Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) on Long Island

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Struggling with a substance use disorder is one of the most challenging illnesses a person and a family can face. But more than its direct health and social consequences, finding sufficient and effective care can be overwhelming.

This is especially true for people who can’t afford to put their life on hold to seek professional support.

It’s not uncommon for parents juggling work and caring for their children, students who are busy with their studies, and professionals managing demanding schedules to avoid seeking help with addiction.

In fact, this very issue is among the most prevalent barriers to addiction treatment.

An intensive outpatient program (IOP) is a flexible option for people with a substance use disorder (SUD) who can’t step away from work, school, or family to get care. IOP offers a structured, evidence-based model with several hours of treatment on several days each week, and no overnight stay.

For adults on Long Island who want effective SUD treatment without leaving home, Long Island Treatment Center provides IOP at its outpatient facility in Hicksville, NY.

Understanding Levels of Care in Substance Abuse Management

Like in any chronic disorder, recovery from addiction isn’t one-size-fits-all. Addiction specialists know this and follow a guideline set by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).

In SUD treatment, we call this the continuum of care, and it’s divided into five distinct stages or levels. Depending on the severity of substance abuse, a recovering patient can undergo one or more of the following:

• Early addiction intervention: These are initiatives meant for people considered to have a high risk of developing substance-related issues, but don’t yet have diagnosable addiction. Group counseling, motivational interventions, and screenings are examples of early SUD interventions.
• Outpatient services: Outpatient treatment is generally suitable for people with mild to moderate substance use disorder. These are people deemed stable by assessment, but still require consistent monitoring. Clinicians combine medication, counseling, and therapy, usually for fewer than nine hours a week, without an extended admission.
• Intensive outpatient (IOP)/Partial hospitalization (PHP): An intensive outpatient program is a step above regular outpatient services, with at least nine hours of therapy and education a week spread over several days. Partial hospitalization, also called day treatment, is a separate and more intensive level, with 20 or more hours a week for people who need daily structure but not an overnight stay.
• Residential/inpatient care: This is ASAM Level 3, delivered in a structured, residential environment. Patients live on-site for 24/7 supervision and monitoring. It’s further subdivided into four types for people with minimal withdrawal risk, those with cognitive impairments, individuals with severe SUD symptoms, and patients requiring intensive 24-hour care.
• Medically supervised intensive inpatient: A medically supervised intensive inpatient service is tailored for people with severe physical and mental health disorders. In these cases, services are provided in a hospital setting, where clinicians can closely monitor progress.

Research supports stepping down gradually through these levels. Building skills over time tends to work better than start-and-stop approaches.

Aftercare is another layer of the continuum of care. Overcoming substance use disorder is a lifelong project. Reliable treatment centers give former patients the resources to transition back into daily life.

Who Can Benefit From Intensive Outpatient Services?

For those struggling with drug and alcohol abuse, intensive outpatient services can be a flexible solution that allows you to receive treatment while continuing to work and supporting your loved ones.

IOP fills the gaps for patients who need support multiple times a week but are unable to step back from their careers or responsibilities.

It’s generally recommended as the next step after a successful residential/inpatient program. But IOP also often serves as an entry point for circumstances where the person doesn’t need medical detox and constant care. People with mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms may be able to start with ambulatory withdrawal services first. A comprehensive assessment decides the right level of care.

Many people can greatly benefit from an IOP, such as:

• Persons who have mild to moderate SUD and have already been through withdrawal
• Those who need additional treatment after an inpatient rehab
• People with a co-occurring mental health condition
• Individuals who want to step up their treatment from a standard outpatient service
• Working professionals who need structured addiction support around their job, including through an evening IOP

It’s worth clarifying that IOP isn’t “light” treatment, as some people may wrongly believe. While classified as outpatient care, IOP is clinically rigorous and personalized. It is far more intensive than standard weekly therapy.

Medication-assisted treatment is a key component of outpatient treatment for addiction, combining prescription medication with therapy.

What Can You Expect From an Intensive Outpatient Care?

An IOP usually follows a structured but flexible model. Patients don’t live on site, but therapy sessions are scheduled regularly, paired with comprehensive support systems to aid in maintaining sobriety outside.

Here’s what you can expect from an intensive outpatient SUD treatment:

• Psychoeducation: By helping those struggling with addiction understand their mental health condition, counselors and therapists equip them with the knowledge and coping skills to manage their symptoms. Psychoeducation has been shown to improve the chances of long-term recovery.
• Group therapy: Group therapy is among the most important foundations of IOP. By gathering patients battling the same disorder together, clinicians reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. It also improves communication and provides much-needed emotional support.
• Individual therapy: One-on-one sessions with a licensed clinician address the daily challenges of recovery. You work on a treatment plan with specific goals and learn strategies to maintain your progress.
• Medication management: Cravings and withdrawal symptoms vary from one person to another, depending on personal history and the type of substance. Where appropriate, the medical team can prescribe and monitor medication to manage them.

Self-reporting is a common part of IOP. Some programs also use routine alcohol and drug testing to promote accountability.

Family involvement is encouraged in IOP, with many programs including family therapy and couples therapy.

At Long Island Treatment Center, IOP runs three to five days a week with daytime and evening hours, and telehealth sessions are available for people who can’t always attend in person.

A Trusted Provider of Intensive Outpatient Care in Long Island

When you’ve decided you or someone you love needs structured, outpatient support to overcome drug or alcohol addiction, choosing the right IOP service provider is an important step.

Long Island Treatment Center is located at 100 W Nicholai St, Hicksville, NY 11801, and serves Nassau and Suffolk County. A multidisciplinary team provides evidence-based, personalized intensive outpatient treatment for alcohol and drug use disorders.

Certified and Accredited Provider of Addiction Care

There are several factors to consider when looking for a suitable addiction treatment facility. One crucial consideration is whether the center is recognized and certified by reliable accrediting bodies.

Some credentials you want for a rehab provider are as follows:

• The Joint Commission (formerly JCAHO): The Joint Commission is the largest and one of the most rigorous accrediting bodies in the country, evaluating and accrediting over 22,000 U.S. healthcare programs and centers.
• Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF): Recognized worldwide, CARF assesses and evaluates healthcare facilities for the highest standard of care and treatment.
• LegitScript: This is a third-party (and ongoing) seal of approval attesting to the reliability and ethical transparency of addiction treatment, telehealth, medication, and CBD providers in the US.
• Compliance Group HIPAA Seal: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects patients’ information and data privacy rights. With this seal, you can rest assured that a facility complies with HIPAA policies.
• State-specific SUD treatment provider recognition: Some states provide vetted lists of healthcare providers that deliver high-quality care for residents who need them.

Apart from the above certifications, you can also look for the type of insurance provider a rehab center is working with. Insurers generally contract only with licensed and accredited providers. You can verify your insurance before you start.

Long Island Treatment Center holds accreditation and certification from both The Joint Commission and LegitScript.

The center is also certified as an outpatient substance use treatment provider by the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), the office overseeing the state’s addiction services network.

Looking up directory listings is an essential step to verify a healthcare facility’s trustworthiness, particularly for local services.

You can also find Long Island Treatment Center listed on numerous SUD support platforms, including recovery.com, rehab.com, and alcohol.org.

Programs Tailored to Your Unique Circumstances

Effective addiction treatment is founded on evidence and clinical studies. Long Island Treatment Center understands this and employs practices that have been studied and shown to improve outcomes.

Following recommendations from national health authorities, LITC’s programs emphasize behavioral therapies, medication support, and continuing intervention. Research drives all levels of care.

In addition to intensive outpatient care, the center offers partial hospitalization or day treatment, as well as standard outpatient support. Treatment may involve medication alongside therapeutic approaches.

Some personalized behavioral therapies you may be recommended include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which focuses on identifying and resolving unhealthy and destructive patterns that feed addiction.

Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) promotes emotion regulation, an important skill for people recovering from addiction who face triggers daily. Mindfulness, distress tolerance, and communication skills are taught in DBT.

Many people seeking treatment are also suffering from a co-occurring disorder, with or without their knowledge.

LITC takes concurrent disorders seriously and knows their devastating effects on SUD recovery efforts. The center’s dual diagnosis program is designed to address addiction and other underlying mental health disorders, such as depression, PTSD, and anxiety.

Treating these conditions together gives patients a better chance of breaking the cycle of substance use.

A 12-step program is on offer for those who prefer a peer-supported framework for overcoming substance addiction.

Aftercare and Relapse Prevention

With addiction, treatment rarely ends when a patient walks out of rehab. Many patients find transitioning back into their work and family an incredibly vulnerable and difficult experience after SUD treatment.

The rate of relapse for substance use disorders is estimated at 40% to 60%, similar to other chronic illnesses. Relapse can be part of recovery, and continuing treatment lowers the risk.

To this end, LITC integrates holistic aftercare and relapse prevention, delivering continuous support designed to reinforce coping skills, learn accountability, and lower the risk of falling back into old patterns.

Aftercare initiatives can include continued therapy sessions, scheduled counseling, support groups, and education on identifying and managing stressors and triggers.

A Team of Compassionate Experts

Long Island Treatment Center is led by licensed clinicians and a board-certified physician with extensive experience in SUD treatment.

Daniel Schaffer, LITC’s founder and chief executive officer, brings 15 years of expertise in healthcare leadership. He’s a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator and specializes in health law, earning his Juris Doctor at Brooklyn Law School.

Dr. Eugene Vortman, D.O., FACEP, FASAM, leads the center’s medical team. An advocate of humane SUD care, Dr. Vortman is a board-certified physician of Emergency and Addiction Medicine.

Carly J. Gutierrez, MS, LMHC-D, CASAC-M, the clinical director, coordinates day-to-day treatment in LITC. She brings individualized treatment to life with her ample credentials in diagnostics and counseling.

Working with patients day in and day out are primary therapists Samantha Barone, LCAT, and Jamie Lastihenos, MS, LCAT, along with other vital staff whose contributions make the center’s vision a reality.

What Real People Say About Long Island Treatment Center

Here’s what some former patients are saying about LITC, shared on recovery.com, rehab.com, and alcohol.org:

“This facility has allowed me to be free of drugs and alcohol. I’m forever grateful. The staff was attentive, the counselors are amazing.”

“As a mom, I was skeptical of sending my kid anywhere, even though I knew that they needed help. This clinic made me feel safe, and I knew that my kid would be supported in the way that they needed to be.”

“Long Island Treatment Center truly is a fantastic place. They have changed my life so much for the better, helping me achieve sobriety and stay sober.”

Bottom Line: Help Is Close, Don’t Be Afraid to Reach Out

Seeking expert support to resolve addiction doesn’t mean you’re weak. Substance use disorder is a complex and chronic disease that requires professional intervention and care to overcome. Remember that you’re not fighting alone.

Long Island Treatment Center is ready to provide you with holistic, personalized, intensive outpatient care that you deserve. Call us, verify your insurance, and take your first step towards true healing today!

Intensive Outpatient Program FAQs