Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for Addiction and Recovery
An intensive outpatient program or IOP consists of regularly scheduled sessions of structured addiction treatment and mental health counseling. Addiction and co-occurring mental health problems have varying levels of care available, corresponding to a gradual ability to navigate life without the desire for drug and alcohol abuse. The intensive outpatient program for substance abuse is a middle ground between Residential Treatment and Aftercare.
Intensive Outpatient Programs are a step-down level of care for individuals who have completed detox and residential, so they can continue to receive the support of treatment programming while residing without the need for 24-hour supervision. Addiction recovery is a process of change, and the levels of care and support available in treatment allow a person who is struggling to begin to transform themselves from the inside out.
If you know someone who could benefit from help with substance abuse issues or a dual diagnosis, call us today for more information about IOP and the levels of care available.
An Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program allows for a certain number of weekly individual and group therapy hours. This is calculated by medical and clinical necessity, which will be determined through evaluation and progress in treatment. Addiction and substance abuse disorders can disrupt many areas of a person’s life and well-being. Substance use will change the brain and body’s chemistry, making it nearly impossible and potentially dangerous for someone abusing drugs or alcohol to quit without help. For this reason, many people who struggle with a substance abuse problem benefit from a period of detox and residential or inpatient treatment. Intensive outpatient programming follows these levels of care. Hence, a person participating is not at risk to themselves or others but will still benefit from the structure and support of the treatment setting.
Once patients complete a drug or alcohol detox, they are typically suggested to conduct a comprehensive care program. These programs can include residential rehab treatment or a partial hospitalization program. From there, an intensive outpatient program is an excellent step-down program for substance abuse since patients will have improved through treatment and developed the recovery skills needed to improve the quality of their day-to-day lives. Intensive outpatient programs are also an excellent method to use on the road to recovery for people with less severe forms of addiction or with responsibilities at home/work.
Many studies firmly back this gradual step-down method of care for recovering addicts, showing that it’s possible to achieve a long-lasting recovery with the proper support through a strong program.
What to Look for in an IOP Treatment Program
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) provide and explain the standards for the various types of treatment and the principles of effective treatment for substance use disorders. As stated by the ASAM, the definition of an IOP is an outpatient program that delivers a minimum of nine hours of therapy per week (no maximum) and permits the patient to return home after treatment is undergone. Therefore, the first standard an individual should look for in an IOP is that it fits this minimum treatment need.
Other crucial factors that are used to define successful treatments include:
- Assessment
Before being placed in any treatment program, the treatment providers must perform a thorough physical assessment, psychological assessment, and an assessment of the individual’s social conditions or be able to refer to the results of a recent evaluation that qualified healthcare professionals have performed. This is crucial as it allows mental health professionals to accurately understand the patient’s condition and needs.
- Evidence-Based
The intensive outpatient program should be based on methods and procedures that have been proven to work and backed by evidence.
- Treatment Approach
There should be a formal and structured treatment approach, and the treatment plan should be developed to fit the patient’s unique needs. For example, treatment for an alcohol use disorder typically follows an overall plan or blueprint. Each person is different. One of the most vital parts of how successful a treatment is how it is tailored to the patient while simultaneously providing a proven-to-work structure.
- Responsibility
There should always be a sense of responsibility held by the treatment provider and mental health professionals working with the patient. The treatment provider should be held accountable for developing the treatment plan and delivering tailored treatment to the client.
- Treatment Availability
The most straightforward treatment should be available for the client. It is not adequate to put those in need on waiting lists. The individual should be able to get into the IOP without facing complications, such as having to wait for weeks or months or fulfilling specific requirements. Successful treatment should be readily available for you, always.
- Success Rates
The degree of motivation the individual shows often affects the progress that the person experiences in treatment. However, research has proven that individuals forced to attend therapy for substance abuse have similar success rates to those who choose to go into treatment.
Intensive Outpatient Program Services
Intensive outpatient programs provide various services that can be tailored to the individual’s schedule. An intensive outpatient program curriculum is structured on a treatment center’s offerings, expertise, and individual clients’ needs. Our services include:
- Medical services, including medication management and medication-assisted treatment
- Treatment for co-occurring mental health conditions
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Relapse prevention
Benefits of Intensive Outpatient Treatment
The benefits of intensive outpatient treatment for substance abuse have been well established by years and years of research, and studies have been done. The effectiveness of IOP has been validated in many research studies. Compared to acute care and outpatient care, IOP has quite a few advantages, such as:
- Balanced Treatment: Right in-between the commitment of residential or inpatient treatments and the less time-consuming outpatient treatment, IOP is a great medium. Intensive outpatient programs usually cost less than acute care and can even offer higher levels of access to programming than general outpatient treatment.
- Access to Medical Services: Physicians, advanced health professionals, and nursing staff provide continuous health needs assessments and medication management in intensive outpatient treatment for substance abuse.
- Access to Mental Health Services: IOPs offer ongoing access to mental health providers that make them well suited to addressing mental health conditions. It is even typical for mental health conditions that had been previously unrecognized to be diagnosed during intensive outpatient treatment.
- Substantial Therapeutic and Educational Opportunities: IOPs provide structured services that allow patients to make significant, long-term progress over a reasonably short time compared to intensive treatment programs.
Applied Care Service’s Intensive Outpatient Program for Substance Abuse
Individuals who qualify for the Intensive Outpatient Program at Applied Care Services can receive treatment for substance misuse and co-occurring mental health disorders. Each client will collaborate with a counselor throughout therapy to develop an Individual Recovery Plan, beginning with the initial evaluation. Our competent and compassionate staff provides individual and group therapy in various evidence-based approaches. Different treatments will concentrate on substance cessation and adherence to a recovery plan, relapse prevention, mental health evaluations, identity, and social, family, professional, or educational dynamics, as well as life skills development. Moreover, our physicians employ ego-modifying treatment, rational emotive therapy, experiential therapy, role-playing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and PTSD therapy. The foundation of the Applied Care Service program is that recovery from addiction and dual diagnosis necessitates the individual’s participation in life’s natural healing process.
We believe that everybody can benefit from taking the path to recovery. Momentarily, times of suffering and adversity might feel overpowering and unsettling. However, substance misuse has both emotional and physical repercussions. We are here to inform you that there is hope, even though you may feel exhausted and despairing. The first step is to be truthful with yourself and to seek assistance. Seeking assistance is a sign of strength and commitment to self-improvement. We want you to be candid about your substance use past so that we can best assist you and customize your therapy. We provide a variety of treatments designed to address all issue areas in substance abuse recovery.
Get Help Today
Remember, things do get better. The effectiveness of intensive outpatient therapy for substance dependence has been repeatedly demonstrated. You’ll be on the road to recovery with the correct treatment and support system. Today, take the initial step toward recovery by contacting or texting (410-216-4320)