What's the difference between detox, residential, PHP, IOP, and outpatient?
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RH
RecoveryHome team Team
asked 2 days ago
Treatment programs use a lot of abbreviations. What do the different levels of care mean, and how do you know which one is needed?
RH
RecoveryHome team Team
answered 2 days ago · general information, not medical advice
From most to least intensive:
- Medically managed withdrawal (detox): short-term care, usually a few days to a week, to get through withdrawal safely. It's a first step, not treatment on its own.
- Inpatient or residential: you live at the program and get treatment around the clock. Stays often run a few weeks to a few months.
- Partial hospitalization (PHP): treatment most of the day, usually 20 or more hours a week, while living at home or in sober housing.
- Intensive outpatient (IOP): several sessions a week, often around 9 to 19 hours, so many people can keep working or attending school.
- Outpatient: regular counseling and medication visits, usually a few hours a week or less.
How the level is chosen: a clinician does an assessment, usually based on the ASAM Criteria, looking at withdrawal risk, health, mental health, readiness, relapse risk, and home environment. Many people move down the levels over time.
Read more: Levels of care
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