What Different Levels of Addiction Care Involve
Some treatment happens through appointments. Other programs offer daytime care or a place to stay. This guide explains the differences and gives you questions to ask about the care your clinician recommends.
For: People seeking help or planning their own support · 3 PDF pages
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Where Care Happens
Scroll the table sideways on a small screen to compare all columns.
| Type of care | What it usually involves | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Routine outpatient | You attend scheduled visits and go home the same day. How often you attend depends on your treatment plan. | What happens at each visit? Who can I contact between appointments? |
| Intensive outpatient (IOP) | Scheduled outpatient care with more support than routine office visits and less than partial hospitalization. | What would my week look like, including therapy and medication appointments? |
| Partial hospitalization (PHP) | An intensive daytime mental health program that can be an alternative to overnight psychiatric care. | What care is available during the day? What support will I have in the evenings? |
| Residential | You live at the treatment program. Services and length of stay vary. | Who is there overnight? How will I get any medical care I need? |
| Inpatient | You stay overnight for 24-hour support, usually in a hospital or clinic. | Why do you recommend this care for me? Who will help arrange care after I leave? |
Ask each program about its services, staffing and schedule. Two programs with the same label may offer different care. Your clinician can help you choose a plan that takes account of your substance use, physical and mental health, and daily life.
Sources: [2]
Talk Through the Recommendation
- What did you learn from my assessment that led you to recommend this care?
- What help would I miss in a less intensive program?
- How can we make treatment work with my job, school, caregiving, travel or housing?
- When will we talk about how treatment is going and whether I need a different amount of support?
- Who will arrange my next appointment if I move to another program or leave this one?
Notes to Discuss With Your Clinician
- The care recommended for you
- What kind of program, which services, and why your clinician recommends them.
- What you need to make it work
- Think about your schedule, travel, accessibility, medicines, caregiving and a safe place to stay.
- Questions before the first visit
- What do you still need to know? Who will answer, and when?