Inpatient Programme

You sleep, eat and receive treatment all in the same place for a period of time (usually 6 – 8 weeks).

Often suitable for people whose addiction needs to be contained.

Also known as Primary Care.

Outpatient Programme

You visit your treatment centre on a daily/weekly basis for a few hours most often in the afternoon.

Often suitable for people who cannot take leave from school or work and for people whose addiction needs less containment.

Also known as Primary Care.

Secondary Care

This is not the first contact the person has had with treatment.

It may consist of a variety of therapeutic services such as support groups or counselling sessions once primary care has been completed.

Halfway House

A home where people who are either in treatment or in recovery for addiction live together in a clean, sober and supportive environment.

Also known as Tertiary Care.

Dual Diagnosis

Dual diagnosis occurs when addiction is paired with another mental or psychiatric condition.

Dual diagnosis treatment centres work with both issues at the same time.

Individual therapy

A client see's a therapist or counsellor on a one to one basis for therapy usually in a weekly session.

Although individual therapy is an option for treatment, it is generally most effective when used in conjunction with a formal treatment programme such as inpatient or outpatient care.

Medical Detox

Detox (detoxification) is the process of removing alcohol and/or other drugs out of a person's body. This is done for two reasons:

1. to assist with the effects of withdrawal and
2. so that the addicted person can become physically stable

As this process can be lengthy, painful and sometimes even dangerous it is best done under the care of health care professionals (e.g. doctors, nurses, hospitals). Detox assists the person in getting clean but it NOT the same thing as treatment as it does not deal with the psychological, social and underlying factors that contribute to the addiction.