Gateway Offers Convenient Outpatient Programs for Those Seeking Substance Abuse Treatment

CHICAGO, Jan. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- As the U.S. job market stays competitive and open positions remain at a premium, Gateway Alcohol and Drug Rehab, www.recovergateway.org, recognizes that people seeking treatment for substance abuse problems may not be able to take extended time off work to receive the professional care they need. With nine Illinois treatment centers, Gateway, a non-profit organization, is expanding its already successful outpatient rehab services to better serve the community and allow patients to receive the drug and alcohol treatment they need when it's most convenient for them.

As a national leader in addiction treatment services, Gateway, headquartered in Illinois, serves more than 11,000 patients each year, with nearly 80 percent of those receiving outpatient treatment options. Gateway's outpatient treatment services provide personalized drug and alcohol abuse rehab that helps individuals get the care they need without putting additional stress on their work or school schedule and family life. Gateway has found that tailoring services around patients' schedules after work or school helps contribute to a higher success rate for a treatment plan.

"Patients who are placed in outpatient rehab treatment for drug and alcohol abuse are able to work toward becoming clean around their schedules without having to go away for residential treatment," said Don Bushnell, Executive Director Gateway Caseyville and Belleville. "We have actually seen the number of patients choosing Gateway treatment facilities increase, which is opposite of the trend seen among rehabilitation facilities across much of the country."

While outpatient services are an appropriate alternative for many, Gateway has found that some of these patients' illness still requires a brief residential stay to initially stabilize their health. These patients are able to reduce the need for a lengthy stay at a residential care facility by supplementing their treatment with outpatient drug and alcohol rehab. Adults or teens are able to leave residential care sooner and attend outpatient treatment groups four days a week after school or work. Residential treatment is a combination of education, group and individual counseling, self-study and family education. By living in the drug and alcohol rehab center, patients receive the round-the-clock support they need to concentrate on their substance abuse recovery.

According to Phil Welches, Ph.D., director of Clinical Care at Gateway Alcohol and Drug Rehab's national headquarters in Chicago, "The published evidence is clear that where clinically appropriate, a course of intensive outpatient care is effective in treating alcohol and drug dependency. Proper patient placement is key to successful outcomes."

With three rehab facilities in the City of Chicago, two in the suburban areas of Aurora and Lake Villa and four other locations across Illinois in Springfield, Belleville, Caseyville and Carbondale, patients can receive the proper clinical treatment they require across the state. Each facility offers a variety of customized, flexible and fully integrated outpatient drug rehab and alcohol treatment programs, for which most costs can be covered by an individual's insurance company.

"Ninety-eight percent of people living in Illinois with health insurance, and most with insurance living in the cities and states surrounding Illinois, can use their coverage to receive care at Gateway," explained Tom McCabe, director of community initiatives for Gateway Alcohol and Drug Rehab. "For those working families without health insurance, outpatient treatment provides an affordable option. It costs anywhere from 70 to 80 percent less than hospital care and allows the patient to keep working or stay in school."

To be admitted for outpatient rehab treatment, patients must first complete a comprehensive individual screening. Gateway then customizes a substance abuse treatment program tailored around the type of drug or alcohol abuse and the level of dependency. Typical programs include education about alcohol or drug abuse as well as individual or group therapy sessions with a trained Gateway counselor who helps patients see what their use is doing to their lives and what they can do about it. The sessions also involve the patient's family during treatment to help build and educate a strong support system thus increasing the chance for success.

About Gateway

Gateway Alcohol and Drug Rehab is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides effective and efficient treatment to reduce the abuse of alcohol and other drugs, as well as frequently co-occurring mental health problems.  Founded in 1969, the Chicago-based organization is the largest provider of substance abuse treatment services in Illinois, operating nine residential and outpatient treatment centers across the state.  For more information, call 877-321-RECOVER or visit www.recovergateway.org.

SOURCE Gateway Alcohol and Drug Rehab