During outpatient rehabilitation, patients live in their homes or in calm housing facilities and move to treatment facilities during the day for additional structure and support. Outpatient rehabilitation provides patients with more freedom than inpatient rehabilitation, which requires them to stay in a treatment facility during the treatment period.
Normally, patients will spend time in a detox facility to rehabilitate so that they can start a “clean” rehabilitation. During outpatient rehabilitation, patients typically go to one or more facilities for one to nine hours of treatment per day. During this time, they participate in individual and group therapies and other treatments such as art therapy and yoga.
Case managers can be used to contact private physicians, chiropractic services, and other outpatient care providers such as those who can provide recommendations in regards to applying for government support programs. Some outpatient programs may also offer limited medical support, such as prescription replenishment. There are also outpatient programs that can provide life and recovery coaching. After treatment, the patient returns to normal life and begins the process again the next day.
The cost of inpatient rehabilitation can sometimes scare people away because these treatment centers are usually more expensive than outpatient programs, especially with longer treatment times. Outpatient rehabilitation is usually a low-cost alternative that remains effective in treating drug and alcohol dependence. Let it be known that addiction is a disease that should not be underestimated.
Less severe, or even early-stage addictions, must be treated before they become more intense and more difficult to maintain. However, if the severity of the addiction is low, the daily environment may not affect treatment as much as more severe addiction cases. In addition, less severe and early-stage addiction requires less intensive treatment 24 hours a day. Therefore, it may be safer to start outpatient rehabilitation when the worry of relapsing at home is not present.