When someone is struggling with addiction, many factors are carefully considered by individuals and loved ones before seeking treatment to determine the best fit. One of the top questions people have is, “can I work while I’m in rehab?” If an income supports a family, or perhaps they’re the only working parent, this decision can feel especially fraught. 

But too often, addicts may use the phrase “I can’t get help right now because I need to work” as an excuse to prolong drug or alcohol use and avoid seeking rehabilitation for a drug and/or alcohol use disorder. The good news? You can enter an intensive outpatient program (IOP) and continue working while getting help for mental health or substance use disorders.

Remember that you’re not alone – more than 10 million people currently employed struggle with substance use disorders, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association. But it’s not too late to seek help while also keeping your career trajectory on track. There will never be a “perfect” time in your job, family or home life to enter treatment, but the positive recovery changes you make today will be worth it in the future.

Can I Work While I’m In Rehab? Understanding Intensive Outpatient Rehabilitation (IOP)

Yes, you can work while you’re in rehab – depending on the level of care you enter. Intensive Outpatient Programming (IOP) is a form of treatment that takes place in a professional facility during the daytime or evening. The number of days and hours per day someone attends IOP depends on the individual’s needs as determined by the treatment provider. Most patients in an intensive outpatient program typically visit the facility for treatment three to four days a week, and each IOP visit typically lasts for about three hours each visit.

IOP works well for clients who do not need to be in an inpatient or residential program but still need a concentrated amount of time per week to work on their recovery. They can attend their treatment sessions during the day, or even attend a virtual or evening IOP program, and still return home at night. 

At North Atlanta Behavioral Health – and across all of our facilities at Creekside Recovery Group – our intensive outpatient programs typically offer a higher level of care than what other outpatient-type addiction treatment programs offer. Your individual recovery plan will vary depending on what best suits your needs, and may include group therapy, medication-assisted treatment, individual therapy, psychiatry, holistic rehab, family therapy, and more.

Inpatient vs Outpatient Treatment

Each situation is case-by-case, and sometimes, inpatient might not be a high enough level of care for an individual. For example, substance use disorders may also have diagnosed or undiagnosed co-occurring mental health disorders or other medical conditions, which can sometimes require 24/7 care or observation in early recovery. For these individuals, a co-occurring disorder program, like an inpatient program specializing in depression treatment, may be a safer and preferred option. Additionally, if you are physically addicted to drugs or alcohol, you will need to enter medical detox first. 

Unlike inpatient care – which includes a residential component and fully removes the distractions of daily life, sometimes even taking away phones – outpatient requires the ability to balance commitments. Not everyone can, and that’s OK. Individuals in outpatient care must hold themselves accountable to showing up on time to the facility, attending full treatment sessions, and committing to applying key learnings to make positive changes to all areas of life. You can learn more here about the differences between inpatient and outpatient treatment care.