Treatment for addiction is never a one-size-fits-all option. The type of therapy the patient needs depends on the severity of their condition, and this determines the kind of treatment center they need to attend.

Although these centers vary in their environment and treatment methods, the levels of care they provide are broken down into consistent categories. For instance, you’ll see similar levels of care in luxury rehabs in Florida as you would in a standard center, but in the luxury facility, patients receive the highest levels of treatment in a discrete manner customized for them.

What are these levels of care, and what do they mean? We’ll break them down into 5 categories here.

5 Levels of Care

Millions of people receive care for substance use in some type of addiction facility every year. With this many individuals requiring assistance, there must be a way to categorize them to ensure they get the appropriate type of care. That’s where these 5 levels of care come into play.

Level 0.5: Prevention/Early Intervention Services

In this level of care, those who are at high risk of developing a substance use disorder but haven’t been diagnosed with one yet are taken care of. The services provided are focused on prevention and education on the dangers of substance use, along with strategies to avoid the behaviors associated with high-risk abuse.

Level 1: Outpatient Services

At the first official level of care, Level 1, patients with diagnosed but less severe substance use disorders are treated. This level also contains those who have ‘graduated’ from higher levels of care and are on their way to independent living but need to be monitored.

Level 1 programs require 9 or fewer hours of service per week, consisting of individual and group counseling, motivation, family therapy, and more as needed. They’re beneficial for those who don’t have a risk of withdrawal symptoms, supportive and stable home environments, and good physical and mental health.

Level 2: Intensive Outpatient Services/Partial Hospitalization Services

Level 2 consists of Level 2.1 (Intensive Outpatient Services) and Level 2.5 (Partial Hospitalization Services).

During 2.1, patients receive 9 to 19 hours of treatment per week, similar to those received in Level 1 but provided by outpatient specialty providers. If psychiatric or medical help is necessary, this care is provided through referrals.

At 2.5, treatment occurs during the day, consisting of 20 or more hours of services in settings that also provide partial hospitalization. Medical, psychiatric, and psychological care is provided, and emergency, lab, and toxicology services are available. This level works well for those who have unstable mental health or medical needs.

Level 3: Residential/Inpatient Services

The stereotypical idea of addiction treatment centers starts at Level 3, where patients live on-site under 24/7 supervision.

This level is broken into 5 sub-parts that determine the intensity of care for each resident:

  • 3.1 includes clinically managed, low-intensity treatment for those with minimal risk of withdrawal and stable overall health who need a distraction-free environment to recover from their substance use disorder.
  • 3.3 includes clinically managed, population-specific high-intensity services for those with cognitive impairments alongside their substance use disorder.
  • 3.5 includes clinically managed, high-intensity services for those who must have 24/7 care because of their impulse control and physical or mental health problems.
  • 3.7 includes medically monitored, high-intensity services for those who need highly structured care for emotional, medical, behavioral, or cognitive issues.

Within each level of care is a nuanced set of treatment options that range in intensity depending on the patient’s needs.

Level 4: Medically Managed Intensive Inpatient Services

Level 3.7 covers services for those who need inpatient medical management for mild to moderate needs, but at Level 4, the patient care here extends to those with severe emotional, behavioral, biomedical, or cognitive conditions. Patients at this level require 24-hour nurses and medical care available on-site. 

Typically, these treatments are offered in hospital settings like acute care units. Once the patient’s needs are stabilized, they can transition to a lower level of care. The focus here is on getting a patient through withdrawal symptoms and stabilized mentally and physically.

Getting Help for Your Substance Use Disorder

Many people avoid admitting they have a substance problem because they’re worried they’ll be “sent to rehab.” But treatment isn’t cookie-cutter-style. Now that you know the various levels of care available, you can be better informed and recognize where you stand and what kind of help you need to recover from your disorder.