IOP is therapy and medications for addiction and underlying issues (like depression or anxiety) that happens at a clinic (or virtually) while you live at home.
IOP usually requires three hour group therapy sessions, three times per week or a 9 hour a week minimum, as well as one-on-one therapy sessions and medical appointments for physical symptoms and medications as-needed.
Page Topics
IOP vs Rehab | Program Length | Additional Therapy | Drug Testing | Success Rate | Costs | Virtual IOP | Best Programs Near Me
What does IOP stand for ?
IOP stands for Intensive Outpatient Program.
Do I need IOP or rehab?
IOP addresses the same issues as rehab but without 24/7 supervision or support and without most holistic therapies.
IOP is ideal for:
- First-Time in Treatment – If you’re just noticing a problem, outpatient treatment is a great step. The sooner you take action, the easier it is to recover from the mental, physical and spiritual damage and recalibrate unhealthy thinking.
- Rehab Aftercare – IOP is recommended after you leave the 24/7 safety of rehab. Our outpatient program keeps you accountable and helps you apply everything you’ve learned.
- A Short Slip – A relapse is not a failure. It’s all about what you do to get back up. IOP helps you quickly get back on track instead of slipping further downhill.
If you’ve been in-and-out of other treatment centers with little sobriety, you already know you need something more dramatic.
How long is an IOP program?
Most insurance companies only cover 6-8 weeks of IOP, so that’s the typical length. If you choose to self-pay after that or if the program is all self-pay, then IOP can be as long as you want or agree to.
Whether IOP is completed in one or six months, the recommendation is to step down from IOP to regular outpatient therapy.
Outpatient Programs (OP) can be through an addiction treatment facility or what you think of as “normal” therapy with any therapist. OP can be continued for years and as-needed as a safety net.
Why is therapy recommended after IOP?
Meeting with a therapist as often as possible is the best way for anyone to remain in a good place mentally and think clearer about their life and issues. The part-time treatment helps prevent relapse during the critical first year of sobriety.
Do IOP programs drug or alcohol tests?
Most IOP programs drug test. Typically, it’s a urine test conducted at random, so patients cannot prepare in advance by avoiding substances or substituting someone else’s urine.
What happens if you fail a drug test in IOP?
Every rehab program sets its own rules. But, if you’re participating in therapy and genuinely trying, it’s unlikely you will get kicked out. Instead, you and your therapist will talk about what’s not working and make a plan.
Failing multiple drug tests during IOP is a clear sign that IOP is not enough. Even if the addiction side of you doesn’t want to go to rehab, rehab is the only way to change your life.
Does IOP work?
Yes. IOPs make up 12% of the addiction treatment patients. IOP has success rates of 40-60% of people still sober six-months after stopping IOP.
Compare that to around 90% of those who follow JourneyPure’s full program of rehab, IOP and OP.
How much does IOP cost?
Insurance covers IOP, including public plans like Medicaid.
- Many people hit the deductible and out-of-pocket maximum during inpatient rehab. Therefore, IOP would be of no cost!
Without Health Insurance
Without insurance, costs are set by each program. In general, the cost of IOP is 2-12 times less than rehab, but JourneyPure actually has more people self-pay for rehab instead of IOP. I asked a self-pay patient why and he said “rehab is more bang for your buck.”
With Journey Pure IOP you can pay as you visit. Other programs may charge per-month or pre-pay the whole program.
Can you do IOP virtually?
Yes! Most programs (including JourneyPure) offer virtual options.
How do I find the best IOP programs near me?
If you live in Tennessee, Kentucky or Florida you can attend IOP in-person in 12 cities or virtually across the state.
Tennessee
- Franklin IOP Clinic – (615) 258-6562
- Knoxville IOP Clinic – (865) 217-1297
- Murfreesboro IOP Clinic – (888) 246-4427
- Nashville IOP Clinic – (888) 517-3453
- Virtual Rehab – (844) 859-6320
Kentucky
- Bowling Green IOP Clinic – (888) 862-5018
- Elizabethtown IOP Clinic – (502) 833-7022
- Lexington IOP Clinic – (844) 819-1377
- Louisville IOP Clinic – (502) 804-2751
- Paducah IOP Clinic – (270) 201-5141
- Virtual Rehab – (844) 859-6320
Other States
Arkansas
- Vantage Point: Fayetteville, AR – (479) 521-5731
- Eagle Crest Recovery: Bentonville, AR – (844) 439-7627
California
- Renaissance Recovery: Fountain Valley, CA – (866) 268-1206
- The Meadows: Sunnyvale, CA – (866) 613-1826
Colorado
- Aspen Ridge Recovery Center: Colorado Springs, CO – (855) 678-3144
- Foundry IOP: Steamboat Springs, CO – (858) 239-1066
Georgia
- Tangu: Marietta, GA – (404) 647-7740
- The Berman Center: Atlanta, GA – (866) 565-0653
Kansas
- Valley Hope: Overland Park, KS – (913) 432-4037
- Lilac Center: Mission, KS – (816) 221-0305 ext. 115
Louisiana
- Woodlake Addiction Recovery: Ethel, LA – (225) 924-1910
- Vermilion Behavioral Health Systems: Lafayette, LA – (337) 234-5614
Mississippi
- Pine Grove Behavioral Health and Addiction Services: Hattiesburg, MS – (888) 574-4673
- Vertava Health: Southaven, MS – (844) 481-0327
Missouri
- Millennium IOP: St. Louis, MO – (314) 322-2048
- Mercy: Springfield, MO – (417) 820-2000
New York
- New York Center for Living: New York, NY – (212) 712-8800
- Four Winds Hospital: Westchester, NY – (800) 528-6624
Texas
- Austin Changes Counseling: Austin, TX – (512) 888-4903
- Solutions of North Texas: Denton, TX – (940) 898-6202
With Insurance
Your best best is to call the number on the back of your insurance card. You can try the steps below too, selecting the payment option filter that matches your insurance.
Without Insurance
- Visit FindTreatment.gov
- Enter your zip code
- Use the treatment type filter for “outpatient”
- Use the payment options filter for:
- Free or no-cost care – no payment needed.
- Payment assistance available – offers help paying for services. Check with the facility for details.
- Sliding fee scale – adjustable fees based on income.
- Cash or self-payment – accepts direct payment for treatment.
JourneyPure.com doctors follow rigorous sourcing guidelines and cite only trustworthy sources of information, including peer-reviewed journals, count records, academic organizations, highly regarded nonprofit organizations, government reports and their own expertise with decades in the fields and their own personal recovery.
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McCarty, D., Braude, L., Lyman, D. R., Dougherty, R. H., Daniels, A. S., Ghose, S. S., & Delphin-Rittmon, M. E. (2014). Substance abuse intensive outpatient programs: assessing the evidence. Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.), 65(6), 718–726. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201300249
(n.d.). Substance Abuse and the Affordable Care Act. Office of National Drug Control Policy. Retrieved April 26, 2021, from https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/ondcp/healthcare
Disclaimer
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