OUTPATIENT TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE ADDICTION

Outpatient form of treatment for substance addiction, is the opposite of inpatient treatment, and it is especially for those clients who have abused drugs in small quantities, in a short period of time. For instance, if someone is still in the early stage of addiction, and probably a family or friend sees them, and tries to stage an intervention, the person would be given the outpatient treatment.

At this stage of addiction, the person will go through withdrawal symptoms, but it would not be as serious as someone who is receiving inpatient treatment. The health specialist could feel that the person has the capacity to weather withdrawal without any fear of either physical or psychological damage, or even a relapse.

During outpatient treatment, the individual is still allowed to continue with other aspects of his life, schooling, business and the likes. He would also have time to spend with his family, whilst still making ample time available for both rehabilitation and counselling. Individuals are obliged to go for treatments on a regular basis, alongside with counselling sessions, individual and group meetings, and also taking part in assignments.

The amount of time, and the regularity of the visit, depends on the level of substance addiction of the individual. In other to determine the nature of therapy needed, outpatient treatment is divided into some categories.

The first category, is the intensive outpatient treatment, and it is majorly focused on preventing relapse, and it is quite similar to inpatient programmes. Usually, people who go for intensive outpatient treatment, check in three days a week, between 2-4 hours.

The second category is partial hospitalization outpatient treatment. It is for clients who are ongoing medical observation, even though they have a stable living environment. This programme can be gotten at the hospital, and patients need to check in between 3-5 times a week, 4-6 hours in a week.

The last category, is the therapy and counselling, and it is integrated with other types of rehabilitation, based on the assessment of the patient.

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