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Posted: September 30, 2020
Updated: February 11, 2021

After receiving treatment inside a rehab center, most addiction patients continue their recovery via outpatient programs.

As the name implies, these programs don’t require the patients to live inside a facility. They can live in their homes, go to work, and socialize with their friends and families, just like normal individuals.

Treatment continues through medications, group therapy, or daytime facility admission. 


Outpatient Rehab: Can You Recover At Home? 

Outpatient programs are the standard treatment for addiction. About 9 in 10 U.S. adolescents entering addiction treatment enroll in these programs. 

The main goals of outpatient recovery programs are to:

  • Help addicted individuals reduce drug use and addictive behaviors
  • Address issues that compromise a person’s ability to live normally without using a drug

These programs allow you to stay at home. Thus, you can spend more time with your family. You have to visit the treatment center during the day. Each visit lasts about an hour. 

An outpatient program is best for those who have:

  • Mild addiction
  • Stable physical and mental health
  • Completed more rigorous treatment at an inpatient or residential facility

Treatment is delivered in different settings – offices, clinics, and primary care clinics. These facilities offer a variety of services, such as:

  • Individual and group counseling
  • Motivational enhancement
  • Family therapy 
  • Educational groups
  • Occupational and recreational therapy
  • Psychotherapy
  • Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)

 During the sessions, you work with a team of experts that includes:

  • Addiction specialists 
  • General physicians
  • Counselors
  • Social workers
  • Psychologists

Who Can Benefit From Outpatient Rehab?

As you might imagine, not all patients can be safely trusted to live and take medications at home. Here are some factors that medical professionals consider while deciding the best treatment course. 

Patients With Mild Withdrawal Symptoms 

Withdrawal symptoms are by far the hardest part of rehab programs. But the nature of these symptoms varies considerably between different addictions. 

Opioid and alcohol additions are well-known for their severe withdrawal symptoms. Suddenly stopping these substances can cause seizures, strokes, or even heart attacks! Naturally, inpatient programs are crucial in these situations. 

If symptoms are limited to mild depression and anxiety that you can manage on your own, outpatient treatment should be ideal. 

Patients Without Dual Diagnosis

If you’re unfamiliar, a person suffering from dual diagnosis, aka co-occurring disorder, has a mental condition in addition to substance abuse. 

This type of addiction is tricky because it needs a complex treatment program that can properly treat both issues at the same time — that’s something that outpatient programs can never provide. 

When Taking a Break Isn’t an Option

Without a doubt, inpatient programs excel in terms of efficacy. But unfortunately, some people don’t have the leisure to take a break from family or work. Outpatient programs would be ideal because they can be squeezed into busy schedules without compromising on other activities and duties. 

Patients Who Are Tight on Budget 

Like it or not, most insurance programs don’t cover mental treatment or rehab programs. That’s especially bad for folks who need inpatient treatment since it usually costs a lot. 

Because outpatient programs don’t require admission into a facility, it fits people who’re tight on budget. Even if you have a severe condition that necessitates inpatient treatment, settling for outpatient alternatives would certainly be better than nothing!

Patients Who’ve Recently Completed an Inpatient Program 

No matter how effective the treatment was, addiction patients are always prone to relapse. That’s why outpatient programs are typically needed to provide extended supervision after the main treatment ends. 

Where Can You Find Outpatient Programs?

Generally speaking, if a rehab center offers inpatient therapy, it’ll also have outpatient programs. However, these programs might be reserved only for patients who received prior treatment in the same facility. You can always call the facility and inquire about the available options. 

The Final Word

Choosing between inpatient and outpatient programs isn’t a small decision. The wrong choice might negatively impact the outcome of the whole treatment course, which is the last thing anyone would want. 

Not sure how to choose, reach out to us! We’d be more than happy to help.