Intensive Outpatient for Addiction Treatment in California Explained

Intensive Outpatient for Addiction Treatment in California Explained

There’s somewhat of a misconception out there that all types of rehab and treatment for substance abuse involve completely separating you from your daily life. Pulling you away from everything and going away for a few months.

That type of treatment certainly does exist and it’s called inpatient rehab. It serves a very real and important purpose for those grappling with an addiction of any kind because some people require that type of round the clock care

If your addiction is severe or you struggle with near constant urges to use your substance of choice, an inpatient facility may be exactly what you need.

However, rehab, like clothing, isn’t one size fits all and ultimately you want (and deserve) a program that fits your unique needs.

Your addiction may be on the more serious side but perhaps it doesn’t necessitate a month or two away. Or maybe you’ve just finished up a stay at a residential inpatient facility, feeling great, but not quite ready to be thrown straight back into your old life.

That’s where something like intensive outpatient programs come into play.

What Is an Intensive Outpatient California?

A precursor to what is intensive outpatient care is what is outpatient care in general?

Outpatient rehab is a sort of stripped-down version of inpatient care in the sense that it’s not 24/7 and you’re not living at a treatment center. Outpatient care allows you to get your independence back and apply the skills and techniques you learned in rehab to life outside of the rehab.

You’ll still have a robust schedule of counseling, both individual and group, complementary therapies as well as whatever else your program requires, but you’ll be commuting back and forth.

You might be wondering where does “intensive” fit into this then?

Well, an intensive outpatient program is something that is meant to deliver the intensity of inpatient care in an outpatient setting. It’s for those that need that extra attention and assistance. Think of it like training wells on a bike, sure you can probably ride but is it safe to do it with some safety mechanism in place?

That’s the idea of the programs.

The goal is the same across the board and important to keep in mind: prevent relapse.

Not everyone moves through treatment at the same pace and that’s ok. Intensive outpatient in California could be the perfect stepping stone on your journey of recovery.

What Addictions Are Treated in an Intensive Outpatient Program?

A great question.

The answer here is more of a function of each individual rehab center. Certain facilities are specialized in the types of addiction they deal with. Some are focused on alcohol use disorder while others are well versed in the needs of those dealing with opioid addiction and yet others are geared towards helping people with a dual diagnosis.

Taking it from that perspective, the answer is that all addictions can be treated in an intensive outpatient setting however it’s a matter of finding the right option for you.

How Addiction Treatment Solutions Can Find You an Intensive Outpatient Programs

Nowadays, given the normalization of talking about addiction, there are a lot of wonderful choices that have sprouted up around California and around the country. Treatment centers that are uniquely suited and specialized in handling the addiction you’re going through. That knows exactly what it feels like and how to get to the other side of it.

Addiction Treatment Solutions is here as your resource in that search. Reach out to us and let us help find you a solution that works.

What Are the Signs Of Someone Addicted To Drugs?

What Are the Signs Of Someone Addicted To Drugs

The unfortunate reality is that almost all of us have some touchpoint with addiction these days. Be it direct personal experience or that of a friend, family member or a more distant acquaintance, we all know someone or know of someone that’s been pulled in by it.

Across every walk of life, addiction can rear its ugly head and in that sense, substance abuse doesn’t discriminate.

As recently as 2017, 11.2% of people aged 12 and up had used an illicit drug in the past month.

Over 760,000 have died from a drug overdose since 1999 and 2 out of 3 deaths from overdose in 2018 alone involved an opioid.

While opioids are of course the clear and present danger, addiction isn’t limited to them. From benzos to meth to cocaine, many illicit and legal substances pose a risk across the board.

It’s not just the health crisis that we have to be aware of with respect to drugs, though that should always be the number 1 concern, there’s also a profound economic impact. Between illicit drugs and prescription opioids, it was estimated that the annual cost related to crime, lost work productivity and health was roughly $271.5 billion. When you add alcohol, that number balloons to $520.5 billion.

The silver lining to this dark, dark cloud is that today, more than ever, there are robust treatment options available for those suffering from addiction. 

What Is an Addiction to Drugs?

Before getting into the signs and symptoms of addiction, we need to understand what exactly it is.

For that, we can go to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), who defines it as such, “Addiction is a treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences. People with addiction use substances or engage in behaviors that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful consequences.”

What Are the Signs That Someone Is Abusing Drugs?

The signs of someone addicted to drugs are plentiful and keeping an eye out for them can help stave off the worst parts of addiction and save a life. Substance abuse presents itself in the 3 key ways; physically, psychologically and behaviorally, here’s what to look for:

Behavioral Signs of Addiction

  • Becoming overly secretive about what they’re doing and their whereabouts
  • Increasingly disregarding responsibilities like school, work and family obligations
  • Inadequate and weak performance at school or work
  • No interest in activities and hobbies they once enjoyed
  • Suddenly get a new set of dubious and even suspicious friends 
  • Participating in high-risk behavior while under the influence
  • Inability to stop or cut back on drugs, even when trying
  • Borrowing or stealing to get drugs
  • General financial stress

Psychological Signs of Addiction

  • Mood swings
  • Anxiety and paranoia
  • Irritability and outbursts
  • Shifts in attitude and personality
  • Unmotivated and lethargic

Physical Signs of Addiction

  • Abrupt weight loss and general lack of appetite or, conversely, weight gain
  • Bloodshot eyes
  • Interrupted or drastically changed sleep patterns and insomnia
  • Impaired speech and coordination
  • A general worsening of appearance and a lack of attention and neglect for personal grooming and hygiene

How to Get Someone Help With an Addiction

If you see any of the above signs that someone is abusing drugs it’s imperative to act swiftly. That doesn’t necessarily mean confronting them immediately though as it’s a very delicate and fragile thing. The last thing you want them to feel is that you’re attacking them which could end up pushing them further away.

At Addiction Treatment Solutions we understand how precarious that place can be both for the user as well as the family and friends and have spent years developing a network of leading treatment facility partners. Give us a call and let’s talk through the next step together because nothing is more important than getting your loved one onto the path of recovery.