Outpatient treatment is one of the final phases of the recovery journey, but still just as crucial as inpatient treatment and detox. How long is outpatient drug rehab? The answer depends on your level of addiction severity, your treatment goals, and any plans you have for aftercare. While on average, outpatient drug rehab programs can last anywhere from 30 to 90 days, the length of treatment ultimately varies for each individual. Let’s take a look at some of the factors that determine the duration of outpatient drug rehab and how you can make the most out of your time in treatment.
How Long is Outpatient Drug Rehab – Intensive Vs. Regular Outpatient Treatment
One of the main factors that will impact how long your outpatient drug rehab program lasts is the type of treatment you receive. There are two main types of outpatient treatment: intensive outpatient programs (IOP) sometimes referred to as IOT, and regular outpatient programs.
Intensive Outpatient Treatment
Intensive outpatient programs involve more frequent and intense therapy sessions, and usually involve more substance abuse counseling. This type of program is recommended for those with a more severe addiction or those who have completed inpatient treatment but still require a structured level of care.
Sessions are usually broken up in 3-5 sessions per week, with each session lasting between 3 and 6 hours, for a total of 9-30 hours per week. These programs can last anywhere from 30 to 90 days, depending on your progress.
Outpatient Treatment
On the other hand, regular outpatient treatment typically lasts between 45 to 60 days. While this might seem longer, outpatient treatment usually only holds 1-2 sessions per week lasting between 1-2 hours, for a total of about 2-4 hours per week.
This is a drastic change from the rigor of IOP, but nonetheless effective and extremely helpful for people during the recovery process. During outpatient treatment, people will have access to more than just substance abuse counseling, including:
- Individual therapy
- Group counseling
- Family therapy
- Holistic therapies (e.g. yoga, meditation)
These additional services can help address the underlying issues that may have contributed to the addiction, and provide a more well-rounded approach to recovery. Because addiction is chronic in nature, it’s essential to take every opportunity to continue to address and manage it, including participating in outpatient treatment.
Factors Affecting Total Time Spent in Outpatient Drug Rehab
There are several different factors that determine how long someone may stay in an outpatient drug rehab program. These include the following.
Participating in IOP, Outpatient Treatment, or Both
After finishing a partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient program, some people continue their treatment by enrolling in outpatient treatment as a step-down level of care. Others may begin their addiction recovery journey directly through outpatient services.
Depending on the type of care you need, you might want to combine both programs or simply continue with regular outpatient treatment. Combining both programs means you’ll leave inpatient treatment and spend as much as 5 months or more in outpatient care. But, this time is spent in active recovery and in a supportive and structured environment, which can help prevent relapse.
Severity of Addiction
Addiction severity no doubt plays a role in how long outpatient drug rehab is. If you enroll in outpatient treatment but then relapse, choose not to engage in treatment due to your addiction’s severity, or need more intensive care than what outpatient treatment offers, you may want to consider a more structured program like inpatient treatment.
Even if you’ve already completed inpatient treatment, there’s no harm in seeking additional treatment if you feel it’s necessary. The goal is always to achieve long-term recovery, and sometimes that requires multiple rounds of treatment.
Co-Occurring Disorders
An estimated 21.5 million people who have substance use disorder also have underlying mental health issues like depression, anxiety, trauma, ADHD, and more. These co-occurring mental health disorders can extend the length of time needed for outpatient drug rehab.
However, while it might seem like it’s a good idea to only focus on the addiction and then move on to addressing the mental health issues, treating both simultaneously is more effective in achieving long-term recovery.
If you have a co-occurring disorder, you might want to enroll in an outpatient treatment program that offers addiction therapies. These include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Group Therapy
- Individual Therapy
Aftercare Planning
Even if you feel you’re ready to move on from IOP or outpatient treatment, it’s important to have a solid aftercare plan in place. This can help you maintain your sobriety and prevent relapse. Some options for aftercare include:
- Continued therapy (individual or group)
- Support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
- Sober living environments
- Regular check-ins with a sponsor or accountability partner
- 12-step programs
- Faith-based groups
Without an aftercare plan in place, you could open yourself up to temptations and stressors that can lead to relapse. The sooner you can set a solid aftercare plan, the sooner you can be ready to end outpatient treatment and begin using the skills you learned in treatment to maintain your sobriety.
Recovery is Possible
Outpatient drug rehab can be a crucial step towards long-term recovery for those struggling with substance use disorder. By combining therapy, support, and aftercare planning, you can build a strong foundation for maintaining your sobriety and living a fulfilling life free from addiction.
At Roaring Brook Recovery, our outpatient addiction treatment center in Lexington, KY, is here to guide you in those crucial steps towards recovery. From mental health treatment to outpatient substance abuse treatment, PHP, MAT, and more, we’ll work with you to set up an individualized treatment plan that meets your goals. Contact us today to learn more about our evidence-based therapies and begin your journey towards lasting recovery.