According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in 2024, more than 52 million people needed substance use treatment but only about 10 million people got the help they needed. Many people who did not sustain lasting recovery reported that they didn’t think they had enough time to participate in substance abuse treatment. This may be due to a misperception of the range of addiction care programs that are available; when you say “rehab” people often hear “24/7 residential inpatient program.” And while inpatient care is the right choice for some, there are other options. A partial hospitalization program or PHP program offers extended time to develop skills and recovery support for additional weeks or months. Despite its name, a partial hospitalization program doesn’t mean you’ll be hospitalized. Instead, it’s a type of intense drug addiction treatment and relapse prevention program that includes daytime programming with or without housing. During PHP, participants gain tools to help build a sober future and establish a solid recovery plan.

The Continuum of Addiction Care

First, let’s look at the continuum of addiction care. There are different levels of substance abuse care, each one designed to address the needs of people in different stages of active addiction.

• Detox
• Inpatient/Residential
• Partial hospitalization program
• Intensive outpatient treatment / online virtual treatment
• Aftercare
• Alumni programs

The level at which you enter the continuum of addiction care depends on several factors, including what stage of addiction you’re facing, any co-occurring disorders or diagnoses, your general health, your financial situation, and other circumstances unique to you. When choosing a treatment program, it’s important to find a facility that offers the entire continuum of care in case you need to step up or down your level of care.

Inpatient vs. Outpatient Programs

Most people begin treatment through either an inpatient program or some type of outpatient program. Offering 24/7 care, support, and supervision, inpatient programs are good fit for people who:

• Need medically supervised detox
• Are in a severe stage of addiction
• Have co-occurring disorders
• Don’t have a supportive home environment
• Who have previously participated in treatment

Outpatient programs are more flexible, enabling participants to live at home while attending several hours of therapy and treatment per day. Outpatient addiction treatment is a good option for people who:

• Are in a mild to moderate stage of addiction
• Have a stable, supportive home environment
• Are committed to their recovery
• Need to continue working and meeting family obligations

There are three basic levels of outpatient care:

• Primary hospitalization programs (PHP) consisting of 4.5 hours of treatment per day, five days per week
• Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) consisting of 3 hours of treatment per day, three days per week
• Early recovery services, typically consisting of peer support groups, periodic individual therapy sessions, case management, and drug testing, if

PHPs are the most time intensive type of outpatient care, followed by IOPs. Early recovery services are usually part of your continuing care plan after you complete a more structured outpatient program.

What Level of Care Do You Need?

With so many program choices, it can be difficult to figure out what level of care you need. The first step in choosing a program is having an assessment by a clinical professional. Just like physical illnesses, substance use disorder is a treatable disease that can be diagnosed by a professional. According to the National Institutes of Health, an assessment should take the following factors into account:

• What substances you’re using
• How long and how much you’ve been using
• The potential for drug withdrawal symptoms
• The level of supervision you need
• Your readiness for or resistance to treatment
• Any co-occurring physical or mental health conditions
• The risk of relapse
• Your home environment

At Lakeside-Milam, we take the information we learn in a clinical assessment to recommend the level of treatment that will be best for you and personalize your treatment program. You can meet with our staff and receive this evaluation at no charge.

Is a Partial Hospitalization Program Right for You?

When it comes to substance abuse treatment, a partial hospitalization program provides the best of both worlds. A PHP program offers intense levels of treatment similar to what you’ll experience in a residential program and the flexibility of being able to live at home. PHP programs are usually a good choice for people who need a lot of support and structure as they begin their recovery journey as well as for people who have completed an inpatient program and are ready to ease back into everyday life while still receiving a high level of addiction care.

What to Expect from a Partial Hospitalization Program

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) have identified five main goals of a PHP program:

• Providing a step-down from inpatient care
• Crisis stabilization
• Providing support and structure for behavioral activation
• Creating an empowerment-based environment for change
• Planning for future recovery and relapse prevention

A partial hospitalization program offers a wide variety of evidence-based therapies that help you discover, face, and address the issues that are contributing to your substance use disorder. You’ll also learn and strengthen coping skills to manage cravings and prevent relapse. Lakeside-Milam’s PHP program includes therapies such as:

• Individual counselling
• Group therapy sessions
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
• Rational emotive therapy (RET)
• Education
• Holistic therapies such as art, yoga, and meditation
• Nutritional therapy
• Relapse prevention
• Community support groups
• Process groups

At Lakeside-Milam, your treatment program will be tailored to your specific needs and goals. You’ll attend treatment four and a half hours per day, five days per week. Our PHP program strikes a balance between the intense level of treatment needed for successful long-term recovery and the need to continue working part time, attending classes, being part of your family, and meeting daily obligations.

How Long Is a PHP Program?

PHPs usually consist of several hours of treatment per day, five days per week. At Lakeside-Milam, you’ll attend therapy four and a half hours per day, five days per week. The total length of your program will depend on your specific circumstances, including whether you’ve already completed inpatient treatment or if you’re just beginning your recovery journey. That being said, most people participate in a PHP program between several weeks to a few months.

Who Staffs a PHP program?

In a PHP program, you’ll have access to a wide variety of specialized professionals and caregivers. At Lakeside-Milam, our PHP staff includes substance use disorder professionals, mental health therapists, counselors, medical professionals, and nutritionists.

Is a PHP Effective for Addiction Recovery Care?

Research has shown PHP programs can be as effective as residential programs and have higher patient satisfaction rates than inpatient programs. PHP programs offer an important middle ground on the continuum of addiction care, giving patients access to the same evidence-based therapies as an inpatient program without the time commitment required by inpatient substance abuse treatment. More than 80% of Lakeside-Milam’s clients receive care through an outpatient program and many of our referrals come from past clients. With more than 10,000 alumni, we see these referrals as evidence that our programs truly help people struggling with addiction.

How to Find a Quality Partial Hospitalization Program

When looking for a partial hospitalization program, SAMHSA recommends looking for a facility that meets the following criteria:

• Licensed
• Accredited
• Uses evidence-based therapies
• Includes family as part of treatment
• Provides support for all areas of your life including medical care, housing, employment, and aftercare

Lakeside-Milam  is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and has received Level of Care Certification from the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). We’re also licensed by the Washington State Department of Health and Department of Social and Health Services. These certifications attest to our dedication to consistent and evidence-based care.

All of our outpatient treatment programs, including our PHP, utilize evidence-based therapies including:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
• Psychoeducation
• Individual therapy
• Group therapy activities
• Holistic therapies
• Family education

We know that addiction doesn’t just affect the individual with SUD, it affects the entire family. That’s why we offer an array of services for family and loved ones, including individual counseling, educational sessions, and discussion groups. Our goal is to help family members participate in the recovery of their loved one, learn healthy communication patterns, and feel connected to a supportive, understanding community.

Whether they’ve completed outpatient or inpatient treatment, each Lakeside-Milam client leaves treatment armed with an action recovery plan. This plan is tailored to each individual, but typically includes continuing care, early recovery services, and peer support systems. Our counseling staff monitors action recovery plans so that clients stay plugged in to our support system as they transition back to everyday life.

We know that addiction is a treatable disease, not a character defect or moral flaw. This approach helps us tailor an effective partial hospitalization program to your individual needs so that you can get the help you need and get back on track with minimal interruption to your life. Call us today and schedule your free clinical assessment.

There shouldn’t be a period so that all bullets are consistent fragments