Outpatient rehabs are rehabilitation centres that allow individuals with alcohol problems to get help and recover without altering their daily schedule and responsibilities. This allows them to meet their obligations as they seek help. They are effective when it comes to strengthening the resistance and coping mechanisms of the person with drug abuse problems. Most outpatient alcohol rehabs meet daily in the first few weeks or months. Later, the meeting reduces as the persons with drug abuse problems symptoms reduce and eventually lead to full and wholesome recovery.
In comparison to inpatient alcohol rehab, the outpatient treatment program is less intensive and fully depends on the individual with alcohol problems’ determination and persistence to overcome the disorder. It is a good option for individuals with alcohol problems who are not severely addicted and those who live in stable home environments. The alcohol rehab programs are slightly different from those offered in in-patient alcohol rehabs. This guide will help you understand the effectiveness of outpatient alcohol rehab.
Types Of Outpatient Rehab Programs
Once the facility conducts the first interview and gets to understand your health and addiction history, it will customize the treatment to meet your needs and availability. Therefore, your testament program may differ from someone else’s. when it comes to outpatient treatment programs, the following options are available:
- Day program/ Partial hospitalization programs
This is the most intense program in the outpatient alcohol rehab options. It involves daily meetings that could take up a full day or half of it. Some programs cover at least 5 days every week. They are intense because of their structural treatment. The daily routine of the person with substance abuse problems will include:
Medical detox.- Counselling; and
- Support groups.
The best part about the outpatient treatment is that at the end of the day, you will be able to go back to your loved ones and reflect in the comfort of your home. You will be able to catch up on your job and meet deadlines when you get home.
- Intensive outpatient program
The intensive outpatient program is flexible in comparison to the day program. It involves daily meetings that could be done in the evening or during the day. It is advisable for people who have important commitments that cannot be postponed subscribing to this program.
- Continuing care group programs o standard outpatient programs
This is normally considered the final step in the recovery process. It promotes sobriety, teaches coping mechanisms, and gives the person with alcohol use disorder an opportunity to talk about their challenges and issues. This is less intensive and mainly requires the person with substance abuse problems to meet up weekly for a few hours. This program depends on the location of the person since it requires a group setting. You will be grouped with people who live in the same locality. You will be able to cover so many topics such as triggers, emotional, mental, and psychological issues. You will be able to freely converse with other people who have the same experiences. It helps the person with substance abuse problems by improving their social interactions and providing a source of support.
Advantages Of Outpatient Alcohol Rehab
After understanding the treatment options that go on in outpatient alcohol rehab, you might wonder if this is the best option for you. Below are some of the benefits that you will get from enrolling in an outpatient alcohol rehab centre.
Practicing everything you learn in the real world – Since you will undergo the detox and recovery treatment while exposed to your initial triggers, you will learn how to resist temptation and triggers. This will teach you to cope and build your resilience. You will learn how to manage your behavior and reactions and apply what you learn in real-time. Monitor your behavior and reactions especially when you are around your triggers. You will be able to identify other silent triggers and manage them in real-time. This reduces the chances of the person’s alcohol use disorder relapsing.- Minimal disruptions to obligations and daily routine – The outpatient program involves getting treatment and heading back home. Therefore, you will be able to go about your day as you get help. Most people in addiction recovery schedule their day around the treatment process, making it easier to achieve their daily goals and cater to their loved ones as they seek treatment.
- Costs less than in-patient alcohol rehab – You will spend a limited part of your day in the facility. Therefore, the cost that you will incur will be for the treatment process only. In-patient costs have to cater for accommodation, meals, and other costs that come from living in the facility. Therefore, this is a good option for people in addiction recovery who want to cut down on recovery costs.
- Maintains a balance in the life of the individual suffering from substance abuse – The daily life of the person with substance abuse problems will be balanced since no aspect of the person’s life will have to pause. Since the person with substance abuse problems has unrestricted access to everything, they will be able to juggle their home, work, and recovery life during the treatment process. Life still goes on as the person attends to treating their addiction disorder.
- Unrestricted access to the support system – Alcohol rehab treatment is very intense for the physical, emotional, and psychological aspects of a person’s life. Having to bear it all and learning from past trauma and triggers can make anyone feel vulnerable and exposed. Therefore, outpatient alcohol rehab allows the individual suffering from substance abuse to go back home to have unrestricted access to their support system. This could be a spouse, significant other, friend, family member, or pet.
- Attending counseling with friends and family – This makes up part of the recovery process because some people are triggered by their loved ones. Since you will be able to speak to them daily, you can schedule a group counseling session that allows you to air out your issues and rebuild broken relationships. The individual with alcohol problems will be able to monitor their reaction and behavioral changes after the therapy session. This outpatient relation and monitoring will help the individual with alcohol problems apply whatever coping and resilience skills learned during the counseling session.
