Is Recovery Time Shorter with Intensive Outpatient Program?
There are over 31 million illegal drug users in the USA. However, only 11% of those who get addicted to drugs receive the help they need and deserve.
While there are many factors that prevent drug users from seeking treatment, lack of access to help is one of the primary reasons. Even when many try to quit drugs through rehabilitation, a lack of support or a support system can lead to addiction relapse. Every two or three out of five patients experience relapse, which can extend the duration of their healing journey.
Intensive Outpatient Programs are being recommended more and more to help those who have completed inpatient programs. They are designed to fit into patients’ lives to bring them closer to a normal life while also helping them through each step of the way.
How Long Do Intensive Outpatient Programs Last?
Intensive Outpatient Programs or IOP in Pompano Beach can last anywhere from one month to a year. However, most intensive outpatient programs last between two or four months, i.e., eight to sixteen weeks. Patients must come in three times a week, with each visit lasting up to three hours.
Do Intensive Outpatient Programs Last Shorter than Inpatient Programs?
Inpatient programs last 90 days and require the patient to stay at the hospital for the entire duration. On the other hand, intensive outpatient programs last for a much shorter duration. Since they only require up to nine hours of the patient’s time during a week, the overall duration of even a long intensive outpatient program can be shorter than an inpatient program lasting three months.
The Convenience of Intensive Outpatient Program
Dropping everything and staying at the hospital may not be convenient for many patients with drug abuse.
Patients cannot go to work or attend in-person classes during the inpatient program. They can also miss out on fulfilling their domestic responsibilities. Since these requirements also come with financial strains, the patients may be unwilling to enroll in an inpatient program.
However, intensive outpatient programs can fit different schedules. The patient only needs to schedule a few hours in the whole week to receive the help that increases their quality of life for the rest of the week and even the rest of their life.
While many patients are recommended intensive outpatient programs after completing an inpatient program, those who deal with drug addiction but cannot make time for an inpatient program can also opt for it. Patients having experienced relapse can also join intensive outpatient programs.
The Benefits of Intensive Outpatient Program
Intensive outpatient programs help patients in the following ways:
Attend Work or School
The primary benefit of intensive outpatient programs is that they don’t take up much of a patient’s time, and hence the patient can easily go to work or attend school. This benefit allows the patient to stay independent, bring a sense of normalcy to their life, and help them progress in their career.
Fulfill Domestic Responsibilities
Besides allowing patients to keep a sense of normalcy in their life outside the home, intensive outpatient programs also allow the patients to be present at home and fulfill their domestic responsibilities. Patients with children or partners can especially find this advantageous.
Get Support from Families
Inpatient programs can make many patients feel isolated from their families. However, intensive outpatient programs allow the patients to spend time at home with their family and friends. It allows the patients and their family members to build communication and talk about the patient’s progress.
Many intensive outpatient programs may include some sessions on family counseling and building communication between family members. These sessions can prove to be significantly helpful for the patient in finding their family’s support.
Maintain Privacy
Patients may feel hesitant in enrolling in an inpatient program for the fear that people close to them will notice their absence and find out about their addiction issues. The hesitation can also make patients feel guilty or ashamed of their addiction. These feelings can sometimes worsen the addiction and keep the patient from seeking help.
As intensive outpatient programs allow the patients to attend work or school and maintain a normal routine, it saves them from answering difficult questions from their acquaintances. Patients can feel safe from judgment while also finding support from their loved ones.
Feel Belonged with Their Recovery Group
Patients are grouped in intensive outpatient programs with individuals with similar needs. Intensive outpatient programs also include many group therapy sessions. These factors allow patients to feel understood and belonged. They can build a community with individuals who understand their issues and support them in overcoming them.
Last but not least, Intensive outpatient programs are also affordable compared to inpatient programs. When looking for an intensive outpatient program or IOP Pompano Beach, patients are advised to opt for one that personalizes the care according to the patients’ needs. The Sands Treatment Center is one such place that helps patients with tailored therapy to help them make the best of their lives.
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Effectiveness of Outpatient Treatment in South Florida
When it comes to addiction, treatment is a necessary element of recovery. Getting help is necessary for the recovery process, irrespective of the substance used. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, addiction causes the deaths of more than 70,000 Americans each year. In the United States, nearly half of all adults have coped with a close relative or loved one who has struggled with addictions. Flexible treatment alternatives are needed to aid people on the road to sobriety because addiction is such a deeply embedded element of the fabric of society.
Many people put off seeking treatment for substance addiction because they still have life’s responsibilities and obligations, such as employment or family, which makes it difficult for them to attend an inpatient program. However, folks who cannot attend an inpatient program can opt for outpatient treatment. South Florida has some of the best drug rehab centers in the United States, offering multiple treatment options to cater to any number of people who seek rehabilitation.
What is Outpatient Treatment?
Outpatient treatment is a flexible and adaptable approach to overcoming mild alcohol and drug addiction. However, a severe addiction to substances like Oxycodone and Heroin should be treated in inpatient programs as it requires medically-assisted detox.
Outpatient treatment is an excellent way for people who want to quit using drugs but need the flexibility of a program that fits into their schedule.
Since addiction is a sickness, most people cannot quit using drugs for a few days and be cured. Addiction makes you believe you have the ability to stop whenever you want, but it will always lure you back in. People usually require long-term or recurrent treatment to attain their lifelong goal of ongoing abstinence and recovery.
Outpatient treatment is offered under two scenarios: an alternative to inpatient treatment or a follow-up after a patient has completed an inpatient program. There are various types of outpatient rehab treatments. Partial hospitalization programs are another name for intensive outpatient programs. For individuals who require it, partial hospitalization can involve a medical detox followed by 4 to 6 hours of psychiatric care administered 3 to 5 days per week.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the length of treatment programs is directly linked to successful recovery. Individuals in a rehabilitation program should expect to stay in treatment for at least 90 days. Outpatient alcohol therapy is one of the most effective treatments, while outpatient treatment programs for opioid addiction may be less beneficial.
Instead of the 28 days of an inpatient program, IOP is usually given for a minimum of 90 days. Many patients benefit from treatment programs that span a year or longer. Patients can continue to work, fulfill social obligations, and spend time with their families while on IOP. Patients go to their treatment center on a timetable that suits them multiple times a week.
This therapy flexibility allows patients to complete rehabilitation programs without significantly affecting other aspects of their lives. Individuals who receive effective addiction therapy will be able to quit alcohol or drugs, maintain a drug-free lifestyle, and live a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life in recovery.
Benefits of IOP
While inpatient treatments provide multiple benefits to a patient, it is not a suitable option for everyone. There are many benefits of an IOP:
- Outpatient programs provide independence and flexibility to fulfill your household responsibilities.
- A strong support system from friends and family who want to see you recover may be helpful in an IOP. Isolation is a very dangerous aspect in the road to recovery, and a supportive circle can be very beneficial.
- IOP services allow you to be present at work or school.
- Outpatient programs are cheaper than inpatient treatments.
- Rehabilitation centers provide complete discretion, so potential patients who may be deterred from seeking treatment due to humiliation can feel safe and confident while seeking treatment at their own pace.
A successful intensive outpatient program is known for its flexibility. It’s difficult to admit you have a problem and seek treatment. When assistance is only available for a limited time, things get even more challenging. IOP can be beneficial for those who need help by providing overnight and weekend treatment programs in addition to counseling during regular work hours. The more time a patient spends in treatment, the higher the chances of recovery, and this is a critical factor that makes outpatient treatments effective.
The Sands Treatment Center in South Florida provides one-of-a-kind rehabilitation which involves one-on-one counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, group therapy, motivational enhancement therapy, all catering to an individual specific needs, leading to a successful recovery from addiction.
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