Opiate addiction rates have snowballed over the past decade. Whether in prescription pain pill form or heroin, opiates can slowly but surely take over a person’s life when abused on a regular basis. By the time a person reaches a point of being ready to enter rehab treatment, it’s important to choose the type of program that will best address his or her treatment needs.
For the most part, residential and outpatient opiate addiction treatment offer the same types of services. What distinguishes outpatient opiate addiction treatment from residential care has to do with the level or intensity of care provided. Identifying the degree of damage addiction has caused in your life offers the best indicator of whether outpatient opiate addiction treatment will work for you.
Opiate Addiction Effects
For most people, opiate abuse attacks the body first, and then the mind. Opiates alter the brain’s chemical system creating a state of physical dependence in the process. From there, opiate effects warp the brain’s inner workings, changing a person’s character in terms of his or her morals, motivations and priorities, according to the U. S. National Library of Medicine.
As a general rule, the more severe the addiction the more dependent the brain has become on the drug’s effects. Over time, this dependency plays out in a person’s daily choices and behaviors to the point where the majority of his or her time and energy is spent getting and using the drug.
Outpatient treatment is effective for people who are able to hold down a job.
Outpatient opiate addiction treatment can be of benefit in cases where a person can still exercise some degree of control over drug use, such as:
- Holding down a job
- Maintaining a household
- Managing finances
- Maintaining important relationships
Once addiction starts to compromise one or more major life areas, outpatient opiate addiction treatment may not be enough to help you get your life back under control.
Not sure if your insurance will help cover your treatment costs? Call our helpline at 800-442-6158 Who Answers? for more information.
Outpatient Opiate Addiction Treatment Provisions
Outpatient opiate addiction treatment programs offer the same services as residential facilities, some of which include:
- Individual psychotherapy
- Drug education and counseling
- Group therapy
- Support group work
- Relapse prevention training
Unlike residential programs, people attending outpatient opiate addiction treatment can live at home and schedule treatment sessions at their convenience. These provisions give a person a considerable degree of flexibility and freedom in terms of how time is spent in between treatment sessions.
People at the early stages of addiction may well be able to handle this level of freedom. People who’ve established a solid foundation in the recovery process may also be able to maintain abstinence and manage daily life under these conditions. For someone who’s life has already spun out-of-control as a result of compulsive drug-using behavior, this degree of flexibility leaves a person wide open for relapse, according to the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment.
Treatment Considerations
Different types of drug treatment programs address different aspects or stages of addiction. Likewise, the various programs also work with people who are in different stages of the recovery process. Ultimately, outpatient opiate addiction treatment will work for you provided you’ve made some progress in recovery already, or are able to manage daily life affairs without letting opiate use get out of control
If you or someone you know are considering outpatient opiate addiction treatment and need help finding a program that meets your needs, please feel free to call our toll-free helpline at 800-442-6158 Who Answers? to speak with one of our addictions specialists.
