Outpatient rehab programs provide many benefits, such as a more flexible schedule and a lesser time commitment. These programs also serve as an important source of ongoing support for those in recovery, and they can provide this care through a range of innovative therapies and treatment modalities. One of those methods is medication-assisted treatment. In this blog, we’ll explore the role of medication-assisted treatment in outpatient rehab and how it can help those in recovery maintain their sobriety.
What is Medication-Assisted Treatment?
Medication-assisted treatment is a federally managed program that includes medications approved by the FDA. These programs provide medication to help you manage long-term cravings and reduce the risk of relapse as you continue with outpatient treatment. A requirement for medication-assisted treatment is participation in psychotherapy during your outpatient care.
The reason for this is that studies indicate medication is more successful when used in conjunction with therapy, especially for substance abuse.
The Role of Medication-Assisted Treatment in Outpatient Rehab
Medication-assisted treatment can take one of two forms, and many clients choose to utilize both:
- The first is medication administered during detox to help with the initial withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
- The second are the medications administered throughout your outpatient program to help with craving management while your brain recovers from the neurobiological changes brought about by substance abuse.
Detox
The role of medication-assisted treatment in outpatient rehab generally starts with your detox process. For some, the detox process can come with serious risks of complications and extremely unpleasant side effects. The likelihood of getting through those can be increased with certain medications that ease discomfort. This is especially true for the withdrawal process from substances such as:
- Alcohol
- Opioids
- Benzodiazepines
This medication must be administered by a qualified facility. After completing detox, you can transition to the second stage.
Cravings
Drugs and alcohol have a profound impact on the way your brain functions. Substance abuse can change the size of your brain, its structure, and the way in which certain parts of your brain operate. It takes a long time to reverse these changes, and during that time frame, you can experience unpleasant side effects and particularly strong cravings unlike anything else.
In order to minimize your likelihood of relapse, to help you actively participate in your treatment program, and to reduce your risk of overdose, medication-assisted treatment in an outpatient program can provide options that can:
- Block the positive high from opioids so you are not tempted to take them anymore
- Produce unwanted side effects if you consume alcohol so you don’t relapse
This medication must also be administered by a qualified facility while you continue to participate in your outpatient program, including the requisite therapy.
What to Expect with Medication-Assisted Treatment
If you participate in medication-assisted therapy, your treatment program will involve the administration of medications either orally or with injections for most medications. You’ll come to the facility for your doses as well as your ongoing therapy sessions.
Therapy sessions typically involve individual and group therapy with moderate participation requirements depending on the level of care you are receiving. As you transition up or down throughout the different levels of care, your requirement for therapy might adjust accordingly.
The role of medication-assisted treatment in outpatient rehab is to be a tool that you use while also learning long-term life skills and coping mechanisms that will eventually replace your reliance on any medication.
Getting Professional Care with The Differents
The Differents is offers outpatient rehab services and medication-assisted treatment.
When you work with our team, you get personalized care with our 1:3 staff-to-client ratio. At our private, luxury addiction treatment center, you can participate in activities like:
- Holistic care
- Outdoor therapy
- Sports medicine
- Meditation
- Yoga
Hoping you make the most out of your time with us and beyond, we incorporate medication-assisted treatment in our outpatient rehab programs to help you to combat cravings and triggers.
Overall, the role of medication-assisted treatment in outpatient rehab is to provide you with additional support as your brain’s neurobiology reverts back to what it was before substance abuse. With the help of ongoing medication, you can also manage co-occurring mental health disorders during outpatient rehab.
Contact our team today to learn more about our programs.
