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Understanding Levels of Care in Substance Use Treatment

Summary: Understanding Levels of Care in Substance Use Treatment

  • Learn about the continuum of care and why it is important when seeking substance use treatment.
  • A breakdown of each level of care, from early intervention to medically managed inpatient treatment.
  • Learn what the intake and assessment process looks like and how providers use it to match you to the right level of support.
  • How to find out which level of care is the right fit for you or someone you care about.
  • MERIT is a CARF-accredited provider of substance use treatment serving Ellensburg, Kennewick, Pasco, Sunnyside, Toppenish, Wapato, and Yakima.

If you are looking for help for yourself or someone you care about, knowing how treatment works puts you in a better position to find the right fit. On this page, we explain what the continuum of care is, describe each level of treatment, and how providers match you to the appropriate level of care.

What Is a Continuum of Care in Substance Use Treatment?

The continuum of care is a framework developed by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) that organizes substance use treatment from least to most intensive. Each level represents a different degree of clinical structure, supervision, and time commitment, ranging from brief outpatient sessions to around-the-clock care.

Why is the Continuum of Care Important?

Without a structured way to organize treatment, an individual could easily end up in a program that cannot safely support their recovery. The continuum of care gives providers a framework to match the right level of support to the right person at the right time. It also allows for movement within the program. A patient can step up to a more intensive level when they need more support or step down as they stabilize and build independence.

The Levels of Care in Substance Abuse Treatment

The levels of care for substance use treatment represent different degrees of intensity and clinical support. Here is what each one looks like in practice:

  • Early intervention: Can be helpful for individuals who show signs of problematic use but do not need formal treatment. The focus in this stage is on education, early screening, and connecting people with support before they form an addiction.
  • Outpatient treatment: This entry-level clinical option typically involves a small number of sessions per week. It can work well for people who are stable enough to make progress and have minimal risk of relapse.
  • Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): A program that meets several times a week and may include a variety of mental health and group therapies. IOP is ideal for people who can benefit from more sessions but do not require a live-in setting. Most people can continue working or attending school during treatment.
  • Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP): A more intensive program where individuals spend up to five days a week in a treatment facility. This is the closest level of care to a residential program and is a common transition from residential treatment.
  • Residential treatment: Individuals live at a treatment facility and have access to 24/7 clinical support throughout their program. This level is appropriate when home life is unstable or when the severity of addiction makes a lower-intensity setting unsafe.
  • Medically managed inpatient: The highest level of care for people experiencing severe withdrawal, significant medical complications, or psychiatric instability that requires a hospital setting.

How to Find the Right Level of Care

To determine the right level of care for yourself or a loved one, you must participate in an intake and assessment conducted by an addiction recovery specialist. During this assessment, providers take the time to understand:

  • The severity and duration of someone’s substance use
  • Their medical history and any presence of co-occurring disorders
  • Past treatment experiences and how they responded
  • Their home environment and daily functioning 

    Following the assessment, they will recommend the most appropriate starting point in treatment. As the individual progresses or faces new challenges, it is normal for the provider to recommend a move between levels.

    Substance Use Treatment in Central Washington

    Looking for evidence-based addiction recovery services in Central Washington? MERIT is a CARF-accredited provider offering substance use treatment through most levels of care. Our programs are available in English and Spanish across Ellensburg, Kennewick, Pasco, Sunnyside, Toppenish, Wapato, and Yakima.

    Call MERIT at 877-789-3344 to book an intake and assessment with an addiction recovery specialist. Need help understanding the levels of care in substance use treatment? Contact us online.