Intensive Outpatient Programs for Drug & Alcohol Addiction
Recovery looks different for everyone and may include various treatment settings, including an intensive outpatient program (IOP). IOPs are a relatively intensive type of outpatient addiction treatment that still allows you to live at home and go about your daily life. This page will help you learn more about IOPs and how to find one near you.
What Is an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)?
An intensive outpatient program (IOP) is a level of addiction rehab treatment that is more intensive than standard outpatient treatment, but less intensive than a partial hospitalization program (PHP).1 Intensive outpatient programs let you live off-site and go about your daily life while not in treatment. In this way, IOPs can offer more flexibility for people who need to balance family, school, or work.
The time commitment for IOPs can vary depending on your state, the treatment center, and your specific treatment needs.1 In an IOP, you generally attend treatment for 9 to 30 hours per week over 3 to 5 days for about 3 months.1
How Does an IOP Fit Into the Continuum of Care?
Treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs) often happens on what is referred to as a continuum of care across different treatment settings and intensity levels. A continuum of care is flexible, letting you enter treatment at the level you need when you need it. This means that you can move up to more intensive treatment or down to less intensive treatment, depending on your progress and evolving treatment goals and needs.1
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) outlines the care levels as follows, ranging from least intensive to most intensive:3
- Level 0.5: Prevention/early intervention
- Level 1: Outpatient rehab
- Level 2: Intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs
- Level 3: Residential/inpatient rehab services
- Level 4: Medical detox and other medically managed intensive inpatient services
What to Expect in an IOP
In most IOPs, treatment has 4 general stages: 1
- Stage 1: Treatment engagement. In this stage, your care team will stabilize any crises and identify treatment problems and goals. Then, together, you form a treatment plan with appropriate services and interventions.
- Stage 2: Early recovery. In this highly structured phase of treatment, you learn recovery skills and address relapses (using substances again after a period of not using).
- Stage 3: Maintenance. Stage 3 helps you improve emotional functioning, grow your social support network, and continue to build on the skills you learned in the first 2 stages.
- Stage 4: Community support. At this point, you’ll have established some independence from the treatment program and will maintain your quality of life and abstinence (not using substances) through strong connections with your support system.
You can also expect some combination of the following:1
- Group therapy.
- Medical detoxification services (if part of a hospital setting).
- Job and other skills training.
- Educational groups.
- Family counseling.
- Individual therapy.
- Support groups.
- Drug monitoring.
- Medications, if needed.
What Is the Goal of an IOP?
IOP works to achieve many goals, which can vary depending on the treatment program’s mission, the treatment population, and the services offered in the program.1
Some common IOP goals include:1
- Create and support behavior changes that reduce substance use and improve areas of daily functioning.
- Teach you healthy coping and problem-solving skills.
- Help you develop a social support system and engage in peer support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), or SMART Recovery.
- Identify and resolve certain challenges, such as unemployment, homelessness, and legal issues.
Keep in mind that the goals of IOP for drugs or alcohol are not limited to the objectives listed above, and your treatment plan will be focused on your individual treatment goals that are specific to you.
Who Should Consider an IOP?
Whether an intensive outpatient rehab program is right for you depends on several factors, such as your overall physical and mental health, your readiness to change, your substance use history, and your living situation.3
Recovery looks different for everyone, but in general, an IOP for alcohol or drugs may be a good fit for you if you:3,4
- Are ready and willing to engage in treatment.
- Are not at a high risk of severe withdrawal or relapse.
- Do not have physical or mental health problems that are not being well managed or that can’t be treated in an outpatient setting.
- Have a stable, supportive living environment.
If you’re curious about what type of substance use treatment program best fits your needs, talk to your doctor or an addiction treatment professional. They can help match a treatment setting to your specific treatment needs and individual recovery goals.
How to Find Intensive Outpatient Programs Near Me
If you are ready to take the next step, you have options. You can find an IOP near you by consulting your doctor or a mental health practitioner to get an evaluation, discuss treatment options, and get referrals.
You can use our directory to find rehabs near you that meet your needs or call our free helpline at and speak with a caring admissions navigator. They can help you learn about levels of addiction treatment, using health insurance to pay for rehab, and more. Calling is confidential, free, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.