Outpatient Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: What To Know

Having opioid use disorder (OUD) doesn’t always mean you’ll need to stay in a hospital to get help. Outpatient treatment gives you the chance to keep up with your daily routines, like going to work or school, spending time with family, and taking care of your responsibilities, while still getting important care and support. This type of treatment is designed to fit around your life, making it easier to stick with your recovery plan and stay connected to your community.

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In this article, you’ll learn what outpatient treatment for OUD involves and what you can expect along the way. You’ll also learn about the benefits and challenges of this type of treatment for you or your loved one. Remember, you don’t have to figure this out alone. Work with your healthcare provider to explore your options and choose the plan that best matches your needs, health, and lifestyle.

Outpatient Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder

Outpatient care for OUD lets you meet with a provider during the day and then go home afterward. It doesn’t require an overnight stay in a hospital or treatment center.

Both inpatient and outpatient treatment have similar outcomes for people living with OUD. When determining which type of treatment is best for you, you and a healthcare professional will consider your lifestyle, overall health, and personal preferences.

There are two different types of outpatient treatment for OUD. Sometimes, treatment only involves regular counseling sessions with a therapist who focuses on changing behaviors and overcoming cravings. This may be called outpatient counseling.

Intensive outpatient treatment, on the other hand, involves more time and effort than outpatient counseling. Intensive outpatient treatment usually involves at least nine hours of treatment a week, and sometimes more. Many people do this kind of treatment quite intensely for a few weeks or months. When they’re stable, they’ll move to something like the counseling sessions mentioned above.

How Intensive Outpatient Treatment Works

Every intensive outpatient treatment program, or intensive outpatient program (IOP), is slightly different. In most cases, you’ll need to go to the treatment center for a set appointment.

You or your loved one may need to go every evening, or attend for three or four hours, three days a week. Work with the healthcare providers at the treatment center to find a program that fits your needs and lifestyle.

At the treatment center, you’ll work with a variety of healthcare providers. There are doctors, nurses, mental health therapists, behavioral health providers, social workers, and more.

You may receive medical treatments for OUD, like medication for opioid use disorder, including buprenorphine and methadone. Because this kind of treatment is associated with better outcomes for OUD, be sure to ask about it before you sign up for an IOP. Support groups or peer support sessions, therapy sessions, and other types of treatments designed to aid in recovery will likely be a part of your IOP.

These programs allow you to get the treatment and support you need to recover from OUD in one place. There may also be telehealth options available, depending on where you live and what your transportation situation is like.

What Are the Benefits of Outpatient Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder?

Outpatient treatment for OUD provides access to professional care and support. At the same time, it lets you keep up with your daily responsibilities at work, school, or home.

It’s Less Expensive Than Inpatient Treatment

An outpatient treatment plan is usually less expensive than inpatient options. This can vary based on whether you have insurance coverage, the type of coverage you have, and the facility where you want to do your treatment. Make sure to look into costs or have a loved one do so for you before choosing a treatment option.

You Can Keep Your Regular Schedule

Outpatient treatment may also allow you to keep up your regular schedule while getting the help you need. Outpatient programs are designed to fit around work, school, or family so you can keep up with daily responsibilities while getting treatment. You may have to reduce your hours at work or move your classes around to accommodate an IOP schedule.

You Can Spend More Time With Friends and Family

If you have friends and family members supporting you during recovery, outpatient treatment allows you to stay close to them. If you know that they’ll help with your recovery or if you want to build closer relationships as part of your recovery, outpatient treatment may make that easier to do.

You Have the Flexibility To Visit Other Healthcare Providers as Needed

Outpatient treatment may also be more convenient for people with other medical conditions. Not living in a treatment facility will give you the flexibility to visit other healthcare providers and specialists if you have regular appointments. Make sure to tell all of your healthcare providers that you’re receiving treatment for OUD. You can also try to schedule appointments around your outpatient treatment hours.

You Can Recover at Home

Similarly, if your home is a haven where you can stay away from opioids, outpatient treatment allows you to recover there instead of having to get used to an inpatient setting.

What Are the Challenges of Outpatient Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder?

Outpatient treatment for OUD has some drawbacks to consider when comparing it to inpatient treatment options. With this information, you can choose the option that’s truly best for you or your loved one.

You Will Need Regular Transportation

First of all, you likely need reliable transportation to make outpatient treatment work. If you can’t get to your treatment center, it will make it hard to complete the program.

Fortunately, reliable transportation can take a few forms. You might have your own vehicle and license and be able to drive yourself. You might also have a friend, family member, or several people who are willing to commit to getting you to and from treatment. Finally, you might have public transportation that will help you get where you need to be regularly and on time.

You Need a Stable Place To Live While Getting Treatment

Second, you’ll need a stable place to live with other people who will support you and your recovery. If you have to move around a lot or if you live with people who are actively using opioids, recovery can be a lot harder than it would be otherwise. Staying away from opioids might be almost impossible if you live in a place where they’re readily available.

Support from an outpatient treatment program can be ongoing, and it may include monitoring and relapse prevention. Many people continue treatment with counseling after they finish an IOP. This helps provide stability, access to people you trust, continued skills education, and connections to other types of support services if and when you need them.

Join the Conversation

On MyOpioidRecoveryTeam, people share their experiences with opioid use disorder, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

Have you gone through an outpatient treatment program for opioid use disorder? What was it like? Let others know in the comments below.