Are the consequences of addictive behavior affecting your life? Do you feel like there’s nowhere left to turn? Or, do you have a loved one who is dealing with substance abuse? It may be time for you to accept help and consider treatment. But, how does one choose between the types of treatment and determine if outpatient treatment is right for them?

In this blog, we’ll discuss what you can expect from outpatient treatment for substance abuse disorder. And, 3 reasons to consider outpatient treatment for yourself or a loved one in your life living with active substance abuse issues.

1. You Can Keep Your Job and Daily Responsibilities

When most people think about getting help for substance abuse disorder, they imagine a residential rehabilitation center. At residential treatment facilities, individuals are instructed to live on the facility property while they’re getting professional help. This can mean leaving your job and daily home responsibilities for 30, 60, or 90 days – sometimes even longer. But, the thought of leaving work and home life behind for this long makes many people dread or even avoid getting the help they need.

With outpatient treatment for addiction, individuals don’t have to necessarily have to worry about skipping work, school, or family responsibilities. That’s because outpatient treatment doesn’t require a person to live in a residential care environment to receive care. Outpatient treatment allows individuals to schedule their care around their other responsibilities. This way, they don’t have to uproot their entire lives just to get help.

2. Outpatient Treatment is More Affordable

As residential treatment provides around-the-clock care and individuals live in these environments for extended periods of time, many are surprised to find out the overwhelming expenses that come with these programs. However, since outpatient programs don’t require patients to live on facility grounds, they are typically much more affordable. Furthermore, outpatient treatment programs are typically covered by insurance providers. Thus, saving individuals seeking mental health care thousands on treatment costs. For example, here at Willow Place for Women, a women’s only outpatient treatment center is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield and accepts most insurance plans with out of network benefits.

3. Dual Diagnosis Treatment is Still Available

A large percentage of individuals who struggle with substance abuse also struggle with co-occurring mental health issues. In many cases, individuals will attempt to self-medicate with illicit drugs in order to deal with underlying mental health issues. These issues can include depression, trauma, anxiety, OCD, and more. But, while drugs or alcohol may help to numb the pain for a while, eventually, these individuals become dependent on the substances they use. Thus, stimulating a lifestyle of active addiction and addictive behaviors.

Also, co-occurring mental health issues can also arise as a result of substance abuse. The consequences of drug addiction are heavy and can lead to debilitating symptoms of high levels of stress, anxiety, and even depression. Furthermore, a lifestyle of active addiction can leave its toll, leading to situations and circumstances which can be traumatic.

In either case, whether a concurrent mental health issue develops before or after drug abuse begins, it’s important for affected individuals to receive dual diagnosis care. Dual diagnosis is the term that characterizes symptoms of more than one mental health diagnosis. Dual diagnosis care involves care that not only addresses substance abuse issues but concurring mental health issues as well. This gives these individuals the best chance of obtaining successful and lasting recovery. This is because these individuals not only learn to live a life of sobriety but also manage the symptoms of their mental health issues as well. Thus, giving them the tools to manage both issues simultaneously.

Think an Outpatient Treatment Center is Right for You or a Loved One?

Now that you understand the benefits of choosing an outpatient treatment center for substance abuse issues, you can better determine what’s right for you or a loved one. If you believe that outpatient treatment is the best choice for you or a loved one, consider Willow Place for Women.

Here, we help women living with mental health issues such as addiction, trauma, and eating disorders find lasting recovery. Find out more about our outpatient services in Asheville, North Carolina today by visiting our website or calling 1-888-651-4212 for a private and confidential consultation.