This guide explains the words. It does not tell you which level a person needs. A doctor or a clinician at the program decides that after a full assessment.
Detox (withdrawal management)
Medical help to get through withdrawal safely when someone stops alcohol or other drugs. It can happen in a hospital, at a residential program, or as outpatient care with regular visits. Withdrawal from alcohol, benzodiazepines and some other drugs can be dangerous, so it should be done with medical advice.
Detox is a first step, not the whole treatment. Research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse says detox alone does little to change drug use over time. Ask what care comes next.
Hospital inpatient
Care around the clock in a hospital, for people who need close medical or psychiatric care. This includes psychiatric units and medical detox in a hospital. Stays are often short, with a plan for care after discharge.
Residential
The person lives at the program for a period of time and takes part in treatment every day. Staff are there day and night. Programs differ a lot in how much medical care they offer, so ask.
Day treatment (PHP)
PHP stands for partial hospitalization program. The person spends much of the day in treatment, most days of the week, and goes home at night. Medicare describes it as care for people who need at least 20 hours of services a week. It can be a step down from hospital or residential care, or a way to avoid a stay.
Intensive outpatient (IOP)
Several hours of treatment a day, a few days a week, while living at home. Medicare describes it as care for people who need at least 9 hours of services a week. Many people keep working or going to school during IOP.
Outpatient
Regular visits while living at home, such as weekly counseling, therapy, or appointments for medication. Most programs in our directory offer outpatient care.
Medication for addiction (MAT)
Medicines approved by the FDA to treat opioid or alcohol use disorders, used together with counseling and support. MAT can be part of any level of care. Methadone for opioid use disorder is only given at certified opioid treatment programs. Read our guide to medications and naloxone.
Sober living
A shared home where people support each other in staying sober. It is usually not medical care or treatment. Rules and oversight are different in each state. Many people live in sober living while going to outpatient care.
Virtual care and in home care
Virtual care means appointments by video or phone. In home care means a clinician comes to where the person lives. Ask whether the program is licensed in your state.
Mental health programs use many of the same words
Mental health care also comes as hospital inpatient care, residential programs, day treatment, intensive outpatient programs and outpatient therapy or psychiatry. Many programs treat mental health and substance use together, which is often called dual diagnosis care. If both are going on, ask if the program treats both.
Moving between levels
Many people move from one level to another as they improve. For example, someone might go from detox to residential care, then to day treatment, then to outpatient care. This is sometimes called stepping down. Ask each program what its plan is after discharge, and whether it helps set up the next step.
A note on ASAM levels
Programs and insurers sometimes use numbered levels from the ASAM Criteria, a guide from the American Society of Addiction Medicine for matching people to care. The newest edition, the fourth, came out in 2023. It uses names such as Outpatient Therapy (1.5), Intensive Outpatient (2.1), High Intensity Outpatient (2.5), Medically Managed Residential (3.7) and Medically Managed Inpatient (4). Many states and insurers are still moving from the older third edition. We do not show ASAM levels on listings, because the public listings do not include them.
Words you may hear
- Assessment
- A full review by a clinician of a person's health, substance use, mental health and needs. It is used to choose the right level of care.
- Aftercare
- Support after a program ends, such as outpatient visits, support groups or recovery coaching.
- Dual diagnosis
- Having a mental health condition and a substance use disorder at the same time.
- Detox
- Medical help to get through withdrawal safely. Also called withdrawal management.
- IOP
- Intensive outpatient program. Several hours of treatment a day, a few days a week.
- MAT or MOUD
- Medication for addiction treatment, often called medication assisted treatment. MOUD means medication for opioid use disorder.
- OTP
- Opioid treatment program. A clinic certified to give methadone and other medicines for opioid use disorder.
- PHP
- Partial hospitalization program, also called day treatment. Treatment for most of the day, going home at night.
- Peer support
- Help from someone who has lived through addiction or mental illness and is trained to support others. Also called a recovery coach.
- Relapse
- Going back to using after a period of not using. It can be part of recovery, and it is a reason to get back in touch with care.
- Sober living
- A shared home that supports staying sober. Usually not medical care.
- Telehealth
- Care by video or phone.
Sources
- SAMHSA: Treatment types for mental health, drugs and alcohol
- SAMHSA: Finding quality treatment for substance use disorders
- NIDA: Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment (PDF)
- SAMHSA: Methadone
- Medicare.gov: Mental health and substance use disorder coverage
- ASAM Criteria, fourth edition
- MedlinePlus: Alcohol withdrawal