Outpatient rehab is, in addition to inpatient rehab, one of the most common treatment options for men and women with drug and alcohol abuse. Not every patient with substance abuse will need an inpatient treatment protocol. That’s where outpatient rehab steps in! Scroll down to learn more about outpatient rehab, its costs, benefits, and more.
What Is Outpatient Rehab?
The term outpatient refers to cases when a patient doesn’t have to spend the night in a hospital or a treatment facility. More precisely, a patient goes to a rehab facility or clinic and returns home right after. Patients don’t spend the night in an outpatient treatment program.
This also happens to be a major difference between inpatient and outpatient treatments. The inpatient treatment requires spending the night in a clinic, hospital, or any other setting.
Are Outpatient Rehabs Effective?
Outpatient rehab is an effective treatment program for patients with drug and alcohol abuse. One study found that outpatient programs can increase abstinence and reduce substance addiction. In fact, the effects were comparable to those of inpatient rehab
What Are The Benefits Of Outpatient Rehab?
The main advantages of the outpatient rehab program include:
- Opportunity to maintain employment while getting treatment for SUD
- Lower costs compared to inpatient treatment
- Less disruptive to daily life
- Safe and effective outpatient detoxification
- More family-focused than inpatient rehab
- Allows patients to expand skills they adopted in inpatient rehab
Who Can Benefit The Most From Outpatient Rehab?
Outpatient rehab for drug and alcohol addiction is particularly beneficial for the following cases:
- Mild-to-moderate addiction is where a person understands they need help but haven’t hit the rock bottom
- Having a strong support system at home
- Parents with young children
- Finding the easiest way to learn is by continually practicing new skills
- Having a busy lifestyle
- Being unable to afford inpatient rehab
- In need of more structure and support to prevent relapse after completing inpatient rehab
What Are The Different Types Of Outpatient Rehab Programs?
Not every outpatient treatment program is the same. There are different types of outpatient rehab, such as:
- Day programs – the most intensive schedule is, partial hospitalization program (PHP), and it lasts five to seven days a week, for a minimum six hours a day. It includes individual, group, and family therapy sessions as well as a treatment for dual diagnosis
- Intensive outpatient program – more flexible than a day program. It includes treatment or therapy sessions that last three to four days a week. The intensive outpatient program is beneficial for people who also need a more intensive treatment, without spending the time in a facility
- Continuing care (aftercare) – comprises support groups whose primary objective is to provide accountability and ongoing support for those who have transitioned from an intensive outpatient program. Continuing care groups usually meet once a week
- Outpatient dual diagnosis treatment – takes place when symptoms of alcohol or drug abuse are mild to moderate. More severe symptoms require inpatient treatment
What Does Outpatient Rehab Include?
The exact outpatient rehab services depend on the severity of the addiction. In most cases, patients need medical care, therapy, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Some of them also need treatment for dual diagnosis.
Medical care focuses on evaluating a patient’s physical health during the recovery process. On the other hand, therapy is the cornerstone of outpatient rehab. Behavioral therapy focuses on approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and performs in individual, group, and family settings.
How Much Does Outpatient Rehab Cost?
Compared to inpatient rehab, outpatient programs are more affordable for mild-to-moderate addictions. In many cases, the costs of outpatient rehab are around $5000 for three months, but the price can go up to $10,000 or beyond.
Factors that influence the costs of outpatient rehab include patients’ specific needs, duration of counseling sessions, and frequency of visits. In some cases, patients pay $500 per session. The location also plays a role in price, which is why in some places, the costs of individual therapy sessions go from $50 to $150.
Many health insurance providers cover the partial or full cost of outpatient alcohol and drug addiction treatment.
