Levels of Care in Addiction Treatment

Navigating the levels of care in addiction treatment can be confusing. Is it necessary to go to detox, or can you jump straight to residential treatment? Is sober living required after you complete treatment, should you still be going to IOP while residing in a sober home? All of these questions will be answered when the time is right and you move forward with your recovery. However, that doesn't mean that you shouldn't be prepared...quite the opposite. Being prepared and ready for the journey of recovery is the formula for success. Don't worry about anything else but getting yourself better. Things will come in time if you take the right actions to better yourself!

There are many levels of care when it comes to addiction treatment, but the 4 main phases are most commonly incorporated into an addicts treatment plan. They are detox, inpatient, outpatient, and sober living. Together, these levels of care form a comprehensive approach to treating addiction. Not everyone needs to through each phase to stay sober, but longer periods of therapy and counseling often lead to better results. Let’s go over what you can expect in the 4 phases of addiction treatment. Once you're ready to get help, Long Island Interventions is an all-in-one solution that offers all the necessary Long Island addiction resources needed to safely recover.

Drug and Alcohol Detox

During a drug and alcohol detox, your body is cleansed from the buildup of chemicals and toxins. Many people experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, that’s why it’s not recommended to detox on your down. While under the supervision of medical staff, it is much easier to detox safely and comfortably.

Depending on what’s your drug of choice, the most difficult detox involves benzodiazepines, alcohol, and opioids (especially heroin). If you or a loved one are addicted to one of these substances, it’s best to reach out for assistance from a medical detox program. It’s especially dangerous to detox from benzos and alcohol on your own, because there is a high risk of seizures and other very dangerous withdrawal symptoms.

Inpatient Rehab (Residential Treatment)

Inpatient rehab, also known as partial hospitalization (PHP), involves a 30 to 90 day in a structured environment where clients attend treatment sessions daily. The treatment involves group therapy sessions facilitated by therapists, along with one-on-one individual counseling. Many inpatient rehabs also have a holistic track that takes a more natural approach involving yoga, meditation, art/music therapy, and more.

For those that complete a full inpatient drug rehab program, the chance at staying drug and alcohol-free increases. The time away from the people, places, and things that contribute to using, along with daily psychotherapy, help pave the way to maintaining recovery.

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

When a person is under the care of an intensive outpatient program (IOP), this means they are back in the real world but attending therapy three times a week (on average) either in the morning or afternoon. This allows a patient to integrate back into society as a drug-free individual and maintain their employment and/or academics, along with family obligations.

With the help of intensive outpatient, a person can take care of their responsibilities while still getting much-needed addiction treatment.

Sober Homes & Halfway Houses

When you enter a sober home, it’s a structured environment that bridges the gap between living on your own and still having supervision. You’re usually living with like-minded addicts and alcoholics that are trying to stay clean. It’s a positive atmosphere that has rules in place to help residents avoid relapse while helping build important coping skills.

Sober living is a great way to transition into being a drug-free individual and often people that reside in sober homes attend intensive outpatient (IOP) therapy. Another benefit is that sober living homes often drug and alcohol test all residents randomly which is a great incentive to stay sober as you deal with any triggers and cravings that may be present in the early recovery period.

These 4 phases of addiction treatment create the core components of a strong treatment plan. If you’re looking for substance abuse help for yourself or a loved one, then you’ve come to the right place. Don't fear the first step which involves reaching out for help. It may be frightening but once you take that leap of faith, everything will fall into place! If you're interested in Long Island inpatient rehab for yourself or a loved one, don't hesitate to contact Long Island Interventions.