IOP, which stands for the Intensive Outpatient Program, is a term associated with a form of treatment available for addicts (substance) on the path to getting their lives back.

First of all, it is important to understand drug abuse, as it is the root course of situations that require an IOP program in the first place. Drug addiction is a deep-rooted and ceaseless disease characterized by the uncontrollable desire to consume certain substances excessively irrespective of perceived or known consequences to the body and brain.

Drug addiction is not a one-off event; it is an unconscious journey that typically starts with some form of indulgence as a voluntary act. But over time, the person’s ability to choose to or not to becomes compromised and resolve weakened or non-existent. It then becomes an obsessive act that affects the brain functions and behavior of said individual. This ultimately destroys every single aspect of the person’s life. To read more about this you can read this article here: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/treatment-approaches-drug-addiction.

Thankfully, drug abuse can be treated and the recovery process helps with quitting drug use and staying drug free. A treated individual can settle back to normal life, being productive to themselves, in the home, at work, and the community at large.

Now, IOP comes in handy for someone who is already on the path to recovery and doesn’t need round-the-clock monitoring. Like other outpatient facilities, it does not require a patient staying in the facility all-day or overnight. It works by having scheduled appointments which the patients go for, affording them the medical and psychological help or support needed. This can be by recommendation or something that they choose.

Advantages of IOP

See below some of the advantages of IOP:

• Only short visits a week are required. This would total about 9 hours a week.
• It helps patients blend gradually into their usual routines at home, work, and in the county.
• Patients will not feel confined as they will be able to receive the love of their family and the joy of being in their own homes.
• It creates a haven for patients during group sessions, allowing them mingle and encourage one another via pieces of advice, insights, or experiences.
• Eligible persons get access to funding assistance.
• The number of sessions and treatment hours are adjustable as they are based on an assessment of patient after diagnosis. This can change over time as the patient responds and improves.

Chester County, also known as Chesco, is a county in the U.S state of Pennysylvania with a population of about 525,000 residents as of 2019. Accessing IOP in Chester County is thankfully easy despite it being a pretty small community. The right center will provide assessment, treatment, and possible funding for this cause.

According to ASAM (The American Society of Addiction Medicine), 5 stages of care serve as a template to practitioners on how to determine the applicable level for treatment of addiction disorders.

These levels which are designated as levels 0.5, I, II, III and IV, cover services which include early intervention, outpatient (both regular and intensive), inpatient and residential and intensive inpatient cases that are medically managed.

As seen above, IOPs offer a higher care level than what an outpatient service will offer but a slightly lower care level when compared to that offered by inpatient or residential services.

Types of Activities In IOP Programs

The Intensive Outpatient Program is not like any other outpatient service because it is sensitive to the needs of her patients. There is a well-planned structure that allows for individual sessions as well as group sessions that are safe, informative and intimately wired.

Some of the activities covered during the treatment process are:

• Spirituality
• Relapse suppressing skills and early-stage management
• Post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS)
• Management of cravings and urges
• Learning coping strategies
• Understanding the connection between the brain and addiction
• Steps to change
• Sequence and the disease of addiction
• Noteworthy co-occurring disorders and effects on addiction and recovery
• The family education module
• Address issues related to social, psychological and emotional well-being

These and many more are some of the activities to be carried out to help IOP patients become better. So automatically, expected outcomes and progress seen will be channeled through these service filters.

You can get a comprehensive account on everything on addiction and IOP programs here.

In Conclusion

It is important to be true to yourself when battling an addiction. You need to know what you need medically and psychologically as well as what you can handle. Check to see if the environment you are in has any triggers and be sure to speak out.

Attend all your treatment meetings and you will be well on your way to living your best life. Addiction is only a slight detour on your journey and should not be the end.