Choosing the level of treatment that's the best fit for your needs is an important first step in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. If you're already in counseling, talking with your therapist can offer insight into what level of treatment makes the most sense for your needs.

Levels of drug and alcohol treatment include:

• Drug and alcohol detox: Most people need to go through drug and alcohol detox before beginning the substance abuse rehab process. During detox, you'll have around-the-clock support to ensure that you're getting the medical care that you need to allow drugs and alcohol to leave your body safely. It's important that you go through the detox process under the care of a qualified medical professional. Withdrawal from certain drugs (including alcohol and benzodiazepines) can be deadly, and it's key that you're under professional care to ensure your safety. Your treatment team may prescribe medication that can help you deal with the physical and mental aspects of the withdrawal process. Detox usually takes a few days. At the end of the process, you'll be mentally and physically ready to begin your drug and alcohol rehab treatment.
• Outpatient treatment: Outpatient treatment allows you to get drug and alcohol rehab care in the same amount of time that you would need to attend a doctor's appointment. You may go to outpatient rehab a few times each week, allowing you to keep up with your work or school schedule while you begin your journey to sobriety. Some people struggle with standard outpatient treatment, as it can be hard to stick to the plan to get well when you're constantly surrounded by the triggers that encourage you to abuse drugs and alcohol. For many people who are living with substance use disorder, it's helpful to get treatment in a more intensive environment where you'll have more constant support.
• Intensive outpatient treatment and partial hospitalization programs: These programs are more intense than standard outpatient treatment, but still allow you to go home at the end of the day. Intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs last for most of the day, where you'll go through therapy and counseling that can help you develop the coping skills that you need to manage the stressors of life that have led you to use drugs and alcohol in the past. This type of treatment can be a good fit for people who want more intense treatment but are unable to attend a residential program due to work or family responsibilities.
• Residential treatment: For many people, residential treatment is the best way to get a fresh start and begin sobriety with a clear mind. During residential treatment, you'll live at the treatment facility. You'll have access to around-the-clock care from caring professionals, and you'll have the time you need away from triggers to develop new coping strategies that will help you stay clean once you return to your daily life. You'll likely have the chance to try several different therapies while you're in residential treatment, including group therapy, art or music therapy, and more. When you arrive at residential therapy, be sure to talk with your counselor about any types of therapy that have been helpful for you in the past so that you can talk about the possibility of integrating those modalities of treatment into your new treatment plan.

Choosing the highest level of treatment that makes sense for you can increase your chances of staying sober long-term. When you choose a level of treatment that allows you to fully immerse yourself in rehab, you're providing yourself with the chance to reset, get away from your stressors, and develop the coping strategies that you need to stay well in your day-to-day life after you finish your treatment. At Chapman House, we're proud to work with you to provide you with the level of care that makes sense for your treatment needs.