When considering substance abuse treatment, various program options might appeal to you depending on your specific circumstances. Two of the more common treatment programs include an intensive outpatient program (IOP) and a partial hospitalization program (PHP). PHP vs IOP Rehab: deciding between the two options and choosing your treatment center is a personal decision. Chief among the possible considerations are the extent of your substance use and how your recovery journey aligns with other areas of your life. Both forms of treatment are effective when you choose the right rehab center.

For instance, both of these forms of drug rehab in Arizona rely on evidence-based therapy to create parameters for treatment. While entering outpatient treatment in any form might seem formidable, it’s the start of your recovery. Recovering from substance abuse disorder doesn’t always take a linear path. Partial hospitalization or one of the intensive outpatient programs offered at a treatment center might be a good place to start.

Counselor speaking to an addict with his family about the treatment options and gave the benefits to answer PHP vs IOP rehab in Arizona.

PHP vs IOP Rehab: Comparing Substance Abuse Treatment Options

What is PHP?

Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) deliver substance abuse treatment during the day while allowing you to return home each night. A PHP program has many characteristics of an inpatient rehab program, but it incorporates more intensive components of treatment, including some medical aspects. It addresses underlying causes of substance use and recommends treatment protocols for co-occurring mental health disorders (such as bipolar disorder).

In short, PHP is a middle ground between an inpatient residential treatment program and outpatient treatment. PHPs try implementing protocols for patients when they return home each night to avoid derailing their recovery. PHPs rely on group, family and individual therapy and share coping strategies to help patients avoid being negatively influenced upon returning home each night.

What is IOP?

An intensive outpatient program (IOP) is typically recommended when medical detoxification is unnecessary. It’s also an option for those who want to seek recovery without dropping out entirely from their work or family lives. If mental health is a factor in drug abuse, an intensive outpatient treatment program might not be a good fit unless it’s very robust. Co-occurring disorders can make it much more challenging to maintain sobriety if mental health conditions are left untreated.

IOPs help you rebuild your personal life and repair some of the fractured relationships that can occur at the height of substance use disorder. It also provides a foundation for long-term support in seeking lifelong sobriety. Counseling is one of the foundational components of IOPs to supplement the absence of residential treatment rules that mitigate substance-related temptations.

Group therapy during the addiction treatment program

Benefits of a PHP

PHPs are beneficial for those who need a mildly intensive approach without being subject to the restrictions of a residential program. Those with young children or who experience extreme anxiety about being away from home may benefit from a PHP. Those unable or unwilling to leave their lives behind to seek treatment may find that participating in a PHP gives them a chance at recovery.

PHPs provide compassionate and effective treatment for chemical dependency in a less restrictive setting than an inpatient rehab program. These programs incorporate evidence-based approaches, such as dialectical behavior therapy or sustainable recovery options, to perpetuate the healing process. Addiction treatment administered via partial hospitalization relies on some of the therapeutic norms offered in an inpatient approach for addiction recovery. Examples include cognitive behavioral therapy and techniques for relapse prevention skills.

This ensures that returning home each night won’t diminish the effectiveness of what you’ve learned at the treatment facility during the day, especially if mental illnesses are affecting your addiction. Healthy coping skills are even more critical in PHPs, so they’re often the focus of proper treatment to make long-term recovery likelier.

Benefits of an IOP

The main benefit of intensive treatment on an outpatient level is that it’s sometimes the only way to begin the process of healing from substance use. Inpatient programs often require resources and time that many don’t have. However, an IOP can be just as intense as a residential program without the need to leave everyday life behind. IOPs require you to attend therapy sessions and create a treatment plan tailored to your needs, just as more intense programs do.

Intensive outpatient treatment programs differ from partial hospitalization because the recovery process occurs on an outpatient level. Mental health issues are still addressed, and the outpatient services in question consider all the risks of such an approach. Outpatient treatment at a qualified treatment center relies on elements such as group therapy and evidence-based treatment for those struggling with substance-related issues. While addiction treatment is often touted as only effective within an inpatient treatment construction, the truth is that an outpatient treatment center can be highly effective through an IOP approach.

Couple at home looking at laptop together concept image for an intensive outpatient program.

Choosing the Right Rehab Program for Your Needs

PHP vs IOP Rehab in Arizona, choosing between the two treatment options is a decision made based on what you need from your rehab of choice. At Camelback Recovery, we want to help you choose an addiction treatment program that will free you from substance-based dependency. Our approach addresses your struggles with substance use disorder and co-occurring mental health disorders so that you can rediscover your passion for life.

We’ll create an individual treatment plan for you based on what you need from a treatment program to ensure you receive the best level of care. We offer both PHP and IOP programs so that you can choose the one that best suits your needs. Contact us at 602-466-9880 to learn more.