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Understanding Psychiatric Medication Management for Addiction

Written by dev on . Posted in Blog.

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There’s a lot more to the recovery journey than detox and rehab. Often, people who seek addiction treatment need medication to complement counseling and group therapy. With psychiatric medication management for addiction, a medical clinician observes your progress and makes the necessary adjustments. This type of psychiatric care also allows you to ask a healthcare professional any questions you might have.

If you’re diagnosed with a co-occurring mental health condition such as bipolar disorder, anxiety or depression, a mental health professional will prescribe you prescription medication to help you manage your mental illness symptoms. Likewise, if you’re addicted to substances like heroin or alcohol, you’ll need medication to help manage possible side effects from withdrawal.

What Is Psychiatric Medication Management?

Psychiatric medication management describes when a psychotherapy professional oversees prescribing your medication to manage mental health symptoms related to addiction. You’ll get regular follow-ups with a nurse practitioner who makes sure your dosage is correct and checks on your symptoms.

If you have a comorbid mental health condition, the medication might be a long-term solution. We’ll explore the different types of medication you could be prescribed in more detail later in the article.

For people who use medication to help with alcoholism and opioid addiction, medication is usually a short-term solution. In these cases, it controls withdrawal symptoms, such as cravings, sweating and anxiety.

Who Requires Medication Management Psychiatry?

Close up of various drugs and pills

Psychiatric medication management for addiction is necessary for anyone who’s taking medication to help manage substance use disorders. Addiction treatment is dynamic and ongoing; over time, you might require less medication. As such, you must regularly meet with a medical professional to assess if you’re still taking the right amount.

It also gives you a chance to ask questions about how you’re feeling and how the medication works.

The more you understand about your recovery journey and get educated about how behavioral health mixed with addiction affects you, the better chance you have of recovery.

Medication-Assisted Treatment For Benzodiazepine Use Disorder

Addiction to benzodiazepines is surprisingly common in the United States, with women more likely to suffer than men. It’s not widely known that addiction to this type of drug is similar to alcohol addiction. It’s thought to cause an influx of chemical imbalances that slows down the central nervous system.

Over time, your body starts to rely on the drugs to release these neurotransmitters. When you stop taking them, you experience uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms and can potentially go into shock. In many cases, severe benzodiazepine addiction requires tapering treatment that’s overseen by a medical professional.

Medication-Assisted Treatment For Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol use disorders are some of the most severe addictions a person can experience. Although the majority of people can manage the amount they drink, alcoholics can’t regulate their use at all. As a person consumes alcohol over time, they build up a tolerance and their body becomes dependent on the substance.

With chronic alcohol use disorder, it’s hazardous to stop drinking suddenly unless you use medication. Vivitrol is used to treat opioid use disorder and alcoholism. It reduces cravings and prevents the euphoric, high feelings you’d typically get from consuming alcohol.

Medication-Assisted Treatment For Opiate Use Disorder

Withdrawal symptoms are most closely related to opiate drugs like heroin and oxycodone. These substances are profoundly physically and mentally addictive, so it’s extremely difficult to stop without medication. It is 100% possible for anyone to overcome opioid addiction, however, and medication-assisted treatment helps significantly.

Vivitrol is particularly useful for opiate addiction because it’s only administered once a month. This means you can get on with your life and attend counseling sessions without worrying about getting your medication topped up frequently.

What Is a Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorder?

Psychotherapist working with young woman who is sad

For many people, addiction is part of a broader issue related to trauma, depression, anxiety or any other medical condition affecting mental health. In some cases, long-term substance abuse makes changes in the brain and behavior that lead to depression or anxiety.

Other people have issues that cause them intense emotional pain. They use drugs or alcohol to self-medicate, which causes further imbalances with the neurotransmitters that regulate mood and emotions.

As such, although substances might numb the pain in the short term, they make it worse in the long term. When the mental health care staff assesses your mental illnesses, you might be given FDA-approved medication to help you safely manage your symptoms. Psychiatric medication management for addiction includes medication to control any mental health issues that contribute to your use of substances.

Types of Medication Used to Treat Mental Health

If the doctor diagnoses you with a co-occurring mental health condition, they will likely prescribe you one of the following types of medication. The type of psychiatric medication management for addiction you receive depends on your individual symptoms.

Stimulants

The most common reason a physician would prescribe someone a stimulant, such as Ritalin, is because of ADHD. This condition can make it difficult to focus and cause cyclical thinking and extreme anxiety, which makes some people turn to substances. The right medication can help someone with ADHD focus on one task at a time and stay alert.

Antidepressants

Although they predominantly treat depression, antidepressants can also help with insomnia, anxiety and pain. Lots of people use alcohol or drugs to block out the challenging feelings associated with depression. It’s much better to seek help from a medical professional who can give you the appropriate medication for your condition.

Medication for Anxiety

Anxiety can make people feel they need to use alcohol or drugs to relax. Because of the way these substances work in the brain, they make anxiety disorders worse in the long term. A doctor can oversee psychiatric medication management for addiction to help with anxiety and addiction.

Antipsychotics

The most common reason you’d get prescribed antipsychotics is because of a break with reality. This can be drug induced or occur as a result of a mental health condition. This type of medication might be useful for helping some people cope with the acute recovery stage.

Mood Stabilizers

Mood stabilizers are associated with bipolar disorder and work by decreasing abnormal brain activity. A very high percentage of people with bipolar disorder turn to substance abuse as a means of coping. Most people find that mental health treatment and the correct medication are much more effective than self-medicating.

Find Out More About Psychiatric Medication Management for Addiction

If you’d like to know more about how medication-assisted treatment works, call On Demand Counseling for alcohol and drug counseling today at 330-270-8610.

Isolation and Addiction

What Makes Isolation and Addiction So Unhealthy?

Written by dev on . Posted in Blog.

Isolation and AddictionThe coronavirus pandemic has led thousands of people to slip into isolation and many more to develop intense feelings of loneliness. Isolation and addiction go hand in hand. Without friends, family or acquaintances to confide in and help you organize your thoughts, your mental health can deteriorate. Poor mental health and feeling there’s nowhere to turn are major risk factors for substance abuse and relapse, so you must find ways to combat isolation.

Isolation and Addiction

When we spend time alone and don’t connect with other people, addiction has the opportunity to thrive. If you’re by yourself, you might be more inclined towards finding unhealthy ways to alleviate boredom. Additionally, when you feel as if no one is watching out for you, it’s much easier to slip out of control. Even when it seems complicated, you must find ways of reaching out to others.

Human Beings Need Each Other

As a species, human beings have evolved effectively in part because of our fantastic ability to form social groups and implement structures and systems that benefit us as a collective. This means we’re programmed on a fundamental level to seek help from others and provide support, too. Often, people with substance use disorders suffer from severe loneliness, or they’re cut off from a social group.

Are Isolation and Loneliness the Same?

Isolation and loneliness aren’t the same, but loneliness can lead to isolation, and most people who are isolated feel lonely on some level.

When you’re lonely, you could be surrounded by people but still feel misunderstood or underrepresented. Isolation refers to the state of being physically and mentally separate from other people. People who are isolated can be incredibly vulnerable, but there are ways to fight loneliness and avoid isolation. Since COVID-19, many more people will have experienced being cut off from their peers and grown to understand how vital reaching out to each other is.

How to Combat Loneliness

Telehealth RehabIf you’ve been feeling lonely or you’re worried that you’re at risk of isolating yourself from others, find ways to seek connections. You don’t need to meet people physically — technology is helping individuals with anxiety stay in touch. Watching, listening to and creating content are also great ways of fighting loneliness. Some ideas for fighting isolation include:

  • Join an online exercise class
  • Take part in an online meet-up
  • Explore messageboards for your favorite hobbies and pastimes
  • Find collaborators online to make content or start a business with
  • Get remote therapy

Get the Support You Need Today

If you’re worried that you’ve developed an unhealthy relationship with drugs or alcohol due to social isolation or loneliness, call On Demand Counseling at 330-270-8610 today.

combat relapse triggers

The Most Common Relapse Triggers and How to Combat Them

Written by dev on . Posted in Blog.

combat relapse triggersAddiction recovery is an ongoing process because substance use disorders are chronic diseases. This means that rather than finding a cure, you’re learning to manage your symptoms. Even after completing a rehabilitation program, you’re still at risk of relapsing if you’re not ready to take on the challenges that life throws at you. Counseling can help you discover what your relapse triggers are and give you the tools to overcome them.

Read on to discover the most common relapse triggers and learn coping mechanisms to help you overcome the intense cravings they can cause.

Lack of Routine

One of the fastest ways to fall back into old habits is by giving up the routine that helped you to overcome addiction in the first place. It’s something we take for granted, but having structured days makes staying in control of our actions so much easier. Our mind feels calm and settled when it knows what to expect, and uncertainty often leads to the desire to seek comfort.

How to Combat This Relapse Trigger

Plan your meals in advance, stick to a strict sleeping schedule and regularly attend support groups. For a while, you’ll need to make a significant effort to stick to a routine, but after a year or so, it becomes natural. Keep a journal to hold yourself accountable and make plans in advance.

Traumatic Events

A traumatic event doesn’t have to be something as catastrophic as bereavement or war — although these are both triggering. Those suffering from addiction are often ultra-sensitive, so making a mistake at work, arguing with someone you love or getting into a minor road accident could be traumatic events. It might even be a perceived negative event, such as thinking someone doesn’t like you.

How to Combat This Relapse Trigger

Most people who suffer from a substance use disorder require some form of counseling to learn how to cope with emotionally challenging situations. Support groups and individual therapy are the best ways to learn how to deal with difficult emotions.

Social Isolation

Social isolation tends to lead to boredom and gives the sufferer too much time alone to ruminate. Without anyone to seek reassurance or advice from, the mind can run wild with unhelpful thoughts. Often, people who use drugs or alcohol to excess believe they’d be bored without the substances — just one of the mean tricks addiction plays on the mind.

How to Combat This Relapse Trigger

Whether in person or online, finding someone to talk to is one of the most effective ways of shifting your mental state. If you find yourself drifting into isolation, find ways of seeking connections with other people. You can also combat boredom by creating something like a book, magazine, podcast, music or YouTube video about subjects you’re passionate about. All of these pastimes are more fruitful and fun than substance abuse!

Repeat Exposure

Whether you’re still hanging out with people who use substances to excess or seeking out media that glamorizes it, repeat exposure is a major trigger risk. Watching other people do something you used to enjoy can bring up feelings of envy and desire that are hard to ignore.

How to Combat This Relapse Trigger

As unfortunate as it may be to bring relationships to a close, in some cases, it’s the best choice for your physical and mental health. Make an active effort to surround yourself with people who are positive and share similar interests to you, aside from alcohol or drugs. Avoid watching movies, TV or internet shows that make substance use look appealing.

Addiction affects millions of people across the country, and only a fraction of these individuals are getting the help they need. Call On Demand Counseling today at 330-270-8610 to find out more about the recovery process from one of our expert advisers.

Telehealth Rehab

The Role of Telehealth for Online Addiction Treatment

Written by dev on . Posted in Blog.

Online Addiction TreatmentThe world has changed beyond recognition in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, and people need help with coping more than ever. You might have turned to drugs or alcohol as a result of anxiety over the situation, or your condition could be entirely unrelated. Social distancing presents some unique challenges in the provision of rehab services, but thankfully technology provides a welcome solution. Online addiction treatment is being implemented in rehab centers around the country to ensure people struggling with addiction can still get the care and guidance they require.

Has the Coronavirus Outbreak Had an Impact on Addiction?

Daily, weekly and monthly routines have been turned upside down by the fallout from the pandemic. Isolation means single people are alone in their homes, while families and couples are locked into the house together without respite. These tense and unusual conditions are putting millions of people at risk of relapse or of turning to drugs or alcohol to try to cope.

How Does Telehealth for Addiction Work?

Instead of meeting with your counselor face to face, you’ll use video calling software to attend therapy at the same time you usually would. You’ll speak with your counselor from the comfort of your own home, observing social distancing guidelines while maintaining the vital connection between you and your therapist. We’re working hard to continue adding more services to our online addiction treatment offerings.

What Are the Benefits of Online Addiction Treatment?

  • It eradicates face-to-face contact between staff and clients and promotes social distancing.
  • You still have access to clinical care while staying safe at home.
  • Doctors and clients who are in quarantine can continue to interact.
  • Group meetings, waiting rooms and communal spaces are high-volume areas that pose a significant risk of contamination. If you attend therapy virtually, this risk is erased.
  • You won’t need to use public transportation or put yourself at risk by making a journey.
  • Some clients may enjoy the added privacy afforded by speaking to a counselor remotely, causing them to open up more during sessions.

Telehealth for RehabStay Connected During Lockdown

The best way to avoid relapsing or falling prey to addiction is to ensure you stay connected, even while in isolation. There are several apps, online message boards and community programs you can use to keep in contact with people, no matter how isolated you are. Addiction and isolation tend to go hand in hand because negative thoughts have more space to grow if you don’t have anyone to share them with. Make use of your tablet, computer, laptop or phone to reach out if you’re feeling lonely, depressed or anxious.

Telehealth and the Future

The technology that allows rehab facilities to provide online addiction treatment has been in development for a number of years. Telemedicine can be incredibly useful for people who live in more remote communities or anyone unable to attend rehab in person. Early trials have shown that more people might be inclined to sign up for a drug or alcohol rehab program if it was remote rather than face to face. Not only is there additional privacy during the session, but you don’t have the risk of someone seeing your car in the parking lot of the treatment center.

To find out more about the telehealth services available at On Demand Counseling, call one of our friendly advisers today at 330-270-8610.

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Codependency and How It Relates to Addiction

Written by dev on . Posted in Blog.

Depressed man with head down sitting on the stairsIt’s perfectly natural to feel a strong desire to help someone you love if they find themselves in trouble with drugs and alcohol. However, when healthy boundaries aren’t clearly established, compassion can turn into codependency. No matter what’s going on with someone else, it’s integral that you put your own needs before those of others. Many parents and partners of people suffering from addiction become dependent on trying to save their loved one, which is called codependency.

While the intentions of the person who becomes codependent are rooted in love, this situation tends to make life worse for everyone involved. Someone who is suffering from a substance use disorder needs an intervention to urge them to seek professional substance abuse counseling help.

Loved ones should encourage this while putting their own needs first and not getting caught up in arguments, ultimatums or other negative patterns of behavior.

Questions to Ask to Establish If Your Relationship Is Codependent

  • Do you feel responsible for your loved one?
  • Do you avoid voicing your concerns to your family member?
  • Are you under the impression your loved one wouldn’t be able to cope without you?
  • Do you lose interest in your own life when you’re with them?
  • Does being without a partner leave you feeling worthless?

What Causes Codependency?

Copdendency was first identified as a condition in the 1950s by psychotherapists treating people suffering from alcoholism and their families. These academics noticed a pattern in which partners and spouses were inadvertently reinforcing their loved one’s addictive behavior.

The main contributing factor to the development of codependency is being part of a dysfunctional family as a child or an adult. If you had difficult or traumatic experiences with your parents or guardians when growing up, you’re more likely to react to the addiction of a loved one in an unhealthy way. A history of addiction, abuse and mental illness are other risk factors.

Dysfunctional Families

A dysfunctional family is one in which the members experience pain, shame, fear or anger that is ignored or denied. Boundaries are inconsistent or nonexistent, and communication is often at the root of the problem. Dysfunctional families struggle to acknowledge or talk about issues that arise. This leads to repression, disregard for your own needs and often, the buildup of resentment. Unable to face up to their own feelings, the codependent immerses themselves in the other person.

Typical Behaviors of Codependent People

If you’re worried that you or someone you care about may be displaying these kinds of behaviors, rest assured that it is treatable. A family counselor can help you establish healthy boundaries and learn to communicate in a positive, healthy way.

  • Low self-esteem, typified by frequent self-deprecation and the expression of shame
  • Excusing or lying about the behavior of your addiction loved one
  • Struggling to identify your hobbies and interests
  • Difficulty saying no or quickly submitting to other people’s will
  • Experiencing guilt when you do something without your loved one
  • Obsessively thinking about or trying to second-guess the feelings of your family member
  • Taking responsibility for the actions of your loved one
  • Constantly seeking approval from your family member
  • Swinging between feelings of intense love and negative emotions such as anger or sadness
  • Making ultimatums you know you’re not going to uphold

We Can Help You

If you can identify with codependency, or you’re worried about someone who does, counseling sessions at On Demand Counseling can help you. Call our friendly experts today at 330-270-8610.

Heap of mixed opioid pills

The Effectiveness of Medication Assisted Treatment: How It Helps With Opioid Addiction

Written by dev on . Posted in Blog.

Heap of mixed opioid pillsIn some cases, immediately stopping a drug can be too much of a shock to the system, putting your health at risk. Certain substances, including alcohol, opioids like heroin and benzodiazepines, trick the body into thinking it needs them to function correctly. This is known as physical dependence. When you’re dependent on drugs or alcohol, you’ll experience withdrawal symptoms that vary in severity from mild to life-threatening.

A medication assisted treatment program minimizes cravings, dulls the effects of illicit opioids and in some cases, eases withdrawal symptoms. Some people worry that with MAT, you’re just swapping one drug for another. However, there’s a substantial body of evidence that suggests replacement and tapering, in conjunction with counseling, is the most effective way to help someone overcome opioid addiction.

How Does Medication Assisted Treatment Work?

The medications approved by the FDA for use in treating opioid addiction are Vivitrol, Suboxone and methadone. They are given to the sufferer to curb cravings, ease withdrawal symptoms and nullify the effects of illicit drugs. The dose of medication is gradually decreased as your mind and body get used to no longer having the substance of abuse in the system.

Vivitrol is particularly effective because it is long-lasting — it stays active in the system for up to a month, reducing cravings and dulling the effects of opioids. Methadone and Suboxone require daily administration, which is more of a challenge for someone with a powerful addiction to maintain.

Is It Safe to Substitute One Drug for Another?

Some people are put off treatment because they mistakenly believe they’re just replacing one drug for another. This is usually the thought process of an addict, who has a strong drive to maintain their current situation. In most cases, opioids obtained on the black market are extremely dangerous. They are often cut with other substances, posing a severe risk to the health of the person using them. With FDA-approved, professionally supervised MAT, you are not at risk. Your physician will taper you off the drug gradually in a way that is safe for you.

Is There Research to Back Up the Effectiveness of Medication Assisted Treatment?

There is a strong body of evidence to suggest that MAT is highly effective in people suffering from opioid use disorder. Studies show it significantly reduces illicit opioid use compared to other methods, especially when applied with counseling. Vivitrol blocks the receptors that cause the feeling of being high, making drug use a significantly less enjoyable experience.

Does Counseling Work Alongside MAT?

Breaking a habit is about more than blocking the physical sensation that goes along with getting high. It’s integral that you also address the underlying issues that have led to you turning to drugs in the first place. Often, substance abuse is a coping mechanism or self-medication for psychological distress. In the long term, drug use only makes these underlying problems worse, while counseling and identifying new coping mechanisms are a long-term solution.

People who have been suffering from opioid addiction often feel there’s no way out, but there is. Counseling and MAT have been proven as highly effective methods of helping individuals overcome addiction and get back on track to living a healthy, happy life. To find out more, call On Demand Recovery for therapy counseling services today at 330-270-8610.

Creative woman looking at bright lightbulb

What Is the Difference Between Outpatient and Intensive Outpatient Rehab?

Written by dev on . Posted in Blog.

Creative woman looking at bright lightbulbAll outpatient services treat people who are suffering from a substance use disorder on a part-time basis. Often, clinics help those who are going through an addiction address underlying mental health issues and devise a long-term plan for recovery. Intensive outpatient services offer an elevated level of care compared to general outpatient. This doesn’t mean the treatment is better — it’s about getting the intensity of care that’s right for you at the time.

For people who have a mild to moderate addiction, outpatient addiction services can be the ideal first step towards recovery. This type of service can also be incredibly valuable if you’ve recently completed a residential rehab program. Going straight from the structure and support of around-the-clock care to normal life can be overwhelming. People who sustain recovery tend to stay in some form of outpatient treatment for at least two years, if not indefinitely.

How Is Outpatient Rehab Different From Inpatient Rehab?

In an inpatient treatment facility, you check in on your first day and don’t leave for one week to three months. From the moment you wake up until the time you go to bed, your days follow the rigid structure of your timetable. Most rehab centers don’t allow the use of electronic devices, and you may not be able to see your family for the entire duration. Residential treatment can be expensive, as well as necessitating that you take time off work.

When you attend an outpatient program, you go home after each session and apply what you’ve learned straightaway. For people with a supportive home environment and loving friends and family, staying close to your support system can be hugely beneficial. You and a medical specialist will decide which level of outpatient care is best suited to your individual needs.

The Main Differences Between Traditional Outpatient and Intensive Outpatient Rehab

  • Budget and employment circumstances can play a significant role in the decision about the type of treatment you seek. If you’re maintaining full-time employment and suffering from a mild substance use disorder, general outpatient could be all you need. For people with a more severe addiction who are still in employment, intensive outpatient care would be better.
  • Usually, traditional outpatient services involve spending one or two hours per week receiving treatment in a rehab clinic. With intensive outpatient care, you’re likely to spend three or four days a week attending group and individual therapy for three hours at a time. In both levels, health care providers that offer medication assisted treatment will administer any medication you need to help ease withdrawal symptoms. Both also usually offer appointments outside of normal working hours.
  • General outpatient involves a lot of self-management with regard to conflict, stress and applying your new coping mechanisms to daily life. Intensive outpatient gives you more structure and guidance while still letting you continue with your daily responsibilities. As such, we’d recommend general outpatient if you’re suffering from a mild addiction or stepping down from more intensive treatment.

To find out more about the differences between traditional outpatient and intensive outpatient services, call On Demand Counseling at 330-270-8610 today.

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How Does Outpatient Rehab Work?

Written by dev on . Posted in Blog.

woman is thinking with a question markAddiction is a chronic disease that can take over a person’s life and wreak havoc, and the road to recovery is complex. Each person responds differently to treatment, and there is no one-size-fits-all treatment. Often, someone who succeeds in getting sober takes multiple approaches and attends some form of care on an ongoing basis. Substance use disorders are chronic illnesses, so there isn’t a finite cure. Abstinence needs to be cultivated long term, and outpatient rehab can be a great start, as well as being necessary for maintenance.

What Is Outpatient Rehab?

When you attend an outpatient treatment program, you attend a clinic at set times throughout the week and go back home after each one. You regularly check in with your counselors for therapy and medication while being given the freedom to continue with work or education and stay with your family. Often, the content of the program is similar to what you’d experience in residential rehab but without the restrictions.

You and a medical expert decide the intensity of the program you attend. General outpatient care usually involves attending a treatment center once or twice a week for group therapy, and sometimes individual substance use counseling, too. During an intensive outpatient program, you attend the clinic on a more regular basis, attending group and individual therapy. If you’re on a course of medication, this can be administered and overseen by a professional on any type of outpatient care plan.

The Benefits of an Outpatient Treatment Program

  • If you’re part of a family that supports your recovery, staying with them could be the most effective option for your recovery. Support from your loved ones is hugely encouraging, and for some people, being away from them can be detrimental.
  • Once you’ve finished treatment in a residential setting, it’s a good idea to step down to outpatient rehab and continue attending group and/or individual therapy indefinitely.
  • People with a young family or sole responsibility of a dependent might not be willing or able to leave them. In this case, you can attend treatment while staying close to the people who need you most.
  • In many cases, addiction has taken hold but hasn’t reached the point where you’ve stopped attending work or school. If you still have responsibilities you need to take care of, outpatient rehab is a perfect choice.
  • For some individuals, the idea of being in a rigid inpatient environment is off-putting. Outpatient rehab gives you a level of autonomy while still providing the structure you need to recover.
  • Outpatient rehab is a more affordable option compared to a residential treatment center. A lot of the time, insurance covers a large percentage of the costs.
  • After attending therapy, you can go back to your family, friends and home life and apply what you’ve learned to your everyday life. In an inpatient setting, the step back into daily experiences can be daunting.

Outpatient Addiction Treatment in Ohio

Making the decision to begin treatment for addiction isn’t an easy one. If you have any questions or want to speak to an expert about what you’re going through, call On Demand Counseling today at 330-270-8610.

young woman in pink hoodie

3 Reasons Why Outpatient Rehab Is a Good Option to Overcome Addiction

Written by dev on . Posted in Blog.

young woman in pink hoodieWhile inpatient treatment is usually the best course of action for people who need to go through detox for a severe substance use disorder, outpatient rehab is ideal for everyone else. It’s also the perfect option for individuals who have completed a residential rehab program and are ready to take a step down. When you don’t live in a clinical setting, your family and social life aren’t restricted; you can attend treatment around work or school and bring what you learn to daily life with immediate effect. One of the other significant benefits of outpatient rehab is its affordability.

1. Apply What You Learn to Your Daily Life

In an inpatient setting, every moment you’re awake is structured and rigid — which can be hugely helpful for people who have been struggling with the chaos that addiction can bring into their lives. However, spending time in this type of environment can be incredibly challenging to break away from. Maintaining sobriety in such a strict setting is entirely different from living a life of freedom in the outside world.

With an outpatient program, you attend counseling sessions and support groups and gain an education that you are then free to go home and practice in real time. There’s no transition period between treatment and normal life; you integrate your lessons as you go.

2. Stay Close to Your Loved Ones

If you have a loving family, close friends and a healthy home environment, leaving that for residential rehab could be detrimental rather than beneficial. Your support network is your best friend during recovery, so staying in a safe place and keeping up your family duties is a great idea. When you come home from treatment, you can discuss what you’ve learned with your spouse or friends and educate them on the best ways to help you. It also means you can celebrate your successes and build your self-esteem as you show your loved ones your progress.

3. Organize Treatment Around Your Schedule

When an outpatient facility provides evening, daytime and weekend sessions, you can schedule your rehabilitation around your responsibilities. Leaves of absence are generally protected under the Family and Medical Leave Act, which dictates that you can’t lose your job as a result of seeking medical attention such as rehab. However, that often means sharing your situation with your employers. Although no one should feel any shame about addiction — and especially for seeking help for addiction — you have a right to privacy.

If you’re the provider for your family, you might not be in a position to take a leave of absence. You might be responsible for the care of a dependent, and outpatient treatment gives you the medical help you need while leaving you free to fulfill your daily duties.

The first step on the journey to recovery is reaching out and seeking the information you need to get help. Call one of our advisors today at 330-270-8610 to find out more about how On Demand Counseling can give you the tools you need to get sober and stay sober.

How Long Is Outpatient Rehab?

Written by dev on . Posted in Blog.

Confused woman looking for answers

Outpatient treatment has a multitude of benefits and is imperative to many individuals who are recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. For people who have realized that they have a problem before it’s progressed to a severe stage, it can even be the ideal first step on the journey to recovery.

If you’ve been through inpatient rehab, you might be feeling proud that you’ve successfully completed your substance abuse treatment program. While you should celebrate your achievement, don’t mistake your accomplishment as a cure for drug addiction. Substance use disorders are chronic diseases, and maintaining sobriety is an ongoing process. A step-down from residential inpatient treatment to an intensive treatment plan to general outpatient is one of the most effective methods of recovery from drug use for many individuals.

What’s the Difference Between General Outpatient and an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)?

During intensive outpatient treatment, you spend up to four days a week in a rehab treatment facility for up to three hours at a time. Your schedule will include a combination of individual therapy sessions and group therapy, according to your unique needs. With medication assisted treatment, if you’re taking a course of detoxification medication, the detox medical care staff will administer this and monitor your progress. Intensive outpatient care usually lasts anywhere from a month to six months, according to your drug addiction treatment progress and how you feel.

What is an Outpatient Addiction Treatment Center?

Outpatient addiction rehab is a continuation of intensive outpatient drug rehab or residential programs. They can also be utilized for someone who is on the road to recovery but has suffered a minor setback in the form of relapse. If you’re suffering from a mild substance use disorder, general outpatient care treatment options could be an effective first step on your recovery journey.

How Long Should You Attend Outpatient Treatment?

A general outpatient treatment program is something you should make a judgment call about how long to continue. Most of the people who succeed in maintaining abstinence on a long-term basis tend to attend an outpatient rehab program for a long time, whether it’s 12-step meetings, process groups or community support groups. Listening to what other people have been through can be a huge motivational factor in staying sober, plus you may form lifelong bonds with people who have the same intentions as you.

Once you’ve been in drug and alcohol rehab recovery for more than a year, going to an aftercare support group begins to take on a new dimension. As you meet new members of the support system group, you are setting the example of someone who has shown the strength to maintain sobriety. This sense of responsibility often boosts self-esteem and gives you an incredible sense of achievement and fulfillment.

Do I Need Individual Therapy Once My Addiction Treatment Program Is Finished?

You and the addiction counselors you work with can decide how long you continue with individual therapy. If you have an underlying mental health condition, it may be a good idea for you to continue behavioral therapy with a mental health service plan for a year or more, depending on the severity of your co-occurring disorder. If your treatment provider is satisfied that you’ve gained the level of care necessary through individual counseling to maintain sobriety while managing your mental health, they’ll let you know.

For more information about how outpatient drug and alcohol treatment can help you to overcome the obstacles that have kept you tied down to addiction, call On Demand Counseling today at 330-270-8610.