Did you know, intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) are as effective as inpatient and residential treatments? According to an article titled, “Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Programs: Assessing the Evidence,” and published by Psychology Online, when studies compare IOPs with inpatient or residential care, they find comparable outcomes. 

Substance abuse IOPs are direct services for people with substance use disorders or co-occurring mental and substance use disorders who do not require medical detoxification or 24-hour supervision.

According to the article, “Compared with inpatient care, IOP services have at least two advantages: increased duration of treatment, which varies with the severity of the patient’s illness and his or her response, and the opportunity to engage and treat consumers while they remain in their home environments, which affords consumers the opportunity to practice newly learned behaviors.”

Why Online IOP Programs are Better

One of the challenges that a lot of patients have with IOP is that it is often impossible for them to make their groups on time every time. For example, a patient can have weird hours at work that change from week-to-week, but if they miss their sessions at IOP, they will be discharged from the program. If the person is court-ordered to attend IOP, you can imagine that this might create a big problem for them.

At Lionrock, we see the efficacy of IOPs every day and they are by far our most comprehensive programs. In fact, we offer 69 treatment tracks each week. We bend over backward to accommodate, assist, and help each of our patients as long as they are serious about recovery. Our all-online model allows people to access treatment from the privacy of their homes, with the flexibility they need.

For these reasons and more, telehealth is one of the most effective ways to reach and treat people with SUDs. It’s also one of the most effective ways to support recovery. For years, online treatment has been a practical option for employed people who may have been wondering how to get the help they need without signaling to their employers that there is a problem. It also works for people who want to maintain privacy from family and neighbors.

As the Psychology Online article says, “IOPs are an important part of the continuum of care…as effective as inpatient treatment for most individuals.” We know this to be true. Eighty percent of our clients are still abstinent one year after treatment.