When Is the Best Time to Refer a Client to an Outpatient Addiction Center?
Some clients with a SUD will benefit from outpatient treatment. Here’s how to recognize when your client’s ready for this phase of treatment.
As a provider, you may treat a client who suffers from a substance use disorder (SUD), but their lives are not entirely in shambles. They may have an addiction that seems to be mild while still maintaining their relationships. Perhaps they can go to school or work, and they seem healthy outside of their addiction.
In cases like these, inpatient detox may seem like overkill as your client does not appear to need the monitoring and support that those with more advanced substance abuse orders do.
It is clear that your client still needs help because if they do not take care of their addiction now, it will more than likely become a more significant issue in the future. If you are at a loss for what to do for your client, considering an outpatient addiction center may be a more reasonable option. This decision can help ensure they receive the treatment they need for their addiction without putting them in an inpatient setting.
What Is an Outpatient Addiction Center?
An outpatient addiction center is a treatment facility that allows someone to detox part-time. The person suffering from the addiction will usually visit the facility 10 to 12 hours a week, and the program usually lasts three to six months. This schedule will allow your client to carry on with their day-to-day responsibilities while receiving the treatment they need to heal.
On-site, your client will more than likely receive medication to soothe the symptoms of withdrawal, which will usually last about a week. Through the rest of your client's treatment, they will receive resources such as mental health check-ups, individual and group therapy, substance abuse education, and tools to cope with their addiction.
Who Is a Good Fit for an Outpatient Addiction Center?
All addictions are different. Not everyone suffering from a SUD needs intensive intervention to recover. Therefore, there are valid reasons why your client might be a good fit for an outpatient addiction center.
Your Client Has a Support System
Individuals often struggle to recover because they do not have adequate support systems. People often make decisions that isolate loved ones or invite negative influences into their lives through addiction.
When their support systems crumble, people do not have the support necessary to encourage them to stay clean. Not every person experiencing addiction lacks a support system.
An outpatient treatment center will be ideal if your client has supportive friends and family they can communicate with. Outpatient treatment centers allow individuals to stay close to their support systems, allowing them to receive the support from positive influences they need to recover.
Outpatient treatment programs are also essential for your client if they start to make decisions that will negatively affect their relationships. Sending them to detox before their addiction takes control of their life will help individuals recover before they start losing friends and family.
Your Client Can Maintain a Schedule
When people suffer from a SUD, they often struggle to maintain a work schedule or keep up with their studies. Long-term, if not treated, substance use can cost people their jobs, impair their finances, and put their dreams on hold. Being able to handle daily life is usually one of the first things a person starts struggling with when they have an addiction.
If your client is starting to struggle with work, school, or any other daily tasks in their life, it is time to refer them to an outpatient addiction center before the problem gets worse. People with mild to moderate addiction can still handle their daily lives if caught early on. An outpatient addiction center will allow your client to get the help they need to continue focusing on their responsibilities and break bad habits.
Your Client Knows They Are Struggling
When talking with your client, you may notice a pattern of behaviors that are red flags. Two of these red flags are worsening mental health along with higher usage. Additionally, they will talk about partying more often, hanging out with the wrong crowd, and participating in more risky behaviors. Through these conversations with your client, they may also admit that they realize that they have a problem.
If your client asks you for help with a mild to moderate substance abuse disorder, it is time to refer them to an outpatient treatment center. The outpatient treatment center will allow them to detox and give your client the tools and resources necessary for their recovery. If your client is willing to ask for help in the early stages of their addiction, they are more likely to use the resources provided and remain self-motivated through their recovery.
The Forge Recovery Center Understands Addiction Comes in Many Forms
If your client is ready to seek help but does not need the intensive care an inpatient treatment center provides, consider an outpatient treatment facility like The Forge Recovery Center.
Outpatient care will give your client the support they need to recover without the unnecessary constraints of an inpatient facility. Recommending your client to an outpatient treatment center that matches their values and meets their needs will be crucial to ensure they continue on the road to recovery.
If you have questions about the best treatment plan for your client, our trained staff are here to help you. Our team has experience with all kinds of addiction, whether moderate or severe. Contact The Forge Recovery Center team today to learn more.
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