Some people require inpatient rehabilitation for substance use disorder, which can range anywhere from 28 days or more. The programs provide detoxification, counseling, medication and a safe space where patients are monitored by professional medical staff. Some people transition from inpatient to their new lives in recovery directly, but not everyone. Others may need to make a more gradual transition from inpatient treatment to what is called IOP, or intensive outpatient program or a halfway house or sober living situation.
Inpatient & Outpatient
Different people need different levels of treatment when it comes to addiction. Both inpatient and outpatient treatment programs may offer MAT, individual and group counseling, relapse prevention education and sometimes case management. Inpatient, or residential, differs most dramatically because it removes patients from their everyday lives and environments and places them in a carefully curated space to work on their treatment and recovery. Outpatient contrasts by offering flexible treatment schedules and the ability for patients to maintain their lives, jobs, and take care of their families while also treating their substance use disorder.
Benefits of IOP
Once inpatient treatment is completed, there are many positives for patients enrolling in outpatient treatment to make the shift from residential to real life more comfortable. Those who still need MAT will benefit most from these programs as they continue to receive the help they need to manage their substance use disorder, but daily trips to the clinic help in other way as well. Patients will begin adhering to a day-to-day schedule that holds them accountable for their own recovery while participating in group support meetings and individual counseling. During this time, they can also begin to plan their next steps for getting back into the workforce and returning to their life while replacing the negative things addiction brought them, with more positive and encouraging goals.
Making the Transition
The ideal scenario involves a patient making a smooth transition from inpatient to outpatient without any room to slip through the cracks. This can be handled most effectively when outpatient is planned before the patient is discharged from inpatient care. Once a person returns home from their residential stay, it’s imperative that they report to their outpatient clinic the same day or next morning to set a schedule in place and go through intake. They are now back in their old element with the things they learned from their inpatient program, but that isn’t always enough as triggers are lurking everywhere. The daily or weekly visits to their outpatient program can help reinforce relapse prevention and give patients a place to go if they are feeling cravings or urges, and in case of relapse.
While inpatient and outpatient treatment centers for addiction differ in various ways, they both offer an opportunity for someone to take back control over their lives. When outpatient treatment is available to someone who is leaving a residential treatment center, it can reduce their chances of relapse and increase their chances of sustaining long-lasting recovery.
MedMark Treatment Centers Can Help You Overcome Addiction
If you’ve identified a problematic behavior or observed a loved one showing the physical signs of opioid addiction, you can get help at any of our MedMark treatment clinics. Call us today at 866-840-6658 or reach out online to learn about our treatment options and get started on the road to recovery.
