Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

When it comes to choosing an addiction treatment program, clients have two categories to choose from: inpatient and outpatient treatment. While inpatient programs require clients to essentially live at the facility for some time, outpatient ones have the flexibility of allowing clients to still live at home while receiving treatment. Intensive outpatient programs, or IOPs, are one the most commonly available options. If you’re interested in an Alpharetta IOP, read on to learn more about this valuable addiction treatment program option.

What Makes an Intensive Outpatient Program Different?

The key difference between intensive outpatient programs and inpatient programs is that they grant clients the ability to return home every day. When you first seek help at our Alpharetta IOP, our team will work with you to decide how many days per week you need to attend treatment. On these days, you will be required to be at the facility for a set number of hours. Once your treatment is over for the day, you can go home. This gives people the flexibility to still maintain a level of their normal daily life, fulfilling family obligations, holding down a job, or going to school as usual. Reputable Alpharetta IOPs, like the one offered at Emerge Healing Center, follow guidelines set forth by the American Society of Addiction Medicine. This means that you can be confident that you are getting the level of care needed to help you overcome your addiction.

The Benefits of Intensive Outpatient Programs

While you may think that an Alpharetta IOP is likely to offer clients fewer treatment options because they don’t live at the facility, that is not the case. IOPs should offer a range of treatment options for their clients to best suit their needs in recovery. Emerge Healing Center empowers our clients to work with our staff to choose what treatments they receive, which has been shown to help reduce the risk of relapse after completing an IOP. The most common treatments offered at Alpharetta IOPs include:

Medical Visits

Many people who have an addiction also suffer from health complications due to their substance abuse. This can include nutritional deficiencies from poor eating habits, to more serious issues like diabetes or high blood pressure. During treatment at an IOP, clients should be allowed to schedule medical appointments to help address these concerns, improving their physical health to make it easier to focus on your treatment.

Medication-Assisted Treatment

Often abbreviated as MAT, this is a very effective option for people suffering from severe alcohol addiction or opioid addiction. MAT programs utilize certain medications that help reduce substance cravings and withdrawal symptoms. This makes recovery easier and more comfortable and reduces the risk of relapse.

Medication Management

Many clients end up being prescribed at least one medication while in an IOP, with some being prescribed more than one to best address all of their mental and physical concerns. Medication management services help balance your medications, monitoring dosages for effectiveness while also making sure you aren’t experiencing severe side effects. This allows the facility to hone your medications to the most effective level for your needs.

Individual Therapy

Every client who enters addiction treatment will be enrolled in some type of individual therapy. These one-on-one sessions help you to find and address any underlying reasons behind your addiction, such as trauma or a mental health condition, and work through the negative experiences that addiction may have led you through. You’ll also be given tools to help you manage stress, and cope with drug use triggers when they are unavoidable.

Group Therapy

Many Alpharetta IOPs also recommend group therapy as a part of their client’s treatment programs. While discussing your addition with strangers may make you feel uncomfortable at first, over time you will see how valuable group therapy is. Being able to talk to people who understand what you are going through is often a huge relief for those in recovery. It gives clients a safe and non-judgmental space in which they can talk about their experiences, as well as learn how to have healthier interactions with others as newly sober people.

Aftercare Options

While you may be tempted to think that, once you complete your Alpharetta IOP, you’re done with recovery, that isn’t the case. Recovering from addiction can be a long process for most people, due to the impact that substance abuse has on your brain function. Aftercare programs are designed to give you continued support when things get tough, as well as a safe space to celebrate milestones as you achieve them.

Is an Alpharetta IOP Right for Me?

Often, clients are drawn to an Alpharetta IOP because they like the idea of being able to go home every night. But the fact is that not every client is a good candidate for an IOP. If you have a stable home with a strong support system and haven’t been to addiction treatment before, then it would likely work for you. If, however, you live with someone who still uses drugs or alcohol, or don’t have stable housing and reliable transportation, then you may be a better candidate for an inpatient program.

IOP in Alpharetta at Emerge Healing Center

Emerge Healing Center is here to help you determine if our IOP would be a good option for your needs. Contact us today to discuss our treatment options, and how we can best treat your individual needs on your path to recovery. Our highly-trained staff is here to answer any questions you may have and get you into the most effective program possible.