.
It’ll be imperative that you establish a support system from the second that you sign up for an outpatient program. Otherwise, you could very well be setting yourself up to fail from the start.
5. It’ll Cost People Less Than an Inpatient Program
Taking part in an inpatient program can be very expensive, especially if your health insurance company doesn’t cover many of the costs associated with it. You could be looking at spending tens of thousands of dollars on an intensive inpatient program.
An outpatient program, on the other hand, will cost you just a fraction of that. If nothing else, this kind of program is going to be the more cost-effective option for you and your family.
If the cost of a rehab stint is a concern for your family, you should seriously consider giving an outpatient program a try. It isn’t going to break the bank, but it is going to set you up with everything you’ll need to succeed in the end.
See If an Outpatient Program Would Be the Best Option for You
Now that you know what you can expect from an outpatient program, you should see which ones exist in your general area. The sooner you join an outpatient program, the sooner you’ll be able to get the help you need.
Look around for the very best outpatient program in your area. It’ll increase your chances of fighting a winning battle when you go toe-to-toe with a substance use disorder.
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