By Kristen Shook, Marketing Specialist Eastern Division

The process of recovery is not linear; just like everything else, it takes trial and error. As research on substance use disorder (SUD) and treatment continues, professionals are gaining a better understanding of the challenges that may come up during the treatment process. Each individual seeking help for SUD is unique and will have their treatment tailored to their specific needs. What does not change is the need for continuum of care.  

Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General's Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health defines continuum of care as, “An integrated system of care that guides and tracks a person over time through a comprehensive array of health services appropriate to the individual's need. A continuum of care may include prevention, early intervention, treatment, continuing care, and recovery support.” In treatment, it is the system in which individuals complete levels of care most appropriate for their needs. As those seeking treatment reach various levels in their recovery, the intensity of treatment may increase or decrease. The American Society of Addiction Medicine’s five levels of SUD treatment are: 

.5) Early Intervention Services 

1) Outpatient Services 

2) Intensive Outpatient / Partial Hospitalization 

3) Residential Inpatient 

4) Medically Managed Intensive Inpatient 

Early intervention services include cognitive behavioral therapy for those who may not be seeking treatment but want to address their substance misuse habits. These services work as a preventative measure but may also be the bridge necessary to begin treatment, if needed. Outpatient services consist of therapeutic interventions, support services, individual or group counseling, and other options. This type of treatment allows individuals to continue to live at home or in their chosen environment while working towards their goals related to mental health and substance use disorders. Intensive outpatient or partial hospitalization programs incorporate longer meeting times that allow the individual to work with highly trained staff to receive treatment and develop better habits. These programs often incorporate cognitive behavioral therapy with their substance use treatment.  

Inpatient services are beneficial for individuals who may need an environment to provide a space where they will not have the usual temptations, influences, and triggers. These programs allow the individuals working through treatment to live at the facility while they work on developing new habits to help develop healthier lifestyle-habits and create plans to help cope with the urge to use substances. Individuals who have a more severe substance use disorder may be encouraged to seek these inpatient services. This environment is structured and incorporates treatment and counseling into their daily activities. Medically managed intensive inpatient is recommended for those who have a severe addiction which may require medical stabilization while going through the withdrawal process. The disease of addiction can be so powerful it can cause a dependency on the substance of choice. Ensuring these individuals are being medically monitored by professionals and assisted through their beginning stages of recovery is critical.  

Individuals seeking treatment may not always need each level of care; prior to beginning their road to recovery, there will be an assessment which will help determine their treatment plan. Professional providers are aware of the ebbs and flows the path to recovery may have; it is important to find a provider who can accommodate various levels of recovery or has community resources they work closely with.  

Mirror, Inc provides a continuum of care and works with outside organizations for services not provided within our programs at this time. Beginning with an assessment, we will assist individuals in determining what may be the best course of action to begin addressing their substance use habits. We offer social detox but will refer those who need medically managed and supervised detox to an outside resource. Our treatment options include residential inpatient treatment and outpatient services. We highly encourage those who go through the residential program to continue to engage in our outpatient programs for further support. The journey of sobriety is ongoing; we also offer peer support programs to build a community where individuals are encouraged to stay on track towards their goals.  

Sources: 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); Office of the Surgeon General (US). Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General's Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health [Internet]. Washington (DC): US Department of Health and Human Services; 2016 Nov. CHAPTER 4, EARLY INTERVENTION, TREATMENT, AND MANAGEMENT OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK424859/ 

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Substance Abuse: Clinical Issues in Intensive Outpatient Treatment. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2006. (Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 47.) Chapter 3. Intensive Outpatient Treatment and the Continuum of Care. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64088/