Choosing the right level of care when entering addiction treatment will give you the best chance at achieving lasting sobriety. Although certain rehab types and program lengths boast consistently high rates of success, not all treatment options are guaranteed to work well for everyone. Many recovering addicts are ready to take a self-managed approach to treatment. Others benefit from closed, secure campuses and environments that remove them completely from outside triggers and temptations. The good news is that there are several factors that may make finding the ideal program for your needs a bit easier.
Co-Occurring Disorders and How They Affect Treatment Needs
Treatment needs are often determined by the number of risk factors that a person has for relapse. With the right treatment type, you can minimize your likelihood of relapsing during the formative stages of recovery when the risk of doing so is at its highest. Co-occurring disorders or untreated mental health issues are among the greatest risk factors. These are disorders that exist alongside of drug or alcohol addiction and they include:
- Panic disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- General anxiety disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
If you have or suspect you may have an untreated mental health condition, it’s generally best to look for a comprehensive, inpatient program that offers dual diagnosis treatment. Longer treatment times generally produce better treatment outcomes for those living with co-occurring disorders.
Other Factors to Consider
Other risk factors for relapse include:
- Having relapsed multiple times before
- A history of heavy drug or alcohol use
- A long history of substance abuse
- A history of using highly addictive substances
If you have one or more of these risk factors, you’re likely best-suited to inpatient treatment. Inpatient treatment will give you the opportunity to focus exclusively on getting well. It will also give you ample to learn new coping skills, improve your sense of self-worth, learn effective stress management techniques, and increase your distress tolerance among other things.
<h3>The Difference Between Inpatient and Outpatient Programs</h3>
While inpatient programs place people on a closed campus throughout the entirety of their treatment, outpatient programs are open campuses that clients visit for several hours per day or several hours per week depending upon their level of intensity. The different options in outpatient rehab include:
- General outpatient programs (OPs)
- Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs)
- Partial-hospitalization programs (PHPs)
OPs often entail just 12 or fewer hours per week of treatment time. Comparatively, IOPs require patients to commit to at least 35 hours per week of treatment. Partial-hospitalization programs are designed to suit patients who need ongoing medical support but who don’t want to commit to inpatient treatment. In a PHP, patients arrive on campus each morning and depart in the early evening. Outpatient programs are flexible, affordable, and rich with many of the same therapies and other services that inpatient rehabs supply.
The Duration of Treatment Is Incredibly Important
Whether you intend to enroll in inpatient rehab or outpatient treatment, it’s also important to choose the right program length. Most programs last just one to three months. However, there are also programs that last six months, nine months, one year, or longer. Statistically, programs that are at least three months in duration tend to have the highest success rates. Although 30 days in rehab is certainly a good start, it doesn’t always give people enough time to fully understand their addictions, change their habits, or heal from the emotional, neurological, and physical harm that substance abuse has caused.
Following Rehab up With the Right Support Services
No matter how long your rehab is or what type of treatment environment you choose, you always have the option of following your treatment up with ongoing support. In fact, doing so is highly recommended. Many people exit treatment and move into halfway houses or sober living homes. These living spaces offer a comfortable bridge between structured treatment and the outside world. There are also relapse prevention programs, sober meetings, support groups, and counseling services to take advantage of. Ultimately, the more care that you receive, the more likely you are to succeed. If you’re ready to get started, call us today at 772-266-5320.
