It would not be understated to suggest that millions of people suffer from substance abuse. In fact, some studies suggest that upwards of 20 million suffer in the United States. This means that 10% of all Americans are struggling with substance abuse. Though this is alarming, it does not mean there is no hope. There are thousands of treatment facilities that provide a wide range of care options for those who want to overcome their addiction.

Outpatient treatment is a recovery plan that works well for those who find non-residential treatment more convenient than that of inpatient treatment options. This particular plan allows one to recover while living in the comfort of their own home. Used to treat milder cases of addiction, this particular level of care could last anywhere between three months to over a year.

Often times, it is difficult to determine which kind of treatment is best for someone due in large part to complicated medical jargon. To many people, understanding the difference between certain levels of care can be immensely difficult. However, it is much more simple to understand than some are led to believe.

In a very general sense, inpatient treatment refers to anybody who stays in the care of a treatment facility overnight. However, in the realm of substance abuse treatment, inpatient care consists of someone who stays in the care of a treatment facility 24/7. This treatment option could last anywhere between 28 days to six months in length and is meant to treat more serious cases of addiction. The residential nature of this program allows health care professionals to monitor patients closely.

In contrast, as mentioned previously, outpatient treatment does not require that someone remain present at a treatment facility overnight. Some examples of outpatient treatment could include a checkup with a primary doctor, or even weekly therapy with a professionally licensed therapist. In addition to this, someone can leave a hospital the day they were admitted and be considered to have been treated by means of outpatient care.

The main idea is that outpatient treatment, (in a very broad) can pertain to anyone who receives medical care without staying overnight.

Sometimes, however, the distinction between the two levels of care can be clouded. For example, sometimes, patients will take part in an observation status mandated by their doctor. In these cases, they’re evaluated to determine whether or not they require more treatment. Because of this, a patient is able to be observed for more than 24 hours without having officially received inpatient treatment. All in all, it is imperative to remember that the facility does not determine whether or not one receives inpatient or outpatient, but the duration of one’s stay.

Inpatient Treatment

More specifically, some examples of inpatient treatment include the following:

• Rehab for mental illness
• Residential substance abuse treatment
• Surgery

Inpatient care is designed to treat more intensive illnesses and injuries. As such, it takes more than a handful of hours per week to treat someone who requires such extensive care. This way, people are able to receive whatever they need as it relates to their addiction recovery.

Outpatient Treatment

Some examples of the kind of treatment an outpatient program may provide include the following:

• Therapy sessions
• Physical exams
• Blood tests
• Psychiatry evaluations

Outpatient treatment is meant to treat milder forms of substance abuse. As mentioned above, it requires a much less intensive amount of time per day/week, but takes twice as long as inpatient care. This allows for those who struggle with addiction to get the help they need with minimal disruption to their daily lives.

There are many people who choose to begin outpatient treatment options to recover from their substance abuse disorders. Whether or not it is successful will depend on each individual involved in the treatment process directly. There is no treatment timeline that works for everyone, and one treatment option may end up working for someone more than another; it all depends on the individual and their unique needs.

Whether or not you should consider outpatient treatment is not up to anybody else; it is entirely up to you and your needs. It is important to reference all of the tools at your disposal in order to make the best choice for yourself as far as professional care is concerned. In a very general sense, when people are aware of their substance abuse, they should always consider treatment. However, the kind of treatment you pursue is completely dependent on your current circumstances.

The following symptoms may be evident when someone is struggling with substance abuse:

• Changes in behavior
• Drinking in high volumes
• Using medication that is not necessary
• Behavior changes
• Mood swings
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Lack of interest in activities
• Lack of interest in friend groups
• Unnecessary secrecy
• Sleeping problems
• Work issues

A common occurrence among those who are addicted is that they never quite understand the scale of their issues. In other circumstances, those who are loved ones of an addicted person have a blind spot when it comes to calling substance abuse what it is. That being said, identifying substance abuse is very important and should not be taken lightly.

There are many ways to identify as to whether or not someone is dealing with an addiction issue. Sometimes these signs can be more obvious than others, but it is imperative that no matter what, those in efforts to identify these symptoms are on high alert. The ultimate goal is always to help someone move past their substance use disorder quickly as to not prolong their illness.

The most important thing to remember is that if anybody exhibits symptoms remotely close to the ones listed above, it is imperative to seek help. It may not be time to confront them directly, but there are options to help someone see the errors of their way clearly over a healthy period of time.

Schedule an Intervention

Interventions are often an imperative piece of the recovery journey. These are strategic meetings held by individuals who have loved ones that are suffering from substance abuse. The conversations are planned ahead of time and usually consist of them communicating how an abuser’s addiction has impacted them negatively.

Interventions typically, when successful, communicate to the abuser how their use has affected their loved ones in an effective manner. Even though sometimes it feels like there is nothing anybody can do for them, helping them see the reality of their addiction is all they need. Bringing the problem to their attention is the ultimate goal.

Planning an intervention could be the best decision a loved one makes for those who are suffering. It is worth mentioning that these are not the easiest to plan out, nor are they a breeze to complete. There may be some uncomfortable conversations or banter that needs to be had. Regardless of whether or not it will be comfortable, however, these have been proven successful in many cases of substance abuse.

Where and When Should I Have an Intervention?

As far as where and when to have an intervention is concerned, it is imperative that those participating make the subject in question feel as comfortable as they possibly can. By doing this, they are reflecting their love and affection for those who feel as though they aren’t worthy of receiving any because of their choices.

Nobody ever has their mind made up that they want to be an addict for the rest of their lives. The reason it’s so important to recognize that nobody is too far gone is that there is still so much that can be done for them. Addiction is very harmful and has the destructive power to ruin not only the lives of those directly involved but their loved ones as well.

Those who struggle with substance abuse should always be treated with the utmost respect, love, and understanding. Regardless of who they are or where they come from, there has been a series of poor decisions that have led to their addiction; if offered the chance again, they’d perhaps never have even taken a glance. Their choices moving forward may need a little bit of a nudge in the right direction in order that they can recover to their full potential.

In order to bring one’s addiction to their attention, interventions need to be had. Sometimes, this is the only way someone will see how their addiction has truly impacted their loved ones. Ultimately the goal is not to fix them but to encourage them to seek help. This is often the first step in the recovery journey.

Outpatient treatment at North Jersey Recovery may be something you or a loved one should consider. Our ultimate philosophy is that we are to treat every patient that walks through our doors with the care that transcends all others. If you or a loved one want to learn more about our outpatient programs, you can contact us here or call us at (800) 741-3300.