Nearly 260 Americans lose their lives to drug-related overdoses every day, leaving families and communities grappling with severe losses each day. The U.S. is in the midst of a growing addiction crisis as we speak. However, the encouraging news is that there are different substance use treatment options that are filling this gap between behavioral health needs and healthcare options.
Outpatient rehabilitation (rehab) options are intensive care options that are also flexible – you do not have to put your life on hold to focus on your substance use concerns. You receive intensive treatment during scheduled hours and then get to go back to the comfort of your home or a sober living residence afterward. Some people also explore structured retreats or therapeutic wellness experiences that focus on rebuilding physical and mental resilience during or after outpatient care. In this article, we are going to tell you about two such outpatient rehab options – partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) and intensive outpatient programs (IOPs).
Understanding the U.S. Addiction Crisis
A recent report said that in 2022, nearly 110,000 Americans died of a drug overdose, out of which nearly 81,000 deaths involved prescription or illicit opioids. Nearly 73% of these deaths were driven by opioids. So, we need to have a closer look at the opioids in relation to the U.S. addiction crisis. The opioid crisis can be understood in three waves:
- The first wave began in the 1990s, mainly driven by prescription opioid overdose.
- The second wave began in 2010, with a rapid increase in overdose deaths involving heroin.
- The third wave began in 2013, with overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids (man-made opioids) like fentanyl.
While the opioid crisis is certainly a public health concern, many of these deaths also involve polysubstance use – mixing more than one substance together.
The point here is that there is a crisis at hand, but the truth is also that many do not seek the care they need and deserve. While finance is one of the main barriers to care, the general understanding of rehab is to take a considerable amount of time out of one’s life and dedicate it to the same. However, behavioral health care has improved by leaps and bounds, and we are at a really exciting time now. We have successful, cost-effective, and flexible rehab options now that are built around your life rather than the other way around.
Levels of Care in Addiction Treatment
Outpatient Therapy: This is the standard outpatient treatment, where you go to a therapist’s office once or twice a week.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): An intensive outpatient program provides intensive care for 3-5 hours a day and 3 days per week. You receive individual therapy, group therapy, medication management, life skills training sessions, social support, aftercare, and case management services.
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP): A partial hospitalization program is the most intensive outpatient care option, where you receive up to 8 hours per day and for 5 days per week. Like with IOP, you receive individual therapy, group therapy, medication management, life skills training sessions, social support, aftercare, and case management services.
Inpatient Acute Care: This is for psychiatric emergencies, where someone may need to go to a psychiatric hospital or a general hospital’s psych ward for intensive, 24*7 care.
Inpatient Residential: Inpatient residential care is when a person lives in an inpatient residential facility for a month or more. The person receives care programs similar to PHP and IOP but with 24*7 supervision.
What Is a PHP Program?
PHP stands for partial hospitalization program. It is the most intensive outpatient care program for substance use and mental health disorders. PHPs span the entire day, during which a person receives intensive care and structure for up to 8 hours per day and 5 days per week. PHPs provide a wide range of services, like individual and group therapy, psychiatric evaluations, medical monitoring, life skills training, and more.
Ideal candidates for PHPs are those who need close psychiatric supervision but have a relative level of stability outside of a clinical setting and have a loving, supportive environment to return to after the scheduled hours of treatment. PHPs are unique in that they bridge the gap between inpatient and outpatient care, providing a structured setting while also reinforcing tools and skills crucial for recovery.
What Is an IOP Program?
IOP stands for an intensive outpatient program. It is a lower level of intensive care than a PHP, where a person receives intensive care and structure for up to 5 hours a day and 3 days per week. IOPs provide a wide range of services, just like PHP, involving individual and group therapy, psychiatric evaluations, medical monitoring, life skills training, and more.
IOPs are ideal for those who have achieved a relative level of stability outside of a clinical setting and have a loving, supportive environment to go back to after scheduled hours of treatment. It is also for those who need both intensive care and flexibility in their life so that they are able to maintain their daily life and obligations, such as studies and jobs. This is the reason why many IOPs run both in the morning and evening and even during other convenient times on a given day.
How PHP and IOP Address the U.S. Addiction Crisis?
PHP and IOP effectively bridge the gap between inpatient and outpatient care in that they provide both intensive care and flexibility. You do not have to put your life on hold to receive the care you need and deserve, and at your convenience. PHPs and IOPs are condition-specific and personalized to your needs and goals so that the care you receive is as relevant to you as it is effective.
Moreover, PHP and IOP do not have to work in a vacuum; they work together for a holistic and enduring recovery. For instance, an IOP can work as a step-down option after you have completed PHP so that you can easily transition to daily life. Meanwhile, both PHP and IOP can work as step-down options for inpatient acute and residential care
Finally, PHPs and IOPs are highly cost-effective options as they do not require hospital stays. PHPs last for 4-6 weeks, while IOPs last for 12 weeks. Since the Affordable Care Act considers behavioral health an essential health benefit, your insurance will cover outpatient rehab, and it can even cover a greater number of sessions.
Choosing Between PHP and IOP
Both PHP and IOP are outpatient rehab options. Choosing between them depends on where you are in your recovery. This depends on the severity of your addiction, your relative stability outside of a clinical setting, the time you can afford, and other unique factors.
However, for this, you need to consult licensed mental health practitioners who can conduct a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and refer you to either PHP or an IOP. Going by the thumb rule, for severe addiction concerns, a PHP can be recommended. For mild to moderate concerns, an IOP can be recommended. This is only after it is ascertained that you do not need 24*7 medical or psychiatric supervision. In which case, inpatient care can be recommended.
Final Reflections
Partial hospitalization programs and intensive outpatient programs are intensive outpatient rehab options for substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions that are comprehensive and personalized to your needs and goals. Moreover, they are flexible and cost-effective, so that neither time nor finance is a barrier to behavioral health care.
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, then it is good to be informed about all the options available to you. You can also educate and inspire yourself by watching some of the best documentaries on drug addiction that showcase the raw realities and triumphs of recovery.
PHPs and IOPs are bridging the gap between behavioral health needs and behavioral healthcare. With a myriad of options by your side, embarking on a journey of recovery becomes easier and more confident than ever before.
