Intensive outpatient programs are considered just as effective for treating substance use disorder as inpatient treatment. Research by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) determined that Intensive Outpatient Programs are an essential part of ongoing addiction treatment, stating:
“IOPs have emerged as a critical facet of 21st-century addiction treatment for people who need a more intensive level of service than usual outpatient treatment, and they allow participants to avoid or step down successfully from inpatient services.”