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How Outpatient Alcohol Care Is Structured
Outpatient alcohol care in Ohio is structured. An assessment starts with a clinical interview of you and/or your family. During this process, healthcare professionals determine the extent to which your drinking has become problematic and what level of care might be most appropriate.
There are three basic levels of care when it comes to outpatient alcohol rehab:
- Standard (non-intensive) outpatient treatment
- Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs)
- Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs)
The least intensive form of outpatient treatment is non-intense. In this setting, a licensed clinician or therapist will meet with you for regular counseling sessions.
During these meetings, the therapist will address your specific needs as a patient. You can then work together to build a treatment plan that addresses any underlying problems related to drinking and addiction.
Non-intensive care is not a good option if you're struggling with severe alcohol use disorder or other health problems. The level of support you receive during non-intensive care may be insufficient to help you achieve long-term recovery.
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Weekly Counseling Without Overnight Stay
Outpatient alcohol rehab is a type of treatment where patients attend regular sessions at an addiction clinic without having to stay overnight. The purpose of this form of rehabilitation is to provide individuals with the tools they need to manage their addiction in a structured setting while still being able to live at home and maintain other responsibilities.
In outpatient rehab, patients typically receive counseling and therapy sessions during the day, but they don’t have to stay overnight at the facility. This allows them to continue working or going to school while getting help for their alcohol addiction.
Outpatient programs can range from a few hours per week of individual or group counseling up to several times per week of intensive therapy.
The outpatient program is a good option for individuals who have jobs, families or other responsibilities that prevent them from being able to attend an inpatient rehab facility.
Weekly counseling without an overnight stay might be a good fit if you are in good physical health and have stable living arrangements.
Medications can help people stop drinking or prevent a relapse. This makes it easier to avoid alcohol and stay in treatment.
For example, a medication called naltrexone is available as a pill that you take daily or as an injection.
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Intensive Outpatient Schedules
Intensive outpatient schedules coordinate care from multiple providers for someone with complex needs. People may also need it as an aftercare service, to maintain recovery.
People in intensive outpatient schedules have several appointments with one or more providers each week. The frequency and length of the appointments are based on the person’s needs. Appointments include assessment, treatment planning, counseling, and coordination with other service providers.
Intensive outpatient care is coordinated for you by your treatment providers. This can include any or all of the following:
- Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Family counseling
- Other support services
You are seen frequently to monitor progress and adjust the program.
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Partial Hospitalization Days
Partial hospitalization is an intensive outpatient alcohol program that occurs during the day but you sleep at home at night. It may include group and individual counseling sessions, educational lectures, and family therapy. The goal is to provide treatment with structure and support so that clients can continue to care for themselves.
Partial hospitalization programs may be provided by hospitals or freestanding outpatient facilities. Partial hospitalization is an option for people with severe alcohol problems who do not need 24-hour supervision and medical monitoring.
Partial hospitalization days keep people living at home while they receive intensive treatment. They attend the program for several hours. After a short time of full-time care, some people transition to a lower level of care with less frequent sessions.
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Who Fits Outpatient Care
A full assessment helps show whether lower-intensity outpatient care (such as standard outpatient, intensive outpatient, or partial hospitalization) is appropriate.
- Someone who needs help with alcohol problems but has no serious co-occurring problems. They are able to maintain their daily routine while attending sessions.
- People who need help with their problem drinking but have other obligations (such as a full-time job, parenting responsibilities, etc.). They cannot put these things on hold while attending treatment. This may include people whose work schedules prevent them from being able to attend standard outpatient sessions during the day.
Outpatient alcohol care can fit people who drink too much and are not yet experiencing a medical emergency. They can also work for people whose physical health is suffering, but they do not require more intense forms of treatment such as inpatient or residential programs.
People with mild to moderate AUD may benefit from outpatient services. Outpatient rehab can help someone who needs support with a short-term goal like cutting back on drinking. But it may also be appropriate for someone whose goals are to reduce drinking over a longer period or to stop using alcohol entirely.
Outpatient care is not appropriate when you need emergency medical attention, such as after a recent serious injury or overdose. It’s also not right for you if your physical health is in immediate danger.
People who are not at risk of experiencing a life-threatening problem if they go without treatment may be candidates for this approach.
Outpatient care is also appropriate for people who have the ability to make their own decisions and accept responsibility for their actions, which includes committing to treatment, attending meetings regularly, following through with recommendations, etc.
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Medicines During Outpatient Treatment
Naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram are the three FDA-approved medications for treating AUD. Each medication works differently to help individuals recover from alcohol addiction. Some people find it helpful to combine medications with counseling or other types of therapy to maximize their chances of recovery.
Disulfiram is a medication that has been used for years to help people with AUD. It works by causing an unpleasant reaction when you consume alcohol.
Naltrexone is another medication that works well for people with AUD. It helps to reduce the desire to drink alcohol by blocking its effects on your brain.
It is approved to treat AUD, as well as heroin and prescription opioid addiction. Naltrexone can be used in either an oral form or as a monthly injection.
Naltrexone does not have any addictive potential and is generally well tolerated.
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Paying for Outpatient Alcohol Care in Ohio
Paying for outpatient alcohol care in Ohio usually includes services that may be covered through health insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, or other private pay.
MHPAEA is a federal law that requires health plans to cover mental health benefits no more restrictively than medical/surgical benefits. It's important to know what your insurance plan covers in terms of mental health and substance use disorder services.
The cost of treatment can vary depending on factors such as the level of care, length of treatment, specific services provided, and location.
The Ohio Department of Insurance has resources available on their website regarding mental health parity laws and regulations.
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Picking an Outpatient Provider
County ADAMH boards plan local care and fund addiction, mental health, and recovery services in Ohio counties. These include outpatient services like counseling for substance use disorders.
You can also talk to your doctor. Primary care providers are often very knowledgeable about treatment options in their communities.
Which option makes the most sense for you depends on the severity and duration of your drinking problem as well as your family responsibilities and other personal circumstances.
Picking an outpatient alcohol provider starts with figuring out how much time you can realistically dedicate to rehab. In general, there are three types of outpatient programs: standard, intensive, and partial hospitalization (PHP).
An IOP program offers treatment on a part-time basis. These programs are more time-consuming than OP but still do not involve living in a residential facility. Patients typically attend multiple sessions per week for several hours each session. The frequency and duration of these sessions vary based on the patient’s needs, goals, and other factors.
The goal of an IOP is to provide patients with treatment services while allowing them to live at home and maintain their daily lives as much as possible.
A PHP is designed for those who need more intensive care than can be provided in OP or IOP but do not require 24-hour monitoring.