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Outpatient rehab is appealing to most people who are looking to overcome addiction because it allows them to continue work or school. However, this isn’t the only situation in which you’ll find outpatient rehab beneficial. It’s often recommended that all people who go through residential rehab immediately enroll in an outpatient program upon completion of their residential treatment. This increases the chances of staying sober. It can be easy to fall back into old habits if you abruptly return to regular life after residential rehab.
Drug and Alcohol Rehab Statistics
There are around 15,000 substance use treatment facilities in the United States. The exact number recorded in 2018 was 14,809. Thus, you have plenty of options for where you can receive treatment. Most drug rehabs accept patients from out of state if you think a certain facility in a different state is better for you.
The majority of substance use treatment facilities in the U.S. are private nonprofit groups. In 2018, 7,642 were private nonprofit, and 5,584 were private for-profit organizations.
Over 80% of substance use treatment centers offered outpatient drug rehab as a form of treatment in the U.S. in 2018. Nearly 25% offered residential treatment. Many drug rehabs offer more than one type of treatment. The Granite House, for instance, provides residential and outpatient drug addiction treatment.
Is an Outpatient Drug and Alcohol Rehab Program Right for You?
Outpatient drug and alcohol rehab programs are most effective for people who have mild to moderate addiction. Residential rehab is necessary if your addiction has become severe because it will keep you in a safe environment without the possibility of obtaining more of the drug.
Another instance in which you should choose residential rehab is if you have a mental disorder besides your addiction. Having another mental disorder complicates overcoming an addiction, so you would benefit from the intensive care of residential treatment.
Even if you must start with residential rehab, you can enroll in an outpatient program afterward. This is highly recommended to make sure that you stay on the right track. Residential rehab programs only last one to three months. Most people need to put in more months of treatment to make permanent changes. An outpatient rehab program, typically lasting three months or longer, is a perfect solution.
Types of Outpatient Rehabs
Outpatient rehabs can be classified as aftercare, intensive outpatient or day treatment programs. Aftercare planning programs involve creating a plan for staying sober and meeting about once a week to continue therapy and monitor your progress. They’re intended for people who have completed another level of drug and alcohol addiction rehab. Aftercare is usually long-term; it can go on for months to a year.
Intensive outpatient treatment rehab has flexible meeting times to address the needs of people who work long hours, have a lot of responsibilities or have atypical schedules. You can start out in an intensive outpatient program if you have mild to moderate addiction. These drug and alcohol rehab programs meet several times a week for a few hours.
Day treatment programs, also referred to as partial hospitalization, require treatment five to seven days a week for four to six hours each day. This is the most intensive form of addiction treatment you can receive besides residential rehab. You can either start your addiction treatment in day treatment or transition into day treatment after residential rehab.
What Happens During Outpatient Rehab?
Each outpatient rehab program is different, so you’ll need to check with a specific facility to see how it operates. In general, outpatient rehab includes individual therapy, group therapy and educational sessions. Most outpatient rehab programs use cognitive behavioral therapy, an evidence-based therapy, to treat the psychological side of addiction. Some facilities incorporate the 12-step method. Other common therapies that may be part of your outpatient rehab treatment plan are dialectical behavior therapy, medication-assisted therapy, motivational interviewing, meditation therapy and music therapy.
The Granite House works with you to create an individualized treatment plan. We have experienced 12-step facilitators, case managers, administrative support staff and master-level and licensed clinicians. We assist you in self-discovery, finding the root causes behind your substance use and tapping into your full potential.
Do You Need a Medical Detox?
If you have been using alcohol or any other drug that causes physical withdrawal symptoms, then you’ll first go through a detox to get the drug out of your system. Once the drug is out of your system, you can work on the psychological side, which is the most difficult aspect of overcoming an addiction. Detox only takes a few days to a week, compared to months and sometimes years of therapy.
It isn’t advisable to detox on your own because withdrawal symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable and dangerous. You have a much better chance at success by going through a medical detox and a quality drug rehab program.
What can you expect during a professional detox? Your doctor will evaluate your current health and medical history to know what approach is best for you. Answer honestly about your addiction to ensure that your detox will go as comfortably as possible. Addiction treatment professionals care about helping you, not judging you.
The type and intensity of your withdrawal symptoms depend on the drug you were using, how long you’ve been using the drug and how severe your addiction is. Cocaine, for instance, primarily causes psychological withdrawal symptoms whereas the withdrawal symptoms from alcohol cause a host of physical symptoms.
Examples of symptoms you may experience during detox include:
• Shaking
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Headaches
• Abdominal cramps
• Nightmares
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Depression
• Difficulty concentrating
Cravings for the drug are a common symptom during detox of any drug, so don’t worry that it’s not working if you experience strong cravings. Withdrawal symptoms usually ease up within a week. Some psychological symptoms, however, are experienced for months after the detox. It depends on the individual and their level of addiction.
Knowing what to experience in rehab helps soothe your nerves and mentally prepare you. Keep open lines of communication with your doctors and therapists. They know of various techniques that can help you cope with the withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
What Are the Stages of Recovery?
The stages of recovery are getting sober, strengthening sobriety and thriving in sobriety. In addition to detoxing the drug out of your system, getting sober involves developing healthier behaviors, defining your values, understanding the ins and outs of your addiction and improving your overall health. When you reach the stage of strengthening sobriety, you further refine some of the skills you’ve learned while continuing to learn more about healthy coping mechanisms.
Thriving in sobriety reminds you that it still takes conscious choices and efforts to stay sober throughout your life. You should become involved in a sober community, follow your aftercare plan and seek therapy if emotions ever become too overwhelming to help prevent a relapse.
Minimizing the Risk of Relapse
Living in a safe, supportive environment is important for lasting success. We understand that it’s not always easy to change your environment as there may be financial roadblocks. Some rehab facilities can provide you with resources and guidance in securing employment, furthering your education and finding housing.
You can live in a sober living home while going through outpatient rehab. Sober living houses only require that you pay rent while staying there. Some exceptions are made if you are searching for work or attending school. You can apply for grants and scholarships to cover the first few months of living at a sober living home as well.
One of the most difficult aspects of preventing relapse, yet one of the most important, is to stop talking to people who are also addicted to drugs or alcohol. They will offer you more of the drug or encourage you to drink with them, which is why you’ll need to avoid them until they go through rehab themselves.
Also, avoid going to places you used to use the drug or alcohol whenever possible. You can’t avoid going to work, but you can avoid bars and clubs. Your brain associates locations where you got drunk or high with the substance, so these places can trigger strong cravings.
Be mentally prepared for possible cravings when you are in an area you once used the drug. Use the techniques you’ve learned about in treatment to overcome them. With time, you will be able to break the association your brain has with certain places and drugs. Remember that you have therapists and support groups available to talk to whenever you’re experiencing tough cravings or you feel scared you might relapse.
Outpatient drug and alcohol rehab is effective in helping people overcome addiction as long as they choose the right program for their situations. People who have mild to moderate addiction can start in an outpatient rehab facility. It’s suggested that you participate in some form of addiction treatment for a full year to ensure lasting results. Aftercare is a type of outpatient rehab that only meets once a week, so this is manageable for everyone to keep up with once you’ve finished a more intensive program. Recovery is possible when the appropriate steps are taken, so take your first one today.
