When a teenager starts showing signs of substance abuse and mental health issues, it is crucial to immediately provide them with the proper help necessary to treat the disorder. As a caregiver, you have to conduct extensive research to find the best solution for your teenager’s needs. This solution can be teen IOP programs available in Los Angeles.

Inpatient vs. Outpatient: How do these programs differ?

An Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is a treatment program for addiction, eating disorders, mental health issues, and other matters where detoxification or constant monitoring is unnecessary. IOP programs allow patients to live at home and continue their usual routine.

On the other hand, an inpatient program — also known as residential treatment —requires patients to live at the facility. This program provides 24/7 supervision and emotional support.

Benefits of choosing an intensive outpatient program over residential treatment

An IOP program is less demanding of a teenager’s presence than inpatient programs. Usually, a teen IOP program only takes about ten to twelve hours weekly.

These hours are divided into individual and group counseling, drug abuse education, and teaching patients valuable techniques to help them cope with daily living. Teenagers who only exhibit mild to moderate disorders are often admitted to an IOP program instead of an inpatient program.

Some of the benefits of an IOP program are as follows:

• Privacy — Teenagers struggling with substance abuse, addiction, and mental health problems are often ashamed of what they’re going through. Some teens view treatment as taboo, so they reject it entirely. Even though what they are going through is nothing to be ashamed of, teen IOP programs provide them with their much-needed privacy during treatment.
• Presence at school and other responsibilities — It is not easy to go live somewhere else. Uprooting a teenager’s life is particularly conflicting because of school. An intensive outpatient program allows much more flexibility than an inpatient program. Your teen can keep going to school and remain at home.
• Sense of community and support — IOP programs are designed to give teens access to academic tutoring to help them keep up with school work. They also teach them life skills that will be beneficial during employment and other challenging life situations. In addition, teens can form bonds with people who have been through similar problems but are now sober. These successful rehab patients can share valuable tips on how to deal with mishaps during recovery.
• Reduced cost — The expenses can significantly affect a caregiver’s decision to admit a troubled teenager to a treatment program. The cost of an IOP program lies between the pricier inpatient programs and the cheaper standard outpatient programs.

Paying for the teen IOP program 

If your insurance does not cover your teen’s care, other options may be possible. You can consider using sliding scale payments or applying for healthcare loans. You could even make use of social media platforms and ask for donations for your teen’s treatment. You’ll be surprised how sympathetic strangers are, especially parents dealing with the same situation you are in.

Try asking family members and close friends for financial support. Families can come together in times of need. Some facilities even provide scholarships and charity care for patients who can’t afford their services. In any case, you shouldn’t forego treatment programs for your struggling teen because of financial matters. Help is given to those who ask.

What happens if someone relapses during an intensive outpatient program?

Don’t worry too much if your teen relapses once. The recovery process is a difficult road to walk on. Your teen will have moments of doubts and temptations. A relapse may be an isolated incident that might not need a different kind of treatment.

However, suppose your teen has relapsed and is exhibiting destructive patterns similar to those prior to the treatment. In that case, you might have to consider a stricter program to get your teen back on track. A new treatment will have to emphasize cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), so they can form healthy behavioral responses. You can also ask the teen IOP facility to include meditative activities such as yoga and breathing exercises to help your teen control intense negative responses. The patient must be focused on transitioning back to their regular sober life.

Relapses are not necessarily a sign of a teen’s success or failure at recovering. They are mere roadblocks that can be surpassed once dealt with properly.

Find the right teen intensive outpatient program in Los Angeles for your struggling teen as soon as you can. Mending their deteriorating health is the priority. Give your child the chance to recover and experience a healthy life once again.