Types of drug and alcohol treatment in Dallas
What each level of care means and how the levels fit together.
The short answer
Types of drug and alcohol treatment in Dallas run from medical detox and live-in care to day programs, regular counseling and sober homes. The main differences are how much support you get and whether you stay overnight.
Each type of care
- DetoxMedical support through withdrawal.
- Residential treatmentYou live at the program and get care around the clock.
- Partial hospitalizationA day program. You go home at night.
- Intensive outpatientSeveral sessions a week around work or family.
- Outpatient treatmentRegular counseling or medication visits.
- Sober livingA shared, substance-free home. Separate from treatment.
- Medication-assisted treatmentMedication used with counseling for alcohol or opioid use disorder.
- Dual diagnosisCare for addiction and a mental health condition together.
A common way to begin
- Talk to a doctor or a screening line
- Start at the level that fits your health
- Change levels as your needs change
How the levels of care differ
Treatment is often described in levels. They differ in how many hours you spend in care each week and whether you sleep at the program. SAMHSA’s guide to types of treatment covers outpatient, inpatient and residential settings, along with counseling and medication.
Detox treats withdrawal, the sickness that can come when the body adjusts to less of a substance. Residential treatment means living at a program. Partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient are set programs you attend, then go home. Outpatient treatment is regular visits that fit around daily life.
Three more options work alongside those levels. Medication-assisted treatment pairs medicine with counseling. Dual diagnosis care treats addiction and a mental health condition together. Sober living is a place to live, usually while you are in outpatient care or after treatment.
How people work out where to start
The right starting point depends on your health, what you use and how much, what has happened when you tried to stop, and the support you have at home. A doctor or licensed counselor can do an assessment. That is a set of questions about your health and substance use that points toward a level of care.
If you do not have a doctor, you can still get help sorting this out. The SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 is free and open all day and night. In Dallas County, the OSAR line at 844-275-0600 offers screening and referral. OSAR stands for Outreach, Screening, Assessment and Referral.
Moving between levels
Many people use more than one level of care. Someone might go from detox to residential care, then to intensive outpatient, then to regular counseling. Others begin with outpatient visits. NIDA says people may need long-term care or more than one round of treatment. If one level turns out to be too little, moving to more support is a change of plan and nothing to feel ashamed of.
Not every Dallas program offers every level. The Dallas programs list shows what each one says it offers, so you can call and confirm.
Questions to ask any program
- What level of care would you suggest, and why?
- Do you take my insurance?
- Who does the counseling and medical care?
- What happens after this program ends?
Common questions
What is the difference between inpatient and residential care?
Both mean you stay overnight. SAMHSA describes inpatient care as a stay in a hospital or treatment program for people who need care day and night, often for days or weeks. Residential care usually lasts longer and is less like a hospital.
Which type of care do I need?
It depends on your health, your substance use and your situation. Start with how to choose a program, and talk to a doctor if you can.
Does insurance pay for these levels of care?
Many plans cover some of them. Coverage varies by plan and by level, so call the number on your card and ask. See paying for treatment for other ways to pay.
Can a family member start this process?
Yes. You can call a helpline or a program and ask about options for someone you love. See helping a family member for ways to approach it.
