Intensive Outpatient

Repeated drug or alcohol use has a dramatic impact on the brain, changing the size, shape, and function of different areas in your brain: 

1. Repeated overstimulation of the brain’s reward circuit numbs the response in the brain’s pleasure center: the nucleus accumbens.
2. Repeated overstimulation also strengthens associations with addiction-related cues, which increases cravings.
3. Repeated drug or alcohol use weakens inhibition from the prefrontal cortex, which undermines self-control.

 When you abuse drugs or alcohol, you develop what is called “tolerance.” People often describe tolerance as a situation where you need more of a substance to achieve the same effect. However, tolerance is a reflection of changes in your brain.Many scientists believe that tolerance reflects the brain’s attempt to compensate for repeated overstimulation of the reward circuit. When you use drugs or alcohol regularly, your brain inhibits the stimulation of the nucleus accumbens, thereby numbing the pleasure response. It doesn’t take long before you can’t feel any pleasure or reward from everyday activities like exercising, eating a good meal, or playing with your children. When this happens, an IOP substance abuse treatment program can give you the skills you need to restore your brain function and improve your overall health.

At the best IOP drug and alcohol rehab center, you can expect much more support than you would otherwise receive at an outpatient rehab facility. The range of treatments available often includes ongoing individual and group therapy, sometimes family therapy, and holistic treatments as well. All of this together provides much better support and gives you real-time opportunities to practice the skills you have developed during your sessions and get feedback on your progress throughout that process.

For many people, intensive outpatient programs are a much more cost-effective alternative to residential programs. So if you don’t require 24-hour supervision and you can find a facility that offers detox services, this might give you the chance to get the comprehensive, personalized treatment you need at a fraction of the cost.Turn to Find Luxury Rehabs to review which intensive outpatient care plans can be customized to your needs.