An outpatient rehab is a treatment option suitable for individuals who have mild substance use disorder. There are certain sets of criteria for addiction that can determine the severity of a person’s addiction. When a treatment specialist identifies a person to two or three of these criteria, then most likely, the person is experiencing a mild condition.
Also, this type gives you more flexibility to move than an inpatient addiction treatment method. But everything will depend on the doctor’s assessment of your condition. If you show symptoms of mild addiction, you are qualified for outpatient treatment.
Even though the diagnosis is found to be mild, it is still necessary to undergo treatment as soon as possible. Putting off the treatment may lead to serious complications in the long run. Some individuals have effectively recovered from their addiction through outpatient treatment simply because it was caught at an early phase.
How Does Outpatient Rehab Work
The objective of outpatient programs is to help patients improve the quality of their life by living a drug-free lifestyle. Patients who are recommended for inpatient addiction treatment usually need the assistance of medication to overcome their addiction. Contrary to outpatient care, patients focus on counseling and therapies to treat their condition.
Addiction is considered a chronic disease that requires treatment. It needs the assistance of professional care so that one can truly abstain from substance abuse and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Even though a person’s condition is considered mild, admission to outpatient rehab is still necessary.
The initial phase of the outpatient program is a thorough assessment of one’s overall health condition. This involves examining a person’s physical health as well as their family’s health history. Experiences of withdrawal, emotional and mental health conditions, as well as readiness towards treatment and recovery, are all discussed during this phase.
The level of care designed in one’s treatment plan is determined by the results of the assessment. There are different types of outpatient programs available and specialists may recommend one which suits the person. The distinct thing about outpatient treatment is how individuals continue to walk through their lives even while being treated.
What Are The Criteria For Mild Substance Use Disorder
The criteria can be classified into three major things and when a person identifies oneself to at least one from these, they may be experiencing a mild substance use disorder. When a person starts to feel that they are addicted, it is a red flag to call for professional help. It is never a good idea to self-diagnose.
You can still try to examine yourself to any of the following criteria if you think you are suffering from substance abuse. Once you have seen it for yourself, take the necessary step to treatment so that you can continue to enjoy your life. Addiction can be overwhelmingly toxic not only to the person involved but also to the people around them.
Here are the criteria in identifying the level of a person’s substance use disorder:
Inability to control substance use
This is when a person experiences intense craving for the substance and is unable to control excessive use. There is a strong desire to quit but the person fails to just cut off the habit. Most of the time, the person keeps thinking about getting hold of the substance and does extra ways to get hold of it.
Experiencing a strain on one’s quality of life
The lack of responsibility, developing problems with the people who matter, the loss of interest towards the usual day-to-day experiences, and the dangerous behavior which manifests through violence and negligence are all indications that addiction is putting a strain on one’s quality of life. All these behaviors prevent a person from living a peaceful life.
Physical health condition is deteriorating
A person can determine that addiction is starting to affect one’s physical health by observing an increased tolerance towards the substance. The body is not in its normal state as soon as it continues to yearn for a higher dosage. Sometimes, a person also experiences withdrawal discomfort when they skip or miss a dose. This indicates a weakening health condition.
What Are The Types of Outpatient Program
Depending on the level of one’s substance use disorder, addiction specialists may recommend the patient to any of the following outpatient programs. It is important to note that each type requires a certain duration of treatment for it to be effective. Sometimes, the treatment may affect one’s daily responsibilities.
Partial Hospitalization Program
This is the highest level of care among all outpatient programs. Patients spend from 4 to 6 hours of their day in a treatment facility and return home afterward. This routine goes on five to seven times a week where individuals engage in counseling and therapies that train them to cope with their addiction.
Intensive Outpatient Treatment
This is a little less intensive compared to the partial hospitalization program. In this type of treatment, patients only spend 3 hours of their day mostly engaging in group therapies. This way, individuals are trained to socialize without the use of substances, support each other, and develop skills of the discipline together. This routine runs three times each week.
General Outpatient Care
Among all the outpatient programs, this is considered to be the least intensive. The sessions can only be taken for up to 90 minutes once or thrice a week. Patients engage in specific support groups that can help them keep a drug-free lifestyle. Patients who step out of inpatient facilities usually continue to general outpatient care until they attain recovery.
Do I Need Detox In An Outpatient Program?
The initial stage for most treatments is detoxification. It rids the body of the substances and stabilizes one’s condition to be ready for further treatment. Given a mild to moderate substance use disorder, sometimes the withdrawal symptoms appear manageable and do not require a prescription of medicines at all.
When addiction specialists find the need for a person to undergo detoxification at a highly supervised nature, they would usually refer the patients to inpatient care. However, there are also cases when medications are supervised by nurses and these are given to patients at a particular schedule during their outpatient program schedule.