Understanding & Exploring Our Substance Abuse Levels of Care

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Recovery Happens in Stages, and Treatment Should Adapt With You

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Addiction recovery doesn’t happen all at once. It takes place over time and in phases. Because of this, the level of care you may have required initially is likely to differ from what might be required three weeks, three months, or three years in.

At Forward Motion Health, our team completes a multi-faceted evaluation for each incoming client, which takes into account their substance use disorder, any co-occurring mental health conditions, withdrawal potential, and their support system to provide an initial level of care recommendation, and then adjust it up or down as clinical needs change.

Our Levels of Care

Detox Placement

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For many people entering treatment for substance abuse, detoxification is a critical first step. 

Withdrawal from substances such as alcohol or an opiate can have serious physical consequences that can be life-threatening if attempted without proper medical supervision.[1] Detox is designed to manage a patient’s withdrawal by providing 24-hour clinical supervision, medication assistance as necessary, and a safe and stable environment to let their body and mind begin to heal.

Although Forward Motion Health does not operate its own detox center, our admissions department works with trusted detoxification centers located throughout South Florida to coordinate placement according to each patient’s individual clinical needs. We can also help  determine whether medical detox is necessary, identify the most appropriate setting (typically medically-monitored or medically-managed), and ensure that there is a seamless transition to our residential program once detox is complete. During this conversation, we are available to answer questions about the nature of detoxification, how long it takes, and the physical and emotional changes a patient will experience.

Residential Program

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Once a patient is stabilized medically, residential treatment offers the structure and supportive environment where the bulk of the work related to recovery occurs. Residential treatment services at Forward Motion Health are intended for men suffering from substance abuse disorders or co-occurring mental health disorders who require 24-hour care due to the severity of their condition and need for ongoing clinical support.

Our residential center is luxurious, calming, and personal. Once accepted into the residential program, patients live in the facility for the duration of the program. Daily activities are structured to include individualized therapy sessions, group therapy sessions, family therapy sessions (when applicable), medication management, evidence-based treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), trauma-informed care, and physical fitness opportunities in our state-of-the-art fitness center or dedicated martial arts space aimed at supporting the whole person, not just the symptoms. Case management is also provided to support clinical interventions, coordinate care with outside agencies, address practical concerns related to employment, education, transportation, and housing, and help develop a post-treatment discharge plan.

Duration of residency varies based upon clinical needs but generally ranges from 30 to 90 days. As patients stabilize, our clinical team develops a plan to reduce the frequency and intensity of treatment.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

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Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is the use of prescription FDA-approved medications combined with counseling and behavioral therapies to treat substance use disorders. 

MAT is primarily used for treating opioid use disorders (OUD) and alcohol use disorders (AUD) due to its effectiveness in reducing cravings, alleviating withdrawal symptoms, and lowering relapse rates among individuals in early stages of recovery.[2]

At Forward Motion Health, MAT is incorporated into the overall treatment plan for patients, not given as a stand-alone service. Our medical team evaluates each patient individually to determine if medication-assisted treatment would be beneficial, what type of medications would be best suited for them, and how they could be used alongside therapeutic modalities. 

Commonly prescribed medications for MAT include buprenorphine, naltrexone, methadone, and acamprosate, depending on the type of substance being addressed and each patient’s unique clinical profile.

We view MAT as another therapeutic option, similar to all others used at Forward Motion Health — another tool in addition to traditional psychotherapy and social support. Some patients require only temporary medication assistance during early recovery, while others continue to use MAT for extended periods as part of a successful long-term strategy for maintaining sobriety.

What Are ASAM Levels of Care?

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) developed the ASAM Criteria, which the majority of addiction treatment providers use to define the continuum of care. The ASAM levels range from early intervention and outpatient services to intensive outpatient (IOP), partial hospitalization (PHP), residential and inpatient treatment, and 24-hour medically-managed care for those in active withdrawal or experiencing significant co-occurring disorders.[3]

Why the Right Level of Care Matters

Each level of care serves a purpose, and aligning a patient with an appropriately designated level of care is one of the most impactful clinical decisions in addiction treatment. 

Underplacement, or putting a patient in too low a level of care, can result in premature relapse and undermine a patient’s confidence in their ability to recover successfully. On the other hand, overplacement, or putting a person in too high a level of care, can unnecessarily disrupt someone’s life and family with minimal additional clinical value. 

Our admissions and clinical teams take this responsibility very seriously. Using the ASAM Criteria as well as our own professional judgment and thorough understanding of the patient in front of us allows us to make informed placement recommendations that are tailored specifically to each patient’s needs — not simply to meet bed capacity.

If you or someone you know is seeking guidance regarding which level of care may be suitable, please feel free to reach out to our team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) defines a continuum of care for substance abuse through its ASAM criteria, which defines multiple levels of care. These include early intervention services, outpatient services, intensive outpatient programs (IOP), partial hospitalization services (PHP), residential and inpatient treatment services, and medically managed intensive inpatient treatment services. Each level represents varying degrees of clinical intensity, from low-intensity outpatient support services to 24-hour medical care for acute withdrawal management. This framework was established by ASAM to enable treatment providers to determine the appropriate level of care for each patient based on a multi-dimensional clinical assessment.

The correct level of care is identified through a comprehensive assessment that considers factors such as past history of substance use, risk for withdrawal, presence of co-occurring mental health conditions, current medical issues, available support system, motivation to change, and risk for relapse. Prior to accepting anyone into our program, our clinical team performs an intake assessment to evaluate each patient based on all the above criteria. Based on this information, our clinical team recommends an appropriate level of care for each patient’s specific clinical presentation.

Yes. And that is how the continuum of care is intended to function. Typically, patients enter treatment at one level of care and progress downward as stability increases, though occasionally, patients’ clinical status necessitates progression upward into a higher level of care. Our clinical team continually monitors each patient’s progress throughout their respective treatment plans and alters the plan as necessary.

Many insurance companies offer coverage for substance abuse treatment, though the exact coverage specifics vary depending on the carrier. Our admissions department will verify your coverage at no charge to you and explain what aspects of treatment are included in your policy prior to making any commitments.

Yes. Integrated dual diagnosis treatment is an integral component of how we work. We address an individual’s substance use issue and any co-occurring mental health issues simultaneously at every level of care.

[1] National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (n.d.). Understanding alcohol use disorder.https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/understanding-alcohol-use-disorder 

[2] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2021). Medications for opioid use disorder. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK574918/ 

[3] About the ASAM criteria. (n.d.). Default. https://www.asam.org/asam-criteria/about-the-asam-criteria

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