At Palmetto’s IOP, we believe that addiction is a chronic, progressive disease with physical, psychological, and social consequences for the individual and the whole family. Our IOP provides intensive treatment for clients with substance use disorders or a combination of substance use disorders and a co-occurring psychological disorder. The program teaches clients about the disease concept of addiction, how to identify their stage of substance use or addiction, how to identify the stressors that lead to substance use, how to recover from addiction following the 12-step model, and how to prevent relapse.
An IOP is only one out of a spectrum of treatment options, ranging from outpatient services to inpatient treatment. There are a number of factors that might make intensive outpatient treatment appropriate for a given client.
Someone in need of an IOP might have serious substance use issues, possibly paired with a mental health issue such as major depression, an anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, ADHD, or other conditions that should be treated concurrently with addiction. However, these clients won’t have medical or psychological conditions that require 24-hour attention. Ideal IOP patients will also have a safe, stable home life that won’t expose them to pressure to drink or use drugs.
Other clients need an IOP just as a practical matter. While a 60- or 90-day inpatient program may be ideal, not everyone has the time or resources to put life on pause for so long. Whether you have work, school, or family obligations, an IOP is a solution that can allow you to receive a high level of care while still meeting your other responsibilities.
Clients stepping down from a higher level of care, such as an inpatient program, may also benefit from an IOP. Making the transition from inpatient treatment to normal life can be challenging and there is a high risk of relapse in the early weeks of this transition. Inpatient treatment offers a structured, supportive, substance-free environment, while regular life can be chaotic and stressful. An IOP can help bridge that gap and support clients while they adapt their new recovery skills to the challenges of daily life.
There’s no set length of time for participating in an IOP. The length of the program is based on each client’s individual needs and assessments from the counselor and the client’s physician. How long each client participates in an IOP depends on many individual factors including length and severity of substance use, relapse history, co-occurring mental health issues, and commitment to the program. Typically, clients will participate in an IOP for three to four months. Studies show that longer treatment periods lead to better recovery outcomes. This is because it takes time and practice to adopt the new habits and skills one learns in treatment. There’s a big difference between knowing how to handle a craving, for example, and actually doing it in a stressful situation. A longer time spent in an IOP gives you more practice adapting the information you learn in treatment to your real life.
Clients participate in the IOP treatment program three nights a week, allowing them to live at home and meet their other commitments while still getting intensive treatment for addiction. At Alexandria, IOP meetings are held Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
At Palmetto, we are committed to making quality addiction treatment accessible and affordable. We work with most insurance providers and are happy to discuss options with you.
As the opioid epidemic in the US continues to grow, Louisiana has not been spared. In 2017, more than 70,000 Americans died from overdose and nearly 48,000 of those deaths were opioid-related. In the US overall, 21.7 out of every 100,000 people died of an overdose. In Louisiana, that number was slightly higher at 24.5 overdose deaths for every 100,000 people. There were more than 1100 drug-related deaths in Louisiana in 2017, 29 of which were in Rapides Parish. As one of Louisiana’s larger cities, Alexandria bears a substantial share of this burden. Oxycodone is one of the most commonly used drugs in Louisiana. In Alexandria, cocaine, especially crack cocaine, and a powerful prescription cough medicine called Tussionex are especially popular.
If you live in Alexandria or Rapides Parish and are struggling with substance use, Palmetto’s Alexandria IOP can provide you with quality treatment while allowing you to still meet your regular commitments. No-cost assessments are available at this location. Call us at 318-728-2970 or use the contact form below to request more information or schedule an assessment.
