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If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse, it can be overwhelming to think about taking time away from work, school, or other important obligations. But the truth is, addiction can quickly take over your life and make it difficult to fulfill these responsibilities. However, you can learn to effectively learn how to manage your responsibilities in outpatient addiction treatment.
However, these incorrect assumptions are a part of the reason why only around 10 percent of people who needed addiction treatment actually got professional treatment services in 2016, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) reports.
Outpatient treatment can be a good option if you need to maintain your current lifestyle as much as possible while still getting help for addiction. Understanding how you can manage outpatient addiction treatment and responsibilities can encourage you to get the professional help you need to recover.
Can You Attend Outpatient Addiction Treatment and Manage Your Responsibilities?
A lot of people considering treatment may find themselves wondering if they can attend outpatient addiction treatment and manage their responsibilities. The answer is yes, they can. Outpatient rehab programs offer the flexibility people need to manage personal responsibilities and attend treatment.
Outpatient treatment might be right for you if you have:
- Children or dependents who are under your direct care
- Work obligations that can’t be put on hold
- School or educational commitments
- Insurance parameters
During outpatient rehab, you can gain access to a team of professionals who will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan that works with your schedule, not against it. By seeking help through an outpatient treatment program, you can learn valuable skills to manage your responsibilities while also addressing your addiction.
Continue Caring for Children or Dependents
National surveys published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), indicate that as many as one out of every eight children in the United States lives in a home with at least one parent struggling with addiction. The need to take care of your children or dependents can prevent you from attending an inpatient treatment program.
Outpatient services can be a great option to ensure that you can attend outpatient addiction treatment and responsibilities will still be met. Outpatient programs typically only last for a few hours a couple of days a week.
Many programs offer both morning and evening sessions to allow for more scheduling options. This allows you to schedule childcare more easily or attend services while kids are in school or aftercare programs. With an outpatient program, you will be home at night too.
No Need for a Leave of Absence From Work
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal provision that protects your job if you need to take as much as 12 weeks of leave for medical or family reasons. Treatment for addiction is covered under FMLA. Specific states may have their own laws protecting you as well.
That being said, it can still be hard to ask for a leave of absence, particularly if your role is vital to the organization. Or maybe you don’t want to take time away from work because the worry of not being there just compounds your overall stress. Or perhaps you run your own business where the option to take time off just isn’t there. You may also not be able to support yourself or your family financially if you stop working for too long.
Outpatient treatment services can often be scheduled around your work schedule. This can allow you to keep making money and working while you get help. You may be able to attend an outpatient program in the evening, after work, a few days per week.
Continuing Education in School or Vocational Programs
Higher education and vocational programs are often highly structured settings. Often, they expect students to complete certain classes in a set amount of time and adhere to a strict schedule. This can be a huge problem for those struggling with substance abuse in college or other educational programs.
If this is the case for you, an outpatient treatment program can be ideal. Whereas you might have to take off an entire semester for inpatient rehab, you can schedule your outpatient sessions around your existing school schedule.
By joining an outpatient rehab program, you can attend treatment sessions and still have time to study and turn your assignments in on time. This can provide a sense of relief and empowerment, as you are actively taking control of your recovery while still maintaining your academic responsibilities.
Staying Within Insurance Parameters
Due to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), insurance providers are required to offer coverage for substance abuse treatment that is equal to the coverage they offer for other surgical and medical services. Check with your provider to find out exactly what your coverage entails.
With that being said, insurance may enforce a time limit on how many days of treatment services they will cover. Some will have limits on the number of days they will cover in a particular year or the total cost of services they will cover.
In most cases, however, insurance providers offer coverage for outpatient rehab programs because they require less intensive care, time, and resources than inpatient programs.
Is There a Timeline for My Recovery Progress In Outpatient Rehab?
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that no matter what kind of treatment program you choose for addiction, you should remain in it for at least 90 days. You may need to attend an outpatient program for longer if you are not going for many hours per week.
There is no specific timeline for recovery. Each person’s needs will be different. What works for you may not be the same for someone else.
While managing outpatient addiction treatment and responsibilities in everyday life can be challenging, it is more than worth it. No matter the person, recovery requires dedication, commitment, and a strong support system.
How Flexible Are Outpatient Addiction Programs?
Outpatient addiction treatment programs will vary by location and services provided. They are usually very flexible, and many offer services and programs that run during the day and at night. These programs have sessions, meetings, and programming for a few hours a few days per week, allowing you to set your treatment schedule accordingly.
Group counseling, therapy, and support groups may be at a set time each week that you will need to work around, but you will be able to schedule your individual sessions at times that work for both you and the provider.
If you have a high-stress job or intense school schedule, you may need to lighten up some of that load while in outpatient treatment. You want to be able to fully focus on your treatment without feeling too overwhelmed by work or school. Assess what is possible with your current schedule.
Outpatient treatment programs want to accommodate you, so you can get the help you need in a timeframe that makes sense. To figure out a schedule that will work for you, contact the treatment facility.
How To Select the Best Outpatient Program For You
You’ll want an outpatient treatment program that fits your schedule and is convenient for you. Consider the following factors when assessing programs:
- Location
- Services provided
- Schedule of when services are offered
- If they accept your insurance
- Overall price
You don’t have to abandon your family or personal responsibilities if you attend outpatient addiction treatment. You may have to make some accommodations in terms of your time, but overall, you can keep up with your responsibilities while you are in outpatient rehab.
Manage Your Responsibilities In Outpatient Addiction Treatment
Many people are under the false impression that they need to choose between managing their responsibilities and going to rehab. However, it is important to know that you can learn to effectively learn how to manage your responsibilities in outpatient addiction treatment.
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, seeking help through outpatient treatment can provide the necessary support and resources for long-term recovery. Remember, you are not alone and there is always hope for a brighter future.
- Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health
- Children Living with Parents Who Have a Substance Use Disorder
- Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) | U.S. Department of Labor
- Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition)
- Mental health and substance abuse health coverage options | HealthCare.gov
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