It’s Time To Talk About

Finding help for an addiction doesn’t have to be a daunting task.

I recommend getting familiar with the links under the “quick links” and “services” sections on the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services webpage, https://www.ok.gov/ odmhsas/Substance_ Abuse/ . These links allow you to explore state certified treatment facilities and their services. This information provides links to multiple levels of care. Maybe you have a DUI or DUID and need to contact an ADSAC provider, or need outpatient services, or residential treatment, or detox services. The agencies listed provide or make referral to services to get the help you need while they also abide by state standards of care in providing those services. Another good idea is to call a local treatment agency, and ask for assistance in locating services. Most treatment providers are happy to suggest resources.

What are “levels of care?” A level of care is the best place to adequately treat your illness. This is determined by a screening process when you make contact with a treatment provider. The treatment provider uses very specific criteria to make sure you go to the level of care that you need to get well.

I’ll break down a few levels of care:

The most commonly available and used level of care is Outpatient treatment. Outpatient means you will travel to a facility to get the treatment you need, such as group and individual therapy, while still going home each night. You might attend outpatient treatment one to three times a week, depending on your needs and the program’s requirements.

A higher level of care is Intensive Outpatient treatment, or IOP. IOP offers more treatment each week, at least nine or more hours, while still being able to go home each night.

Next is a half-way house. This is a grouptype home where you live with others, work on treatment materials and attend group and individual therapy, and practice a program of recovery. This level of care provides more support by providing a sober living environment. A person in a half-way house may live there well over 6 months.

A more intense level of care for substance use disorders is residential treatment. Residential treatment is provided in a facility in which the person getting help stays for a month or longer in order to gain the support and skills needed to practice recovery outside the treatment setting. Residential treatment provides several hours of group therapy, individual therapy, coping skills education, and relapse prevention each week. A person who has gone to residential treatment will usually attend 6 or more hours of treatment each day for one to six months, depending on that residential treatment provider’s program requirements.

Sometimes, a person experiences medical withdrawal from the substances they are using and are referred to “detox”. These facilities assist each person by helping them medically detoxify from the substances in a safe place. They are monitored and when they are finished “detoxing” they are typically referred to either residential treatment or outpatient treatment, whichever is readily available to support the newly “detoxed” person.

This is an ongoing series by Sarah Mears-Ivy regarding substance use disorders and the social and legal issues stemming from them. Sarah knows a thing or two about addiction and recovery. Daughter, sister, and friend to many wonderful people who have battled substance use disorder, codependency, and mental health stigma. Survivor. Advocate for those who are not yet ready to fight alone.