Learn More About Outpatient Addiction Treatment That Works

Q. What is the difference between physical dependence and addiction?

a man studies his addiction recovery resources from sophrosA. When an individual uses a chemical agent – whether illicit or not – for a prolonged period of time, such as taking prescription medications to treat pain, the body becomes dependent upon the substance. As a result, when they attempt to quit or slow their use of the substance, they will likely experience withdrawal. In these cases, individuals may need to be weaned off of these substances and enter addiction treatment.

Addiction, on the other hand, is the compulsive use of drugs or alcohol despite adverse consequences. It may involve physical dependence but is distinct from it.

Q. What is outpatient care?

A. Outpatient care, as its name suggests, involves receiving treatment at an addiction treatment center while not living there. Patients receive the care they need, but live at home or in a sober living facility. There are several levels of outpatient care, from partial hospitalization programs (PHP) – the most intensive level of care offered at Sophros Recovery – to intensive outpatient programs (IOP) and more basic outpatient care (OP). Although some individuals do require residential addiction treatment, outpatient care is the right choice for many because it offers the same level of treatment and is more flexible than residential care.

Q. How do I know if I need addiction treatment?

A. First of all, even asking this question is an important step. Follow-up questions should include:

  • When you have tried to slow or stop your drinking or drug use, have you experienced withdrawal symptoms and cravings?
  • Have you attempted to slow or stop your drinking or drug use one or more times but failed?
  • Do you spend significant amounts of time thinking about, acquiring, using, and recovering from the effects of alcohol or drugs?
  • Do you find that you need to take more of a substance than you once did in order to achieve the same effects?
  • Have you experienced adverse health outcomes as a result of your alcohol or drug use but continued to use them?
  • Have you experienced adverse personal, professional, or social outcomes as a result of your alcohol or drug use but continued to use them?
  • Have you failed to meet the responsibilities of work, school, or family life because of your alcohol or drug use?

If you or someone close to you can answer “yes” to any of the above, it is worth exploring treatment options at an addiction treatment center like Sophros Recovery.

Q. What is the difference between opiates and opioids?

A. Opiates are the classification of drugs that are derived naturally from the opium poppy or that have a chemical structure similar to the drugs derived from opium. In medicine, they are used to reduce pain and also have psychological effects. Opioids is a broader classification of drugs in that it refers to any substance that binds to the opioid receptors in the brain and so produces the same effect as naturally occurring opiates. Opioids can be natural, partially synthetic, or synthetic.

Q. Will my health insurance cover an addiction treatment program?

A. Insurance policies typically cover addiction treatment. Your insurance policy may require that you pay a deductible or a copay, but once these are met insurance usually covers treatment in its entirety. At Sophros Recovery, we are committed to working with our clients to resolve any financial questions or concerns they have, and are dedicated to the idea that there should be no barriers to anyone getting the addiction treatment they need.

Q. What role can family and friends play in addiction recovery?

A. Family and friends can play an important role in every stage of recovery. From encouraging an individual who is struggling with addiction to seek treatment in the early days of their recovery journey to providing a strong social support network after they have left treatment, family and friends can be the backbone to genuine, long-term recovery.

Additional Resources

Mindfulness – Our Founder’s Story

Learn more about our founder Nick in this feature on Stigma Podcast:

West Point Grads Talk Addiction, Rehab, and Mindfulness – With Nick Padlo – Stigma Podcast

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Discover how the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on mental health:

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