What Is Intensive Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment?

Intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment is for drug addicts who cannot take advantage of an inpatient treatment program for a number reasons, ranging from lack of funding to cover the high cost of inpatient care to insurance coverage limitations. Many insurance programs cover outpatient substance abuse treatment. Outpatient treatment provides many of the same services that addicts receive at residential facilities, except the costs are much lower than inpatient care and patients return home at night.

Time Frame

• Many intensive outpatient programs, such as Lasting Recovery in San Diego, California, require patients to participate in programs that last for six to eight hours a day. The members of the outpatient groups receive one-on-one counseling, group therapy and educational activities that include films, reading, speakers and homework assignments. Many court-ordered substance abusers must attend these intensive programs as part of their sentence, which can last from eight weeks to six months.

Government Guidelines

• The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, which is a division of the Department of Health and Human Services, has created guidelines to qualify outpatient treatment programs. To qualify for government funding, programs must include screening to discover the extent of the addiction and, if other mental health problems exist, regular evaluations of the patient's progress by trained substance abuse counselors, and orientation to community services for addicts. The intensive outpatient program must offer drug use monitoring, medication management and crisis intervention.

Family Involvement

• Family members are typically included in intensive outpatient programs. In addition to attending education programs, addicts' family members are encouraged to participate in counseling, and follow guidelines to keep the home environment drug-free and safe for the recovering addict. Child care, transportation and assistance with navigating the social services available in the community are often offered to family members of those enrolled in intensive outpatient programs.

Staff

• Staffs at intensive outpatient facilities are typically as broad as those at inpatient centers as well. Medical doctors and nurses remain on call and visit each client regularly. Medical staff are trained in the detox process and the treatment of patients with a dual diagnosis, which means the patient also has a mental illness in addition to addiction problems. Psychiatrists manage medications, and substance abuse counselors hold therapeutic sessions with patients. Social workers, criminal justice representatives and outside volunteers may round out the staffing needs of an intensive outpatient treatment program.

Adjuncts

• In addition to reporting to the facility for a specified number of hours per week, those enrolled in intensive outpatient drug rehabilitation programs must follow other requirements. Patients usually are required to attend 12-step meetings and get a signature from the group leader to prove attendance. They must comply with court orders and mandated drug testing. Facilities are often required by courts to submit reports on patients' progress and compliance with orders.