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Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for Addiction and Recovery
An intensive outpatient program (IOP) isn’t as intense as it sounds. This program is a middle ground between Residential Treatment and Aftercare and consists of regularly scheduled sessions of structured addiction treatment and mental health counseling. Addiction and co-occurring mental health problems can be treated with varying levels of care to correspond to a gradual ability to navigate life without the desire for drugs and alcohol abuse. The intensive outpatient program for substance abuse
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 other addiction programs we offer.
When is an Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program right for you?
An Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program includes hours of individual and group therapy each week. 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 itself will change the brain and body’s chemistry, making it nearly impossible, and potentially dangerous for someone who is 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, so 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 detox or alcohol detox, they are typically suggested to complete a comprehensive care program. These programs can include residential rehab treatment or a partial hospitalization program. From there, an intensive outpatient program is a really great 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 a great method to use in the road to recovery for people with less severe forms of addiction or with responsibilities at home/work.
This gradual step-down method of care for recovering addicts is strongly backed through many studies; showing that with the right support through a strong program, it’s possible to achieve a long-lasting recovery.
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 provides a minimum of nine hours of treatment per week and allows the patient to return home after treatment is undergone.
Other crucial factors that are used to define successful treatments include:
- Prior to being placed in a 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 assessment that has been performed by qualified healthcare professionals. This allows mental health professionals to get an accurate understanding of the participant’s conditions and needs.
- The intensive outpatient program should be based on methods and procedures that have been proven to work and backed by evidence.
- There should not be a formal and structured treatment approach. Treatment planning and therapy should fit the unique needs of each participant.
- Treatment should be available for the participant. The individual should have access to the IOP without facing complications, such as having to wait for placement. Successful treatment should be readily available to you.
Intensive Outpatient Program Services
Intensive outpatient programs provide a variety of services; all of which can be customized to the individual’s program. An intensive outpatient program is structured on a treatment center’s offerings, expertise, and individual participants’ needs. Our services include:
- Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) coordination
- Treatment for co-occurring mental health conditions
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Coordinated Collaboration
- Holistic and mindfulness training
- Family support and education
- Vocational support
- Life skill development
Benefits of Intensive Outpatient Treatment
Years of research and studies performed by industry professionals show that IOP can help individuals suffering from mental health and substance abuse issues and is effective.
- 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. In fact, it is even common 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 fairly short amount of time as compared to intensive treatment programs.
First Step’s Intensive Outpatient Program for Substance Abuse
1st Step Behavioral Health’s intensive outpatient program is available for qualifying individuals who are seeking help with substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders. Each client will work with a counselor to design an Individual Plan for recovery from initial assessment and throughout treatment. Counseling is provided by our caring and professional staff at the individual and group levels in a number of evidence-based therapies. Various therapies will focus on; stopping substance use and adherence to a recovery plan, relapse prevention, mental health assessments, identity, and social, family, professional or educational dynamics, as well as life skill-building. Our clinicians practice ego-modifying therapy, rational emotive therapy, experiential therapy, role-playing, and PTSD therapy. The cornerstone of the 1st Step’s program is a firm belief that recovering from addiction and dual diagnosis requires an individual to be given an opportunity to participate in the natural healing process of life.
We believe that anyone can benefit from deciding to take on the road to recovery. Times of pain and obstacles can feel overwhelming and uneasy at the moment. Substance abuse not only affects you mentally but physically as well. You may find yourself feeling drained and hopeless, but we are here to tell you that there is hope. The first step is, to be honest with yourself and seek help. Seeking help is a sign of strength and dedication to improving yourself. We encourage you to be honest with us as well about your history of substance use so we can best help you and tailor our treatment for you as such. We offer a variety of therapies that are aimed to target all problem areas when recovering from substance abuse.
Get Help Today
Remember, it does get better. Intensive outpatient treatment is a great way to target substance abuse that’s been proven to work time and time again. With the right support system and treatment, you’ll be on the road to recovery before you know it. Take the first step to recovery today by calling or texting (844) 549-1307.
