According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), outpatient drug and alcohol counseling has many advantages.
1. Outpatient treatment programs allows individuals to continue with their lives and maintain life commitments (family, work, schooling) while they attend counseling.
2. Outpatient counseling programs are the least restrictive treatment offered in the recovery setting.
3. There is greater flexibility in that you can schedule your counseling sessions to not interfere with other obligations.
4. You can attend counseling sessions by day, evening, or weekend and still attend 12 Step meetings (AA or NA) the same day.
5. Outpatient treatment is easily accessible and affordable. In most cases, outpatient agencies are located close to your home and third-party insurances pay for the cost of the services.
6. While attending outpatient counseling, your support network is still a major part of your life. You can visit family and friends on a daily basis and utilize the benefits of their support.
7. Outpatient counseling is the mainstay of all long term drug and alcohol recovery programs. Not only can you receive individual, family, and group counseling, but you can also take advantage of an intensive outpatient (IOP) or partial hospitalization program (PHP) at most outpatient programs. Additionally, relapse prevention counseling and after groups are offered.
8. Outpatient counseling is not time limited but is ongoing. Patients can access outpatient programs at any time, for however long they need to utilize the services. There is an "open door policy" with outpatient. It is a welcoming environment that encourages patients to remain involved if they feel they have need.
9. Outpatient treatment programs allows individuals to immediately practice what they in counseling and apply it to real world.
10. Most outpatient treatment programs utilize individual counseling; therefore, the treatment plan can be individually tailored to address the specific treatment needs of each patient.
