IOP vs PHP: What’s the Difference?

Sep 21, 2022 | Recovery

When it comes to addiction treatment, no two treatment plans are alike. While many people might suffer from the same type of addiction, everyone has different and unique needs. What might work for one person might not work for another person. That’s why custom treatment plans are created for each person once they enter into treatment, instead of just being handed a cookie-cutter plan.

This is just one of the reasons why there are so many different treatment options available at various treatment centers, such as IOP vs PHP.

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Why Are There So Many Different Treatment Options?

The ultimate goal of treatment is to get clean and sober. How you get there though, depends on the path you take and the treatment plan that you choose. Since no two addictions are alike and no two treatment plans are alike, it is important for treatment centers to have a variety of treatment options available to fit everyone’s needs. This gives the person in treatment the best chance to get sober.

There are four main types of treatment, each with its own unique set of advantages:

Choosing the right program can come down to personal preferences such as your budget, what your insurance will cover, or if you are willing to live at the facility full-time for the duration of treatment. It can also come down to what your treatment professional deems necessary based on the severity of your addiction.

What Is Intensive Outpatient Treatment?

Intensive outpatient treatment (IOP) is one of the many different types of addiction treatment available at many different treatment centers. As the name suggests since the treatment is outpatient, the person in treatment comes to the facility during the day for their various therapy sessions and other treatments and then returns home to their regular life. This allows the person the freedom and ability to continue their daily commitments since they are not required to live at the facility. Since they are not under 24-hour monitoring though, it is important that anyone choosing IOP has a safe, supportive, and sober home environment.

How Does IOP Work?

Even though they aren’t living at the facility, IOP treatment still provides the same therapies and many of the other services provided to those in inpatient treatment. A typical IOP plan consists of therapy sessions spread throughout the week. The number and length of the sessions will vary based on the person’s needs and treatment plan. Since IOP is technically considered a “part-time” treatment program since the person isn’t living at the facility, intensive outpatient treatment typically takes longer to complete than inpatient treatment.

Who is IOP Best For?

Simply put, some people can’t put their life on hold to enter into treatment. They might have a job that doesn’t allow them to take off the time needed in order to go to inpatient treatment or they might be a single parent who doesn’t have the resources for someone to watch their child or children.

There’s also a matter of affordability. Inpatient treatment is much more expensive than outpatient treatment. Even if someone has insurance, their plan might not cover inpatient treatment or only part of it.

Regardless of the reason, for those who are either unwilling or unable to enter into an inpatient treatment program, intensive outpatient treatment might be the best option for them.

An IOP program is also ideal for someone who has finished their time in inpatient treatment and is now transitioning into an aftercare program. It still allows them access to the various resources that treatment centers provide while also allowing them to get back into the routine of their daily life.

What is a Partial Hospitalization Program?

A partial hospitalization program, also known as PHP, is an addiction treatment program that is one step below inpatient treatment. As a result, it is considered more intense and IOP and there is more of a time commitment involved. Similarly to intensive outpatient treatment, those in a PHP program will come to the facility for treatment and then return home, however, the average PHP program involves more visits to the facility for longer periods of time. Additionally, those in a PHP program might have access to services that those in intensive outpatient treatment, including many of the same services that those in inpatient treatment have access to.

What Can I Expect From a Partial Hospitalization Program?

During intensive outpatient treatment, you might only go to the facility 3 days a week for a couple of hours each day. Partial hospitalization programs often require patients to be at the facility 5 days a week for up to 8 hours a day. While an intensive outpatient program might be considered “part-time”, PHP is much more of a full-time commitment. Those in a partial hospitalization program will have a very similar experience to those who are in inpatient treatment with the main difference being that those in PHP get to go home at the end of the day.

Who Benefits the Most From Partial Hospitalization?

Partial hospitalization is ideal for someone who might benefit from the structure that inpatient treatment provides but is unwilling or unable to enter into an inpatient treatment program or it is deemed that they don’t require inpatient treatment. Additionally, someone who has recently completed an inpatient treatment program and is still looking for that same structure as they begin aftercare treatment might benefit from PHP as well.

Where Does Detox Fit In?

Regardless of if you choose an intensive outpatient treatment program, a partial hospitalization program, or another treatment program, the first step before any treatment can begin is to undergo detox. Detox is done in order to rid the body of any and all harmful substances so that the body and the brain can begin to heal.

Detoxing can be done at a local medical facility, a dedicated detox center, or a treatment center that also offers a detox program such as Chapters Recovery Center. Attempting to self-detox can be dangerous and even potentially life-threatening. It can also lead to an increased risk of a relapse.

For those who might have had a particularly difficult detox process, or are still in need of extra medical attention as they begin their treatment process, inpatient and partial hospitalization programs might be best for them.

How Do I Pick the Right Treatment Program For Me?

With so many different treatment options to choose from, picking the right one might seem overwhelming to the point where it can make your head spin. In many cases, a treatment professional will recommend a program that is right for you based on the severity of your addiction and your needs. However, there are some factors to consider when choosing the right program for you.

Cost

While many private insurance companies now cover treatment, depending on your plan, not all treatment options might be covered in full. If there are any out-of-pocket expenses involved, those might need to be taken into consideration when choosing the right treatment program for you. Additionally, for those who do not have private insurance, or for those whose insurance does not cover treatment, you might have to look into other ways when it comes to paying for treatment.

Commitment

As we touched on earlier, not everyone either wants to or is able to enter into an inpatient treatment program. Before starting treatment it’s important to be honest with yourself and decide just how much time you want to commit to treatment. If you are willing and able to commit to treatment full time then an inpatient or partial hospitalization program might be best. If not, then intensive outpatient might be the way to go. It’s important to remember that treatment is only as effective as the effort you put into it.

Want To Know More About IOP vs PHP?

Choosing the right treatment plan can be just as important as making the decision to get help for drug and alcohol addiction. Addiction treatment is only as effective as the effort that you put in so choosing the right treatment program is crucial.

At Chapters Recovery Center we understand the importance of not just picking the right treatment plan, but also that the same treatment plan might not work for everyone. That’s why we offer a variety of treatment options including:

Detox
Partial Hospitalization Program
Intensive Outpatient Program
Outpatient Treatment
Inpatient Treatment
Aftercare programs

We also treat a wide variety of substances of abuse as well as co-occurring disorders. If you or someone you know is in need of treatment, contact us today. We want all of our clients to go on and live a healthy, happy, and sober life.

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