Addiction recovery doesn’t always require a stay at a hospital or rehab facility. Outpatient addiction treatment offers patients structured support for substance use disorders while maintaining connections to home, work, school and family life. 

“It’s estimated that 10.6% of Americans had one or more substance use disorders in the past year, and sadly, nearly 90% of them did not receive any treatment,” says Nebraska Medicine Director of Behavioral Health and licensed clinical psychologist David Cates, PhD.

Nebraska Medicine continues to see growing demand for addiction services, completing more than 8,000 substance use disorder treatments across more than 900 patients in 2025 alone.

Read on to learn more about outpatient addiction treatment and find out if it could be right for you or a loved one.

What is outpatient addiction treatment?

“In contrast to inpatient addiction treatment, which typically takes place in a hospital or rehab facility, outpatient programs allow patients to continue living at home while participating in services like individual and group therapy, medication management and recovery planning,” says Nebraska Medicine addiction psychiatrist Sara Zachman, MD, MPH.

Depending on a person’s needs, treatment may also include telehealth appointments.

More structured programs, such as intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), provide a higher level of support and accountability while still allowing patients to return home each day.

“Our intensive outpatient program serves approximately 150 unique patients each year and offers both in-person and telehealth options,” says Dr. Cates. “About 60% of patients currently participate through telehealth, helping improve access for people balancing work, transportation or family responsibilities.”

The Nebraska Medicine six-week IOP includes:

• Three hours of therapist-led group therapy sessions per day.
• Weekly one-on-one psychotherapy sessions.
• Medication management visits, as needed.

For patients who need additional support, Nebraska Medicine also offers a high-intensity outpatient program (HIOP) and a medically managed intensive outpatient program.

What are the benefits of outpatient addiction treatment?

One of the biggest advantages of outpatient addiction treatment is the ability to receive care while still balancing work, school, family and daily responsibilities.

Outpatient programs also allow patients to:

• Practice recovery skills in real-life situations.
• Continue working or attending school.
• Care for children, pets or family members.
• Maintain daily routines and responsibilities.
• Build support systems through one-on-one therapy and group sessions.

“Patients often form meaningful connections with others who are further along in their recovery and choose to continue outpatient care after completing intensive treatment,” says Dr. Zachman.

What are the common misconceptions about outpatient addiction treatment?

Most people assume insurance does not cover outpatient addiction treatment, but in many cases, it does.

Another misconception is that group therapy requires people to share deeply personal details before they are ready.

“There’s no expectation to share your entire life story,” says Dr. Zachman. “Many people benefit from simply listening, learning coping strategies and connecting with others.”

Recovery also looks different for everyone.

“Progress is not always linear, but we continue to support patients as long as needed,” says Dr. Zachman.