How Do I Know What Level of Addiction Treatment Care is Right for Me?

If you have been doing your research, you know that drug addiction treatment comes in many forms. This can lead you, naturally, to wonder what level of care you need. Degree of care is typically determined by the initial assessment done when you are first admitted to rehab.

You can’t really replicate that assessment independently. What you can do is learn about levels of care and use some self-reflection about your addiction to draw some conclusions. However, only the experts at the rehab center you choose to attend will really have the expertise to determine your level of care.

The following discussion will explain the criteria used to diagnose a substance abuse disorder and tie those to a perceived severity of addiction level. Naturally, more severe disorders require more intense care. Levels of care will also be briefly explained.

You can also call 800-430-1407Who Answers? to speak to an expert who can ask you about your present symptoms and give you some idea of the care level you need. We can even point you towards some rehab centers that offer a variety of care levels and a background of evidence-based success. Call now.

How Severe Is Your Addiction?

Find out whether your addiction is mild, moderate or severe.

Substance abuse disorders are diagnosed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a book published by the American Psychiatric Association. The latest edition, the DSM-5, measures the degree of substance abuse disorder along a continuum that runs between mild and severe. You can use their criteria to gauge the severity of your condition.

The 11 criteria are:

1. You find yourself using substances for a longer period of time than you intended or in larger quantities
2. You have a persistent desire to limit your substance use and/or have made numerous unsuccessful efforts to do so
3. You dedicate large chunks of time getting substances to use, using them, and recovering from use
4. You experience strong desires/cravings to use
5. Your drug use leaves you unable to fulfill your responsibilities at work, school, and/or home
6. You continue using, even though it causes recurrent or persistent interpersonal or social problems
7. You reduce or abandon vital occupational, social, and/or recreational activities in order to use
8. You keep using substances in situations that present physical dangers
9. You continue using, even though you know that it has caused or worsened a recurrent or persistent psychological or physical problem
10. You have developed a tolerance to the drug
11. You have experienced withdrawal symptoms

Keep track of how many of the criteria are applicable to your case and use them to determine the level of your substance abuse disorder:

• Mild: 2-3
• Moderate: 4-5
• Severe: 6+

The more severe your disorder appears to be, the more intense your treatment should likely be.

What Are Examples of the Level of Care Offered in Rehab?

Rehab programs vary a great deal and an inpatient level of care will differ from an outpatient one and there will even be variances within those groups. Therefore, it isn’t possible to simply list every level of care and placement.

Instead, this article will present the levels of care officially used in detox placement. These have been determined by the American Society of Addiction Medicine and are used industry wide. These should give you some idea of the levels of care used in rehab.

Do I Really Need Addiction Treatment? Can’t I Just Do It On My Own?

The five adult detoxification levels of care are:

1. Ambulatory detoxification without extended onsite monitoring: This is straightforward outpatient care that involves occasional check-ins. This could take place in a doctor’s office or through a home health care service.
2. Ambulatory detoxification with extended onsite monitoring: This is also outpatient care, but it requires much more monitoring at the rehab center. This would likely take place at a day hospital or rehab center.
3. Clinically managed residential detoxification: This is used for more severe cases of withdrawal; it is residential (or, inpatient) care that uses 24-hour peer support. It would take place in a rehab center, but would not need to be medical
4. Medically monitored inpatient detoxification: This level also provides 24-hour a day care, but in this instance it must be medical care. This would take place in a rehab center with a medical environment.
5. Medically managed intensive inpatient detoxification: This level of care is appropriate for severe cases of addiction that would produce life-threatening withdrawals. This would occur exclusively in an inpatient psychiatric hospital setting.

What Happens During My Assessment?

To determine your level of care, the rehab center will use a number of surveys and questionnaires to screen your medical, psychological, and social situation. Staff members are trying to determine whether or not you have any co-occurring physical or psychological conditions, as well.

To learn more about the assessment process, call 800-430-1407Who Answers?. We can explain the steps of an assessment in depth.