Outpatient Drug Rehab in Florida

Drug addiction causes changes to the brain that will take some time to overcome. Outpatient drug rehab is often the final step in the process of rehabilitation. The patient and therapists have agreed that it is time to make the transition back to regular life. Outpatient treatment provides the necessary support to prevent relapses and stay healthy.

What is An Outpatient Program?

Every week, outpatient rehab centers host treatment sessions for their patients who do not need to stay onsite. These patients gather together for individual and group therapy sessions as they discuss the challenges of returning to daily life. An outpatient drug rehab program is a safe space for clients to share their struggles and develop strategies for dealing with stress.

An Affordable Option

Outpatient rehab in Florida gives clients the option to stay at home while continuing their treatment. Because the facility does not have to provide food, housing and medical care, this part of the continuum of drug rehab treatment is less expensive than inpatient treatments. Outpatient drug rehab in Florida may be a good option if you or a loved one cannot handle the expense of an inpatient stay. Also, it is a possible option for patients whose level of addiction does not qualify for an inpatient stay.

The length of outpatient drug rehab depends on the needs of the patient. Many recovering drug addicts find that they need some support for years after they overcome drug addiction. This treatment may include less formal 12-step groups as well as continued professional therapy. Eventually, patients want to graduate from a formal treatment setting. One of the benefits of outpatient rehab in Florida is the ability to help clients plan for their next steps. They can return to daily life knowing that they are ready to face the challenge.

A Patient-Dependent Process

How does outpatient rehab work? The timeline and type of treatment depend on the patient. In an intensive outpatient drug rehab program, patients travel to outpatient rehab centers several days a week for a few hours of structured therapy. If you have experienced a minor relapse, you may only need a week or two of treatment to get you back on track. Patients who do not qualify for inpatient treatment may require a longer time for their recovery. Other patients may simply need an occasional encounter with a trusted counselor to keep them from old patterns.

If you are considering treatment for drug addiction, you may be asking, “What is outpatient rehab like?” Many people in recovery need structure as they move from addiction to clean living. Inpatient treatment provides a rigid schedule to help people as they go through detox and withdrawal.

By the time people are ready for an outpatient program for substance abuse, they will have passed the worst withdrawal symptoms. However, returning to normal life is going to be a challenge.

Outpatient counseling sessions provide an anchoring point within the week. In an intensive outpatient drug rehab program, a patient may attend sessions three or four days a week. The content of these visits will vary based on the needs of the individual. Most therapy sessions last an hour and can include:

• Individual therapy
• Group therapy
• Family therapy
• Cognitive Behavioral therapy
• 12-step groups

Intensive outpatient therapy is still a serious time commitment. Clients appreciate the regular appointments that offer much-needed support. During these sessions, clients will debrief their time outside of the facility and evaluate their progress. If something has gone wrong during the week, an outpatient session gives a patient a chance to talk it through. You can look at alternative strategies for dealing with triggers with people who are dealing with similar struggles.

Typically, this transitional step comes at the end of a formal inpatient or residential treatment program. It marks the move from the controlled atmosphere of an inpatient program to life in the outside world.

The Standard Drug Rehab Program

For most patients, treatment for drug addiction begins with a phone call. This step may happen after you have experienced the negative effects of addiction. Whether it is a minor accident or a life-changing moment, you have realized that it is time to make a change.

Next, seriously-addicted patients check into a medical detox center. Withdrawal from an addictive substance takes a toll on the body. The symptoms of detox can be both physically and mentally painful. In a detox center, the medical staff has treatments that can make this process easier. Cravings for the substance will be very strong while detoxing. The facility monitors patients to make certain they do not relapse during this critical time.

After detoxing, clients spend more time in the inpatient setting. During this period, people have daily counseling sessions and group therapies. They may also participate in alternative treatments like art therapy, yoga, and meditation.

For dual diagnosis patients, this is also a time to work on improving a secondary mental disorder. As this time ends, there is a greater focus on learning the skills of healthy living. Clients learn the tools of stress-relief, healthy eating, and exercise.

After inpatient therapy, clients will begin their outpatient program for substance abuse. The client may have moved back home with family or may live in a transitional, sober house.

Outpatient Drug Rehab in Florida: Establishing a Long-Term Plan

It is not enough to get an addictive substance out of your body. For months and even years afterward, you may find yourself with cravings and temptations. An outpatient program for substance abuse is geared toward finding solutions to daily problems and stresses.

Many people turn to drugs and alcohol because they do not have the resources to handle emotional or mental challenges. When they get stressed, anxious, or depressed, they turn to the comfort of a drug.

Outpatient rehab in Florida reinforces the lessons learned during the more intensive therapy. Patients are now out in the real world experiencing the stresses of returning to work and family. At outpatient therapy sessions, they learn how to apply strategies for dealing with stress and disappointment without drugs.

According to the National Institute of Health, outpatient drug rehab is an effective way to deal with an addiction. However, not everyone can start with outpatient treatment. For a strong, active addiction, inpatient medical detox is a critical first step.

The Final Step of Drug Rehab Treatment

The main candidates for outpatient rehab in Florida are people who have successfully completed an inpatient program. Having gone through detox and intensive inpatient care, they are ready to transition out of the facility. For these individuals, the outpatient program is a continuation of the work they have been doing for several weeks.

Mild Addiction

Outpatient treatment may be an option for someone who does not have a deep addiction. You may be at an early stage of substance abuse. You recognize that you are abusing a substance, but there have not yet been serious consequences in your life. In this case, a round of outpatient therapy may be all you need to interrupt the cycle of addiction.

Treatment for a Minor Relapse

The road to freedom from addiction is never easy. Most people will fall a few times before they kick an addictive habit. For a drug addict, an unexpected relapse is a decision point. You can turn back to the damaging effects of the drug, or you can turn away. Outpatient therapy is an option for getting things back under control after a stumble.