Struggling with drug or alcohol addiction can damage a person's health and relationships. But it is possible to overcome addiction by getting expert help at
Outpatient rehab allows for the treatment of substance abuse with minimal disruption of the patient's schedule. It is a part-time treatment program that allows the recovering user to continue with work or school while also receiving treatment for substance use disorder. So, the patient can live in their home or move to a sober living house while the treatment is ongoing. Besides these, outpatient rehab has other benefits, like lower cost and practicability.
Rehab centers and addiction treatment providers are regulated and licensed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services. The agency also works with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to support persons with substance use disorder.
Minnesota has three types of outpatient treatment depending on the severity of abuse, stage of recovery, and the substance being abused. The three types of outpatient treatment in Minnesota are:
A partial hospitalization program (PHP) is a structured, intensive program in an outpatient hospital or Medicare-certified community mental health center in Minnesota. It provides person and family-centered treatment for persons with substance use disorder.
Partial hospitalization programs in Minnesota must provide a minimum of five hours of services, including individual, group, or family psychotherapy sessions. These programs run for at least four days and not more than five days per week.
Intensive Outpatient Programs are intended for persons who want to maintain their living conditions but require intensive addiction treatment. IOPs provide up to 19 hours of services to patients per week. It could also be appropriate for persons recently discharged from inpatient treatment.
This outpatient program is meant for persons who recently concluded intensive substance addiction treatment programs (inpatient, IOP, or PHP) and are already in recovery. It is also called "Aftercare programs." Continuing care aims to help the patient transition smoothly to independent living from rehab. It is also an effective tool to prevent relapse and give patients a support system.
Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) are suitable for persons who need more care than is available in continuing care. Patients in IOP will get individual and group counseling, occupational therapy, behavioral therapy, and medication-assisted treatment where needed. IOP patients generally spend up to 19 hours per week receiving addiction treatment.
The primary reason for choosing IOP over inpatient treatment is the freedom to continue with your daily activities such as school or work. It also allows a patient to continue living in their homes or move into a sober living home. Another advantage of IOP over inpatient treatment is reduced cost. IOP typically costs less than inpatient treatment. IOP is more flexible and more comfortable for patients than inpatient treatment.
There are three stages of intensive outpatient programs in Minnesota. The stages are:
Intensive outpatient programs in Minnesota can last up to nine months, depending on the peculiarity of the patient. Typically, it lasts between three and six months.
The cost of outpatient rehabilitation in Minnesota varies depending on the severity of the addiction and the patient's treatment options. Medicaid and other Minnesota private health insurance plans cover outpatient rehabilitation in the state. Factors that affect the cost of outpatient rehabilitation in Minnesota include:
Standard outpatient treatment programs in Minnesota can be 30-day, 60-day, or 90-day treatment programs. The total cost of rehab increases with the length of the program.
The type of medication needed for outpatient treatment programs will also affect the cost of the treatment. The cost of medication depends on the type of drug addiction being treated, some of which can cost several hundreds of dollars.
Outpatient rehabilitation centers located in densely populated urban areas in Minnesota are more expensive than those found in rural areas. It typically costs more to run a facility that provides treatment in urban areas than in the countryside.
Drug and alcohol addictions are chronic disorders that might take years to treat, and choosing the most appropriate treatment is essential. While severe addictions will require inpatient treatment, most addictions are treatable with outpatient rehab. Some of the benefits of outpatient rehabilitation in Minnesota are:
Outpatient substance addiction treatment is generally less expensive than inpatient treatment. You can save thousands of dollars by going for outpatient treatment.
Outpatient treatment allows patients to choose times that work for them. They can continue with their work or schooling while undergoing treatment.
The freedom and convenience afforded by outpatient treatment are beneficial to patients. They can continue to live in their houses and familiar surroundings while receiving treatments. In addition, the absence of constant monitoring by rehabilitation centers members of staff makes it more convenient. They can go wherever they want to as long as they remain sober.
In Minnesota, outpatient treatment services are specific to rehabilitation centers. Services offered may include:
Detoxification helps individuals eliminate addictive substances from their bodies, and it is the first step for some outpatient treatments. It helps a patient through the withdrawal process and reduces withdrawal symptoms. Possible withdrawal symptoms include headaches, hot flashes, muscle pain, and stomach upset. Medications are often administered during detoxification to remove drugs from the body. Outpatient detox, also called ambulatory detox, is possible with a strong support system.
While detoxification takes care of the physical recovery from drugs and alcohol, individual therapy takes care of the mental and emotional needs of the patient. Individual therapy helps identify the cause of the addiction and the possible triggers for the person. It can also help the patient to resolve lingering emotional problems such as past trauma, grief, or abuse. Individual therapy can also help establish if there are co-occurring mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorders.
Individual therapy often involves multiple therapists addressing different issues. Therapists include psychologists, recovery coaches, clinical social workers, substance abuse counselors, and sometimes psychotherapists. Benefits of individual therapy to patients include:
Group therapy is a form of counseling where one or more therapists work with several individuals being treated for the same addiction issues. It may have an open structure where new members can join at any time or a closed system where only select members participate till the end of the program. The therapist provides a structure to control the discussions and offers feedback to help members better understand themselves.
There are different types of group therapies depending on the focus and addiction. Group therapy includes support groups, psychoeducational, cognitive-behavioral, and specialized groups like 12-step programs. The benefits of group therapy are:
Family therapy attempts to use the family's strengths and resources to deal with substance addiction in the family while also seeking to reduce the harm caused by the addiction to both the patient and their family. It can involve multiple families and the patients with a therapist. Family therapy is essential because it involves the patient's support network. The therapist helps the family create and maintain a substance-free home and identifies triggers for substance abuse. Family therapy can help to develop communication skills and coping strategies. Benefits of family therapy include:
The ultimate goal of rehabilitation is a smooth integration of a sober patient into society. Social and vocational services help to equip social and employment skills. Outpatient treatment centers in Minnesota provide vocational training to patients who are not employed so they can find jobs. Underemployed patients are also equipped to maximize their potential. They also offer social skills training to help them live healthy, sober lifestyles.
MAT uses medication and behavioral therapy to treat persons with substance use disorders. MAT lowers the risk of relapse during the early stages of recovery and helps to address cravings. Some MAT drugs like Buprenorphine and Naltrexone occupy the same receptors in the brain that opioid drugs target. Other MAT drugs like Disulfiram deter alcohol consumption by producing unpleasant side effects if any amount of alcohol is consumed. Some benefits of Medication-assisted treatment include:
The time spent in outpatient substance addiction treatment centers in Minnesota varies depending on some factors. Some factors determining how long an outpatient rehabilitation will last are discussed below.
Patients with co-occurring disorders will spend more time in an outpatient program in Minnesota. It is essential to ensure that all disorders have been treated before they are given a clean bill of health. Continuing care may take upwards of three years.
The severity of the addiction will also determine the length of time of rehabilitation. The more severe the addiction, the more time the treatment will last. Also, patients who have experienced relapses must stay in the program longer to prevent recurrences.
Perhaps the most significant determinant of the duration of rehabilitation is the individual's progress in the program. Treatment is customized to meet a patient's needs, and each patient responds differently. The treatment professional will evaluate and determine how much progress a patient has made and how much time will be required to complete the treatment.
The first difference between inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation is the location of the retreatment. Inpatient rehabilitations are necessarily residential, with the patients admitted within the health care facility for as long as the inpatient treatment lasts. On the other hand, outpatient rehabilitation allows patients to reside off the health care facility but come in for treatment at specified periods.
As a result of the residency nature of inpatient rehab, patients do not have control of their time and are restricted from leaving the facilities. They are monitored and cared for round the clock by the rehabilitation center staff. On the other hand, outpatient rehabilitation allows patients to continue their everyday lives while only coming in at the agreed time for their treatment.
Meanwhile, another major difference is cost. Inpatient rehabilitation is typically more expensive than outpatient treatments. It can sometimes be tens of thousands of dollars more costly than outpatient rehabilitation. The cost of lodging and round-the-clock care makes inpatient rehabilitation expensive.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services oversees the operations of outpatient treatment centers in the state. The agency maintains a help page where residents can find resources for finding outpatient rehab centers nearby, including FastTracker. Alternatively, use the SAMHSA treatment center locator to get help with substance addiction or call (800) 662-435 to speak with a SAMHSA representative.