Hydrocodone Rehab: Inpatient, Residential, Outpatient & PHP

How to Select a Treatment Facility for Hydrocodone Addiction

According to the American Psychiatric Association, the following are some of the elements of addiction that need to be considered during treatment and when choosing a facility.

• Addiction is a complex brain disease
• Compulsive drug use characterizes addiction, even when negative effects result from that use
• The use of drugs affects behavior and ultimately takes over a person’s life
• Exposure to substances change the brain’s wiring and functionality

Before someone can seek out a hydrocodone facility for treatment, they first need to recognize a problem exists. This can often occur through an intervention from family and loved ones, although not always.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, it’s often the case that multiple types of treatment are needed because of the complexity of addiction. A combination of medication and both group and individual therapy may be used at an addiction treatment facility, for example.

The Steps of Treating an Addiction to Hydrocodone:

For most people with a hydrocodone addiction, there are a series of treatment steps that are followed. Most people who do have an addiction to opioids tend to have a severe addiction, because of the nature of these drugs and how they affect the brain.

The following may be some of the steps that are required to treat a hydrocodone addiction:

1. First, a person may go through a medical detox process as the hydrocodone is eliminated from their system.
2. Following a medical detox, a patient may begin residential rehab, which requires them to sleep in the treatment facility for a period of time.
3. Once someone has stabilized and their treatment team feels they’re ready, they may move into a lower level of treatment such as a partial hospitalization program or PHP.
4. Once someone completes the intensive treatment of a PHP, they may begin outpatient rehab or participate in something like Narcotics Anonymous, which is a 12-step program.

The Path to Recovery

Regardless of the specifics of a rehab program and whether it is in an inpatient or outpatient setting, it should do the following:

• Hydrocodone rehab should help someone with an addiction to stop compulsively using and seeking drugs, but it should also help them return to their daily life in a productive, contributing way.
• Rehab needs to address the complexity of addiction and the fact that it is a chronic disorder that can include relapses.
• Hydrocodone rehab should be evidence-based. It may include different types of behavioral therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy. It may also include medication, and some programs can include both.
• Many hydrocodone rehab programs use individual and group therapy. Group therapy is beneficial because it creates a sense of support and shared experiences, as well as accountability.
• Addiction treatment plans need to be highly individualized to the needs of the specific person.
• The whole person should be treated during hydrocodone rehab. It’s not just about their drug use. For example, if they have co-occurring mental health disorders, these should be identified and treated during rehab, as should physical health concerns. If someone is addicted to multiple substances simultaneously, this needs to be appropriately addressed during hydrocodone rehab.

Signs Someone Needs a Rehab for Opioids

The following are signs a person could be addicted to hydrocodone and could benefit from an inpatient rehab program:

• Trying to cut down on the amount of hydrocodone used or stop using altogether, but not being able to
• Continuing to use hydrocodone even when there are negative side effects or consequences
• Hydrocodone usage becomes a top focus and priority

Benefits of an Inpatient/Residential Hydrocodone Rehab

Inpatient rehab has many benefits for people who are struggling with addiction. Some of the benefits of inpatient rehab for hydrocodone addiction can include:

• Patients can start the treatment process in an environment that’s very supervised, structured and supported. This is important because often when people initially start treatment, they may be coming from a chaotic environment or one that didn’t offer a lot of structure.
• Inpatient rehab allows for patients to feel supported not only by the staff of the treatment center but also by other patients.
• Addiction isn’t a disease that’s just about the use of drugs like hydrocodone. Addiction affects the brain, physical health and social elements of a person’s life. There are also many complex contributing factors that can play a role in addiction. An inpatient rehab provides the opportunity for intensive, holistic and comprehensive treatment that a patient might not be able to have access to in an outpatient program.
• When someone has complicating factors such as simultaneous addictions to multiple substances or co-occurring disorders, they can receive specialized treatment at an inpatient facility.
• Being in inpatient rehab allows for patients to be removed from stressful triggers that could lead them to relapse. They can develop coping mechanisms and learn valuable skills for dealing with stress before they’re re-exposed to these elements in their daily lives.
• Most inpatient rehabs allow patients to leave their hometown and even their state for care. This is beneficial. It can change the perspective of the person, and remove them from the people and situations where they were using drugs.

Choosing Residential Rehab for Hydrocodone

Choosing a residential rehab for hydrocodone addiction can seem overwhelming. It’s important to choose a high-quality facility that treats patients compassionately but also based on evidence and research.

The more comfortable someone is in rehab, the more likely they are to be engaged in rehab. Engagement is important to ensure someone stays in treatment for long enough, and also that they derive the most value from treatment.

While the list certainly isn’t exhaustive, the following are some key considerations to keep in mind in the process of selecting a residential addiction treatment program:

• Is it licensed and accredited? What are the credentials of not only the residential treatment facility as a whole but also the individual staff members?
• How much will residential treatment cost, what are the payment options, and does the center take private insurance?
• How long would a typical treatment program last for someone dealing with an addiction to hydrocodone?
• Does the patient’s family play an important role in the treatment process? Are they involved in therapy and are there supportive services offered to them?
• Will the residential treatment program require you or your loved one to travel out of state? Will this be beneficial or would it be unmanageable?
• What is the specific approach used for addiction treatment? For example is the recovery philosophy based on the 12 steps?
• Is dual diagnosis treatment available for co-occurring mental health disorders?

How Do You Prepare for Treatment?

When a person goes to residential treatment for hydrocodone or any other addiction, it is a big step. Going to residential treatment, regardless of the specifics, requires that patients leave their daily life. There are benefits to this, including the ability to fully commit to residential treatment and make that your primary focus.

It is important that a person does try to change their mindset so that they are ready to stay for the duration of treatment. Staying in treatment for an adequate amount of time is one of the key determining factors related to the successful outcomes of the program.

It’s also a good idea to choose a residential treatment program that includes medical detox. Withdrawal symptoms from hydrocodone can be one of the biggest deterrents to someone seeking to stay in treatment.

With a medical detox, it’s easier to overcome the discomfort, and it increases the likelihood of staying committed to the program.

What is a Hydrocodone PHP?

If someone has an addiction to hydrocodone, they may start with a partial hospitalization program for treatment or they may go to a PHP as an intermediary after inpatient rehab and before outpatient treatment.

A partial hospitalization program is also called day treatment. Day treatment requires a significant time commitment, and it’s structured much like inpatient rehab. The only real difference between day treatment and inpatient rehab is that patients can return home in the evenings, or to their sober living facility.

A typical time commitment for a PHP would be eight hours a day, five or six days a week. There is still a level of freedom to come and go in the evenings, and on the weekends, so someone has to be ready to remain accountable during that time.

An Overview of Outpatient Rehab

Outpatient rehab is a very broad term. Outpatient rehab can refer to any number of different types of treatment.

For example, it can be a drug education group or group counseling. Outpatient rehab may take place during one-on-one counseling sessions, it may be court-ordered, or there are intensive outpatient rehabs offered by many addiction treatment centers.

Regardless of the specifics of the outpatient rehab program, the following are some of the general features of this type of addiction treatment:

• Outpatient rehab is fairly informal as compared to other types of addiction treatment. Patients aren’t required to check into a facility, and other than being expected to participate in weekly sessions, they may not be required to do anything else.
• Outpatient rehab might also include medication management in some cases.
• Some outpatient rehabs may require regular drug testing as part of participation, particularly if it’s part of a court-ordered program.
• Some outpatient rehabs are only focused on either group or individual therapy, while others include a combination of both.
• There is a lot of overall flexibility regarding the time commitments and schedules that come with outpatient rehab.

The Pros and Cons of Outpatient Hydrocodone Rehab

As with any treatment plan, there are both pros and cons of outpatient care for hydrocodone addiction.

Some of the benefits of outpatient rehab for hydrocodone include:

• Participants can continue going to work or school as normal. This alleviates the stress of leaving home and responsibilities.
• Along with work and school, outpatient rehab can be a good option for someone with children or family commitments that they can’t be away from during rehab.
• Outpatient rehab is less expensive than more intensive treatment programs including inpatient rehab and partial hospitalization.
• There is flexibility that’s part of outpatient rehab so it can be centered around the needs of the individual participant.

There are possible downsides to outpatient hydrocodone rehab as well. These can include:

• If someone isn’t ready for the freedom of outpatient rehab, they may be more likely to relapse.
• It can be more difficult to provide holistic care than an inpatient program.
• Outpatient rehab may not be intensive enough to treat an addiction that’s diagnosed as moderate or severe.
• It can be problematic if someone is returning home to a chaotic environment or one that facilitates the continued use of opioids.

Types of Therapy Used in Outpatient Rehab

While every program and individual treatment plan is going to have some differences, there are some types of therapy commonly used in outpatient addiction rehab. These can include:

• Behavioral therapy: The objective of Behavioral therapy is to help change people’s behaviors. However, behavioral therapy on its own may not be sufficient to help with addiction, so it’s often combined with what’s called cognitive therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps treat addiction by looking at motivations, beliefs, and attitudes, and then linking them with behavior.
• Group therapy: Group therapy is a very common part of outpatient rehab. Group therapy can be similar to a 12-step program, and some people consider 12-step programs like Narcotics Anonymous to be a type of outpatient rehab. Group therapy allows people to have social support, see different perspectives and also to feel a sense of accountability.
• Individual therapy: Individual therapy and counseling can focus on more specialized areas of a person’s life and their addiction. For example, during individual therapy, it may be possible to look at childhood or past traumas that might have contributed to a hydrocodone addiction.
• Family therapy and couples counseling: Addiction of any kind heavily impacts loved ones of the person who has the addiction. Family therapy and couples counseling can be an integral part of an outpatient rehab program.

Types of Outpatient Rehab Programs

The following are some of the different types of outpatient rehab that might be used if someone has an addiction to hydrocodone or other prescription drugs.

Day Programs

A day program is essentially the same thing as partial hospitalization. These programs are often grouped into their own category because they are very similar to residential rehab, but technically they are outpatient since participants don’t have to spend the night at the treatment facility.

Day programs require a commitment of around eight hours a day, most days of the week. Then, patients can return to their home or their sober living facility at the end of treatment each day.

Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP)

Intensive outpatient programs require a commitment of around three hours a day, several days a week. The intensity of treatment is lower than partial hospitalization, but it’s more intensive than other forms of outpatient rehab.

Aftercare Treatment

Aftercare treatment plans are often made when someone seeks inpatient rehab. The staff of treatment centers will usually put together an aftercare plan that can continue for the foreseeable future since addiction treatment is a long-term process.

Aftercare treatment and planning can include long-term follow-up from the rehab facility, counseling, and participation in support and recovery groups.

Hydrocodone PHP vs. Intensive Outpatient Treatment

One question that people often have regarding a partial hospitalization program for hydrocodone addiction is how it differs from outpatient treatment, and in particular, intensive outpatient treatment.

A PHP is much more time-consuming and intensive even than an intensive outpatient treatment program.

A PHP requires an all-day commitment almost every day of the week. Intensive outpatient treatment is usually only a few hours a day, three or four days a week. Someone who is in an intensive outpatient program may be able to continue going to school or work, whereas this wouldn’t typically be possible with a PHP.

Hydrocodone Sober House

Along with inpatient rehab, another form of residential addiction treatment is a sober house. These are also called sober living houses or halfway houses. Typically, if someone has a severe addiction, they may move into a sober house after they complete inpatient rehab.

This is a transitional stage in the treatment process, and it’s a good way for people to re-learn how to live on their own without opioids.

There are rules and guidelines to staying in a sober living house. For example, there may be curfews, and of course, no drugs or alcohol can be used. However, people do have the freedom to come and go on their own, as opposed to what happens during inpatient rehab. Most sober houses are also based on 12-step programs.

12-Step Programs

When someone is looking for a rehab program for hydrocodone addiction, they often wonder where 12-step programs might fit in. 12-step programs include Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. These programs are considered self-help and support groups.

During rehab, 12-step programs are often used as a framework for group therapy. This helps people feel supported while they’re in rehab, and it also helps them transition into a local 12-step program once they return home after rehab. 12-step programs are considered a valuable part of addiction treatment both during rehab, and in the long-term to maintain recovery.

Will You Lose Your Job During Rehab?

If there is concern about job loss while in residential rehab for hydrocodone, there are protections in place to prevent this from happening. For example, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) both cover people in certain situations that are associated with going to rehab.

How Do You Pay for Residential Rehab?

Along with the physical discomfort of withdrawal, another big concern that often serves as a barrier to someone receiving treatment is the cost of residential rehab. Rehab can be expensive since all of your daily needs are provided along with intensive treatment. However, that shouldn’t be a deterrent.

Most insurance plans cover some or all of the cost of residential rehab, and there are other flexible payment options available as well.