Levels of Care
When you search for treatment, you’ll see filter options for different care types. Here is what each one means in plain language, who it is typically for, and what a typical day looks like.
Outpatient
Outpatient treatment means you come in for scheduled sessions — usually a few hours per week — and return home afterward. It can include individual therapy, group sessions, medication management, or a combination. Outpatient works well for people who have a stable home environment and whose substance use or mental-health needs do not require round-the-clock support.
Residential
Residential programs provide 24-hour care in a live-in setting. You stay at the facility, typically for 30 to 90 days, though lengths vary. The structure is helpful when someone’s home environment makes recovery harder, or when the level of care needed goes beyond what outpatient can provide. Days are filled with therapy, groups, and skill-building.
Hospital Inpatient
Hospital inpatient care is medically supervised treatment inside a hospital or hospital-based unit. It is intended for people with severe withdrawal, co-occurring medical conditions, or a mental-health crisis that requires close medical monitoring. Stays are usually shorter and focused on stabilization before stepping down to a less intensive level of care.
Detox
Detox — short for detoxification — is the managed process of clearing substances from the body, usually with medical supervision to keep withdrawal safe and as comfortable as possible. Detox alone is not treatment; it is the first step that prepares someone to engage in ongoing care. Programs vary in setting from hospital-based to freestanding detox centers.
Partial Hospitalization / Day Treatment (PHP)
Partial hospitalization programs (PHP) offer intensive, structured treatment for several hours a day, typically five days a week, without an overnight stay. They are sometimes called day treatment. PHP sits between residential and standard outpatient in intensity — enough structure to provide strong support while allowing someone to return home in the evenings.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Medication-assisted treatment combines FDA-approved medications (such as buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone) with counseling and support to treat opioid or alcohol use disorder. MAT is a standard of care backed by decades of research. It can be delivered in different settings — specialty clinics, primary care offices, or as part of a larger treatment program.
Telehealth
Telehealth delivers care by video call or phone rather than in person. It can cover individual therapy, group sessions, medication management, and follow-up appointments. Telehealth has made it possible for people in rural areas, or those who face transportation or scheduling barriers, to access consistent care without traveling to a facility.
No single level of care is “best.” The right fit depends on safety (some withdrawals are medically dangerous), severity of the current situation, and practical life constraints like work, childcare, and housing. The staff at intake will help figure out what level makes sense for you — you don’t need to know the answer before you call.