Drug and alcohol rehab facilities offer outpatient treatment to people who want to continue with their daily lives and jobs while undergoing therapy. While inpatient treatment is largely recommended for those suffering from drug and alcohol addiction, outpatient care can be effective for some people with addictions that are not life-threatening.
Getting Started
Detoxification is the body's reaction to the drug or alcohol leaving the system. It is only the first step in the recovery process, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Recovering addicts often undergo inpatient treatment during detoxification, then transition to outpatient therapy programs. It is important that a person stay in close contact with the clinic's medical staff when going through outpatient treatment, especially if there is a risk of withdrawal symptoms. Because medications are often prescribed to help people through this process, they will require periodic monitoring.
Counseling
Individual counseling is often part of an outpatient rehab program. This allows the patient to talk to a counselor one-on-one to better understand the specific issues that caused the drug or alcohol problem. Group counseling is also used in outpatient treatment. Recovering addicts benefit from the support of others who share similar addiction problems, according to Michael's House, a rehab center in Palm Springs, Calif.
Return to Life
An outpatient program can also help a person transition to a life outside the world of drugs or alcohol. Through special counseling sessions or classes, the patient will learn how to avoid temptation and recognize triggers, such as people or places associated with their former drug or alcohol use. They will also learn to handle stresses that could tempt them to return to their use of drugs. This kind of counseling can be offered on an individual or group basis.
After Care
The recovering addict will be encouraged to continue attending a support group once she has graduated from a rehab program. This continuing therapy might be provided at the outpatient facility or another location. Support groups provide people with an outlet to talk over any difficulties they may be having adjusting to a life without drugs or alcohol. It also helps in developing strategies to continue overcoming addiction.
Attendance
Outpatient treatment can vary for each person because there is no one solution for everyone addicted to drugs or alcohol, NIDA says. Patients may attend rehab counseling once a week or several times throughout the week. People in outpatient treatment might also find 12-step programs or similar support programs to be helpful while going through outpatient rehab. A patient who is not disciplined enough to regularly attend sessions for outpatient rehab might be a better candidate for inpatient treatment.
