Should I Go to Outpatient Treatment?

When you’re considering your options for treatment and professional support in addressing addiction, substance abuse, or a dual diagnosis that includes addiction, you may be relieved to find the number of different kinds of treatment plans available to you. At the same time, having such variety can be a little overwhelming, especially if you’re not sure what would best meet your needs. An important part of receiving treatment for a problem like addiction is undergoing an assessment to ensure that you are matched with the most effective possible fit. Take this quiz to determine whether your initial circumstances point towards obtaining treatment in an outpatient setting.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Outpatient Treatment?

One of the major benefits of outpatient treatment is that it leaves room for you to maintain your job, home life, or other important responsibilities. Most outpatient programs offer treatment schedules intended to align with your personal affairs, including evening meetings and weekend groups.

Outpatient programs allow you to live at home, maintain consistent contact with your friends and family, and participate in your personal life to a degree of far greater independence. Depending on your location of treatment, outpatient programs can be less expensive, as they don’t include room and board.

At the same time, outpatient treatment is not without its disadvantages. From a medical standpoint, it places greater trust in you to hold yourself accountable and stay the course, since you are no longer under the consistent supervision of facility staff. It also allows you to spend more time with anyone you choose, leaving your medical professionals to hope that you’ve taken your treatment to heart and won’t return to seeking out those who would act as negative influences upon your recovery.

In cases of more intense addiction or substance use problems, it’s important that a person stays within a medical facility until they’ve made it through as much acute withdrawal as possible. Depending on the substance, you may be entirely unequipped to handle withdrawal on your own, potentially leading to dangerous complications or consequences.

What Does Outpatient Treatment Include?

While outpatient treatment programs are generally available for anyone who stands to benefit, they are typically intended for those who have completed previous, more intense forms of treatment and are ready to take the next step down the continuum of care towards final independence in recovery. The goal of outpatient treatment is to act as another step in the progression by which you’ll gradually decrease your amount of supervision and regain independent self-accountability.

Elements of an outpatient treatment plan can include medications, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and group therapy. Many programs encourage individuals to attend 12-Step meetings as well. After you complete your treatment plan, you may continue to make use of your outpatient program for follow-up meetings to prevent relapse, maintain motivation and accountability, and ensure long-term sobriety.