Outpatient Programs & Rehab Centers

What Is Outpatient Rehab?

Outpatient rehab programs provide drug and alcohol misuse treatment at a program site, but patients live at home or in a sober living facility. Outpatient rehab programs can take place in several places, such as:¹

• Health clinics.
• Community mental health clinics.
• Counselor’s offices.
• Hospital clinics.
• Local health department offices.
• Residential programs with outpatient clinics.

Outpatient rehab programs often meet in the evenings and on weekends, which allows patients to tend to responsibilities at home, school, or work.

What to Expect in an Outpatient Rehab Program

Outpatient drug rehab programs vary. However, patients can expect a combination of therapies and other services, including:⁴

• Behavioral counseling and therapy.
• Evaluation and treatment for co-occurring disorders (e.g., anxiety, depression).
• Substance use monitoring.
• Case and clinical management.
• Long-term continuing care focused on relapse prevention.

Do I Need a Higher Level of Care?

While outpatient rehab may be beneficial for some individuals, is not the right choice for everyone. Some individuals may benefit from receiving a higher level of care in an inpatient setting before entering outpatient rehab. Inpatient drug and alcohol addiction rehabs provide care and supervision around the clock for patients who live on the premises for the duration of the program.

Paying for An Outpatient Treatment Program

It is important to consider the cost of the program you are looking into. In many cases, outpatient rehab programs are less expensive than inpatient rehab programs. However, cost still plays an important role in choosing a program.

Under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), insurance companies are required to provide substance misuse treatment services to the same extent that they do medical and surgical services.⁵