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Recovery is just a phone call away. We’re here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call (352) 771-2700
What is an intensive outpatient treatment program? Whereas inpatient and residential programs offer treatment 24 hours per day, IOP services occur during set blocks of time during the week. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) levels of care guidelines specify that intensive outpatient programs must last between nine and 20 hours per week.
Intensive outpatient programs allow clients to practice newfound recovery skills in a clinically supportive setting.
To successfully manage drug and alcohol addiction, patients and their teams must apply the most effective treatments at the most appropriate times. In the spectrum of addiction treatment, an intensive outpatient treatment program (IOP) allows for balance between the rigor of structured treatment and the flexibility of an outpatient setting. In an IOP program, patients can transition from inpatient or partial hospitalization to more independent settings within outpatient care.
Our rehab centers help men and women who are struggling with addictions, substance abuse and mental health disorders. We also provide treatment exclusively to International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) members at our Maryland facility, the IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery.
An IOP is a treatment program often offered by treatment facilities as a way to ease the transition between acute treatment and outpatient care. Intensive outpatient treatment programs are designed to offer rigorous treatment while maintaining patient autonomy. Whereas inpatient and residential programs offer treatment 24 hours per day, IOP services occur during set blocks of time during the week. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) levels of care guidelines specify that intensive outpatient programs must last between nine and 20 hours per week.
Typically, participants in intensive outpatient programs can choose to live either in sober living environments associated with their treatment center, with supportive friends or family, or even alone if there is sufficient emotional support available. Many IOPs are either timed or structured to allow patients to work, attend school or respond to family needs. For this reason, many intensive outpatient programs are offered in the evenings or during weekends. At The Recovery Village, many clients in IOP treatment transition from higher levels of care. Depending on individual treatment goals and clinical recommendations, clients live off-site in a sober living community or supportive home environments and travel to The Recovery Village to receive intensive outpatient treatment on a part-time basis.
In the treatment of addiction, outpatient care services serve primarily as progressive “step-down” healing programs. Step-down programs are less intensive than inpatient or partial hospitalization programs. An intensive outpatient program schedule provides patients with more independence as they move through the continuum of care while still maintaining high levels of support for patients.
After patients complete drug detox or alcohol detox, they are usually recommended to complete a comprehensive care program, such as residential rehab treatment or partial hospitalization program. From there, an intensive outpatient program would be an excellent step-down program, as patients will have progressed through treatment and developed the recovery skills needed to improve their function in day-to-day life.
Intensive outpatient programs can also serve as a starting point for treatment for patients who have less severe forms of addiction or who have outside obligations that preclude them from participating in more structured treatment.
The length of an IOP will depend upon the policies of your treatment facility, as well as your specific needs. At The Recovery Village, IOPs last between two weeks and three months, but treatment length can vary widely among different people.
We offer a comprehensive range of treatment programs at all of our locations. This means we can provide a full continuum of care, ranging from medical detox to outpatient services. Explore all of our treatment programs here.
Intensive outpatient programs can differ in the services they offer. An intensive outpatient program curriculum is based on a treatment center’s offerings, expertise and individual client’s needs.
In individual therapy sessions, you will work with a counselor or therapist to process your emotions, correct unhelpful ways of thinking and develop coping strategies. We offer numerous therapeutic modalities, including EMDR, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and mindfulness therapies in our IOPs.
The benefits of intensive outpatient treatment have been well established by decades of research and experience. The effectiveness of IOP has been confirmed in multiple research studies.
Compared to acute care and outpatient care, IOP offers several advantages:
Often termed “dual diagnosis,” the phrase “co-occurring disorders” refers to the coexistence of a mental health condition with a substance use disorder. Treatment of co-occurring disorders can occur in the outpatient setting, as mental health professionals are available regularly. In most IOP programs, an individual sees a counselor at least once per week. Group therapy typically takes place multiple times a week.
Every level of care at The Recovery Village — including IOP — treats co-occurring disorders. We believe that physical and mental healing from addiction is integral to long-term sobriety.
Since intensive outpatient programs can serve a wide variety of functions, patients who utilize IOP can come from several different treatment settings. Many patients in IOP transition from acute treatment, while others may do best when IOP is the starting point for their recovery efforts.
A good candidate for IOP has:
As a general rule, the cost of treatment for drug and alcohol addiction mirrors the intensity of the treatment. Therefore, acute and structured care like residential treatment or inpatient hospitalization costs more than outpatient treatment. The largest percentage of these expenses comes from the availability of medical care, followed by the cost of room and boarding.
The cost of intensive outpatient treatment is on the lower side of the overall spectrum of addiction treatment expenses. There are many factors that impact the cost of IOP treatment, like length of stay and services included. Typically, the cost of an IOP ranges from $2,000 to $10,000. Before enrolling in a program, be sure to ask your treatment provider for more information about specific costs.
From a societal standpoint, there is near-universal agreement that treatment of substance use disorders pays for itself. Some studies suggest that the ratio of benefit to cost for addiction treatment is more than 7 to 1, primarily because treatment sharply reduces criminal activity and increases employment.
Cost should not prevent you from getting the help you need. Using insurance for rehab can significantly reduce your cost for treatment. Our online verification form allows you to instantly check if your benefits will cover treatment at The Recovery Village.
Our online insurance verification tool is HIPAA-compliant, so your information stays completely confidential.
Find The Recovery Village Drug, Alcohol and Mental Health Rehab nearest you.
Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program. “Overview of Substance Use Disorder (SUD)[…]ystem Reforms.” Medicaid.gov, April 2017. Accessed February 8, 2023.
McCarty, D., et al. “Substance abuse intensive outpatient pro[…] the evidence.” Psychiatric Services, 2014. Accessed February 8, 2023.
Flynn, P. M., et al. “Co-occurring disorders in substance abus[…]and prospects.” Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 2008. Accessed February 8, 2023.
Ettner, S. L., et al. “Benefit-cost in the California treatment[…]or itself”?” Health Services Research, 2006. Accessed February 8, 2023.
The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.
The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.
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