An IOP is an intensive outpatient program. This kind of program allows you to live at home while still receiving treatment for drug or alcohol problems. An IOP plays an important role in the addiction recovery process for many people. That may be especially true if you lead a busy daily routine. An IOP can provide you with multiple potential benefits in such a situation. Keep reading to learn more about the specific kinds of benefits common with IOPs.
Benefits of IOP Treatment
Plenty of Time to Receive Needed Care
An IOP sits in the middle of the continuum of outpatient options for addiction treatment. The other options on this continuum are:
- Standard outpatient programs
- Partial hospitalization programs, or PHP
IOPs provide more weekly treatment than standard outpatient care but less than a PHP. While enrolled in intensive outpatient care, you will spend at least nine hours a week getting help at your facility. At a maximum, you will spend 19 hours a week in treatment.
If you meet the criteria for an IOP, this is plenty of time to support your recovery. To qualify for an IOP, you must have problems that cannot be treated adequately in a standard program. You must also be in generally stable condition. In addition, you must not need hospitalization or inpatient care.
A Good Amount of Personal Time
All IOPs strike a balance between effective treatment and the demands of your personal life. When you enter this program, you know your minimum and maximum time commitment in advance. As a rule, you’ll have at least half the personal time available under normal circumstances. This gives you the opportunity to:
- Take care of important responsibilities at home, work, or school
- Create a stable schedule and plan efficiently
- Fit treatment into your weekly routine
The knowledge that these things are possible may help you feel less concerned about entering treatment. As a result, you may also feel more inclined to get the treatment you need.
Avoiding Inpatient Addiction Treatment
If you lead a busy life, one of the biggest benefits of an IOP is helping you avoid inpatient care. In a world without IOPs or PHPs, inpatient treatment would be your only option for dealing with moderate addiction. Why?
Moderate addiction symptoms typically require more help than standard outpatient care allows. Adequate treatment is key to your recovery. An inpatient program may provide more help than you need. However, this overtreatment might be the better alternative in a world with just two treatment options.
An IOP helps you avoid this dilemma. It provides enough support to help most people with moderate addiction symptoms. Doing so creates a preferred middle ground between standard outpatient and inpatient care.
There are also cost savings associated with this benefit. Generally speaking, IOPs are less expensive than inpatient programs. You avoid paying more than you should for your addiction recovery by avoiding unnecessary inpatient treatment.
Learn More About the Benefits of Intensive Outpatient Programs at New Start Recovery
Want more information on the common benefits of intensive outpatient programs? The experts at New Start Recovery are standing by to assist you. We can help you determine if you’re a good fit for IOP treatment. In addition, we can answer any questions you may have about what to expect when you enroll.
New Start Recovery is a trusted provider of IOP services. We can use these services to help you fit treatment into your busy life when appropriate. Call us today at [Direct] for more details on our IOP options. You can also contact us through our online form and begin your path to healing.