Unlike inpatient or partial hospitalization drug programs, outpatient addiction therapy is similar to outpatient treatment for clinical diseases such as coronary heart disease and cancer. However, outpatient clients still receive intensive, evidence-based treatments which have been proven to help cure addiction. In fact, the main differences between outpatient care and more involved strategies are the magnitudes of structure, administered treatment, and supervision.

Outpatient treatment is ideal for addicts who require a lower-cost program, as well as for those who cannot afford to disrupt their normal lives. Because there is less involvement on the part of the treatment facility and its staff, outpatient programs are significantly cheaper than inpatient and partial hospitalization plans. Since there is less clinical time and no supervision outside of treatment, outpatient clients can also maintain their careers and important personal relationships.

To be sure, outpatient addiction therapy is not for everyone. People who seek help with severe substance abuse for the first time usually need more structured treatment before they can transition back into a normal life. The same is true of people who have prolonged relapses, and who need to relearn the lifestyle changes they didn't maintain.

For these patients, inpatient and partial hospitalization plans work best. During an inpatient program, a client spends thirty to ninety days living full-time at the rehab facility and receives fifty or more hours of intense treatment per week. Partial hospitalization plans, on the other hand, offer an intermediate level of care. The patients still receive a high level of intense treatment during the daytime, but they are free to leave the facility under the supervision of a caretaker for the evenings. This type of treatment typically lasts thirty to ninety days, as well, but it can last longer if necessary.

When outpatient clients go to their rehabilitation facilities, however, they still receive the same intensive treatments as other patients; treatments which have already helped thousands of people recover from addiction. The most successful programs involve reality therapy, which is designed to teach patients how to recognize which situations they can and cannot control, and to act accordingly. These programs also involve individual counseling sessions, group therapy, and occasionally medication.

There are several other proven therapies outpatients can expect to receive. Motivational interviews are used to assess a client's readiness and willingness to change their behavior and cope with emotional triggers. Similarly, motivational incentives offer positive reinforcements that encourage sobriety. Also, cognitive-behavioral therapy helps patients recognize and avoid situations involving drugs and cope with them when necessary. Finally, multidimensional family therapy addresses the dynamic between adolescent addicts and their families, helping them all to overcome problems as a group.

These intense methods are not the only important component of outpatient therapy. In fact, many of the environments outpatients encounter at their rehabilitation facilities are welcoming and even relaxing. These patients often form productive relationships with staff and other patients, relationships which can actually grow to become a major part of their recovery. These kinds of positive working relationships help outpatients establish the balance critical for a long-term recovery.

Whatever a patient's situation, there are programs available to end his addiction and get his life back on track. If you, a family member, or a friend is suffering from substance abuse, call the number at the top of your screen. Counselors are standing by day and night to assist you. The call is toll-free, and you have nothing to lose.