Treating a substance problem at home

Outpatient care refers to controlled treatment which a person lives at home while attending agreed meetings. Outpatient customers can work and engage in everyday activities in a normal way. In fact, all medical visits in general are outpatient care.

Outpatient care includes a wide range of rehabilitation methods and methods for treating the problem. At the beginning of the treatment, you will find out together during an appointment, for example with a social therapist, nurse or doctor, which treatment method is the most suitable. If necessary, outpatient care for a substance abuse problem will be started with detoxification.

If your situation is such that you need help to stop drinking, you must first receive detoxification or weaning-off treatment for alcohol.

Detoxification is a short-term treatment that aims to stop drinking safely and with as mild side effects as possible.

Detoxification treatment focuses on physical withdrawal symptoms. It usually involves pharmacotherapy that makes the patient feel better and prevents dangerous withdrawal symptoms.

Detoxification typically takes 3–5 days in outpatient care.

Detoxification alone is not sufficient for rehabilitation, but it is intended to stop alcohol consumption and alleviate withdrawal symptoms. It is important that the user is referred from detoxification to further treatment.

If necessary, detoxification can also be carried out in an institution.

The use of drugs can be withdrawn in outpatient care when the use is occasional and physical withdrawal symptoms do not require significant medication.

Medical withdrawal usually lasts for a few days as outpatient care. Such a short period of time is not yet sufficient for rehabilitation, and rehabilitation and psychosocial treatment are often directed from weaning to rehabilitation and psychosocial treatment.

In regular drug use, withdrawal symptoms can even be life-threatening and must be alleviated with medicines. Therefore, in most cases, institutional care is needed to stop the use of drugs or the misuse of medicines.

First, contact your social and health centre or a separate substance abuse emergency clinic if there is one in your wellbeing services county. They will guide you forward. Outpatient rehabilitation treatment is free of charge.

Substance abuse rehabilitation is usually organised as outpatient care, during which the rehabilitee can live at home.

A substance abuse rehabilitee in outpatient care meets regularly with a professional. Various means and methods, such as individual or group therapy, are used in rehabilitation. The treatment is tailored for each individual's needs.

In some areas, outpatient rehabilitation can also be available online.

Contact

• mental health, substance abuse and addiction services in your wellbeing services county
• occupational health care services
• or student health care.

A professional will find out with you what kind of treatment would best help you and guide you forward.

Outpatient rehabilitation is free of charge.