Intensive Outpatient Program

An intensive outpatient program (IOP) is a flexible treatment option that helps individuals struggling with all types of additions. Compared to other programs, an intensive outpatient program requires a lower amount of time commitment. 

Members of an intensive outpatient program do not have to live at our recovery center. Instead, patients will travel to our facility for their treatment sessions, while being able to return home afterward.

Enrolling in an intensive outpatient program can help recovering individuals overcome addiction. By making that first phone call and reaching out to a recovery center, a new life becomes possible. Long-term sobriety is the path to overall well-being and a newfound sense of fulfillment.

If you have responsibilities outside of treatment such as taking care of a child or attending work, an IOP may be the perfect fit for you. You can receive the highest quality of treatment while still tending to your duties. Kindly keep reading to learn more about intensive outpatient programs and all the benefits of enrolling in one today.

What Exactly is an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)?

As mentioned above, “IOP” stands for an intensive outpatient program. An intensive outpatient program consists of regularly scheduled sessions that target addiction and any other co-occurring disorders. 

An intensive outpatient program can also work as a step-down program. Patients often transition into an intensive outpatient program after completing a more rigorous form of treatment, such as inpatient rehabilitation. 

An intensive outpatient program consists of weekly treatment sessions at the rehab facility. These sessions typically include individual and group therapy. Medical support and care are also available.

There are many different scenarios in which an intensive outpatient program can be useful. You may have to take care of your parents at home or attend school in the evening. In an intensive outpatient treatment program, you can create your schedule. 

It’s worth noting that our recovery center has housing options if that’s what the patient needs. Each individual’s addiction recovery needs are unique. We encourage you to reach out to our addiction specialists if you have any questions about our housing selections. We’ll be able to assess your needs and create a treatment program tailored for you. 

When is an Intensive Outpatient Program Appropriate?

An intensive outpatient program is appropriate for any individual struggling with drug or alcohol addiction. They’re especially suited for those with a stable environment at home. Traveling to the facility for treatment is ideal if you can return home to a safe and supportive space. 

In other cases, an individual may benefit from returning home and being able to apply what he or she has learned in treatment right away. For example, the recovering individual may have a broken relationship within their family that they want to work on. 

Following a treatment session, that individual can go home and immediately start working to improve the relationship. This can be beneficial in many different cases.

An intensive outpatient program is one of the many treatment options available when it comes to overcoming addiction. It’s important to enroll in a program that suits your situation best. After talking with our addiction treatment team, you’ll have a better understanding of what treatment looks like.

What Can I Expect in an Intensive Outpatient Program?

You can expect a variety of treatment methods in an intensive outpatient program in Pennsylvania. Each patient receives a unique combination of evidence-based treatment services. The core of our addiction treatment programs is therapy. 

Through individual and group therapy, recovering individuals begin to work through negative thoughts and behavior. Although each treatment program will vary, you can expect the components themselves to essentially remain the same. 

The components of an intensive outpatient program generally include:

• Medication management: In some situations, our medical team may prescribe medication to alleviate withdrawal symptoms. This is not always the case. However, for some individuals, the symptoms can become significantly uncomfortable or even dangerous. 

Our goal is to keep you safe and healthy as you recover from addiction. By no means do we take this lightly. Follow-up meetings with the psychiatrist will also take place for medication management and support.

• Group therapy: An intensive outpatient program will incorporate group therapy meetings. This type of therapy aims to show the participants that they’re not alone in their struggles; others can relate and are also willing to help.

Group therapy provides a safe and supportive safe for recovering individuals to openly share their thoughts. You’ll be able to give support and receive it in return.

• Individual therapy: Individual therapy consists of one-on-one sessions with a therapist in a private environment. The exact form of therapy will depend upon the treatment program. From cognitive-behavioral therapy to motivational interviewing, there are many different types to help you successfully recover from addiction.

The therapist and patient work together to create a healthy toolkit of skills. These skills help the patient overcome cravings and temptations long after treatment ends.

• Family therapy: Improving the family dynamic of a recovering individual’s life has many advantages. For one, it’ll increase stability in the individual’s life. It’ll also help the loved ones of a patient to better understand what they’re going through. 

This therapy allows families to address problems in a productive and healthy way. Through multiple sessions, improved family dynamics can be achieved. 

What are the Benefits of an Intensive Outpatient Program?

There are several benefits to an intensive outpatient program. Patients can receive many components of care that they can also find in inpatient rehabilitation. Members of an intensive outpatient program will receive high-quality therapy, as well as medical support if necessary.

One of the main benefits of intensive outpatient treatment is that it helps those suffering from co-occurring disorders. These are cases in which a recovering individual suffers from both addiction and a mental health disorder. In other words, the patient has a dual diagnosis. 

Addiction is about much more than physical substance dependence. There are often mental and emotional roots. Thus, the benefit of an intensive outpatient program is that it can help address all aspects of addiction. 

A handful of other benefits include but are not limited to:

• Cost-Effective Treatment: An IOP offers a solid middle ground between inpatient rehabilitation and standard outpatient programs. Since the patient doesn’t reside at the facility, a lot of costs are taken away from treatment.
• Medical Care: In intensive outpatient treatment, individuals will have access to many different kinds of addiction specialists. These specialists include physicians, advanced health professionals, and nursing staff that continuously support recovering individuals. 
• Dual Diagnosis Treatment: As mentioned above, an intensive outpatient program will address any co-occurring disorders. These disorders will be addressed through multiple forms of therapy. It can treat essentially all kinds of mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic disorder.

What Must an Intensive Outpatient Program Include?

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the American Society of Addiction Medicine(ASAM) puts requirements in place for intensive outpatient programs. This ensures that the patient receives effective and high-quality care.

As stated by the ASAM, the definition of an IOP is an outpatient program that incorporates at least 9 hours of treatment per week (no maximum) and allows the patient to return home after treatment. 

The ASAM lists other requirements such as:

• A physical assessment, psychological assessment, and an assessment of the individual’s social conditions before treatment
• Methods used in treatment must be evidence-based
• A professional and structured treatment approach
• Customized treatment for each patient 
• Treatment providers must be held responsible for the quality of treatment provided

How is an Intensive Outpatient Program Different from Inpatient Rehabilitation?

Inpatient rehabilitation differs significantly from intensive outpatient programs in multiple ways. Also referred to as residential treatment, inpatient rehabilitation is the most intensive level of care. Rather than traveling to the recovery center for treatment, patients will reside at a treatment facility. 

The treatment takes place every single day through a structured daily routine. Recovering individuals will also receive 24/7 medical support and care. This type of treatment requires far more commitment. Additional amenities are also included, such as daily nutritional meals.

An intensive outpatient program offers high-quality treatment under a less commitment-oriented structure. Intensive outpatient treatment doesn’t include 24/7 care or a daily routine the patient must attend to. 

How Can an Intensive Outpatient Program Help Me Overcome Addiction?

An intensive outpatient program can help you overcome addiction through access to many different treatment services. These services include therapy, support groups, medical care, and more depending on your unique treatment plan. 

An intensive outpatient program can help you overcome addiction through benefits such as:

• Being in a community that’s built around the common goal of long-term sobriety. Our community is more like a family. We believe in the power of coming together and supporting each other in our unique journeys. Being around others that have the same goal as you can serve as a great form of motivation. In our supportive community, you’ll never feel alone.
• Improving relationships in your life. Addiction impacts the individual’s life, as well as those around them. As a result of addiction, family, work, and romantic relationships can become chaotic. Through an IOP, you can begin to rebuild these relationships, which will help restore stability in your life.
• Understanding yourself better, and learning to build a life around healthy values. An intensive outpatient program gives you the chance to focus on yourself. Self-care helps you become a better version of yourself and, thus, a better member of your community. You can begin to unravel your past and make peace with it. Many IOP patients experience breakthroughs during treatment and gain a deeper understanding of who they really are.
• Completing the detoxification process. Detoxification is the process your body undergoes as it rids itself of harmful toxins accumulated through substance use. Detox should not be done alone at home as it is unsafe and can have fatal consequences.

Our trained medical team will supervise you throughout the detox process and help alleviate your withdrawal symptoms. 

Let’s Take a Look at the Statistics: How are Pennsylvania Residents Suffering From Addiction?

Pennsylvania residents are suffering from addiction, just like the rest of America. We cannot ignore the drug crisis sweeping our nation; we must help our communities. That begins with education on the subject.

In 2018, there were 4,491 drug-related overdose deaths reported. That’s a rate of 35 deaths per 100,000 people. 

A recent study has also shown that Pennsylvania has the third-highest rate of drug overdose deaths in the country. In Pennsylvania, overdose death rates from opioids were at least five times higher than alcohol-related deaths. They were also 3 times higher than suicide deaths.

By helping our communities, we help the country as a whole. Intensive outpatient programs can help restore the lives of individuals struggling with addiction. We must give help to those who need it. 

Call Our Dedicated Addiction Specialists and Learn More About Enrolling in an Intensive Outpatient Program Today!

An intensive outpatient program can help you or a loved one successfully recover from addiction. There is potential in each individual to live a happier and more fulfilling life.  This can be achieved through a comprehensive treatment plan. Through the combination of many evidence-based methods, you can begin to see your life change for the better.

From therapy to medical support, we personalize treatment for each patient that walks through our doors. Treating the patient as a whole is key. We believe that addiction must be treated from the inside out. Please contact us here for more information about intensive outpatient programs in Pennsylvania and Central NJ. We’re here to guide you from the beginning of your journey through the end.