Treatment
Levels of care, from detox to aftercare
Treatment at True Again Care, a program of FHE Health, can move through several levels, from medical detox to outpatient care and alumni support. Your clinicians recommend the level that fits your needs now, and that can change as your needs change.
How levels of care work
Treatment comes in different levels of intensity. For addiction care, the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) sets out these levels in the ASAM Criteria. Clinicians use these standards to match a person to a level of care, based on an assessment of their physical, mental and social needs.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) describes four basic levels of care based on ASAM's levels. They are outpatient visits, intensive outpatient or partial hospitalization, residential programs in a 24-hour setting, and intensive inpatient care. Intensive inpatient care is medically directed around the clock and may manage withdrawal.
FHE Health offers medically supervised detox for substance use. It also offers residential, partial hospitalization (PHP) and intensive outpatient (IOP) care for substance use and mental health. All of it happens on one campus in Deerfield Beach, Florida. After treatment, FHE Health's alumni program offers continuing support.
FHE Health's levels of care at a glance
| Level | What it is | Typical length | Who it may fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical detox (withdrawal management) | Care with 24/7 medical supervision while your body goes through withdrawal. It has three phases: evaluation, stabilization and moving into ongoing treatment. | Varies. NIAAA describes intensive inpatient care, which may manage withdrawal, as lasting several days to a week. | People whose withdrawal may need medical care, such as after a long period of heavy drinking or when stopping benzodiazepines. |
| Residential treatment | A live-in stay on the Deerfield Beach campus, with individual and group therapy in a 24-hour setting. | Addiction care: usually 21 to 90 days or more. Mental health care: most stays run 30 to 90 days, or longer when clinically appropriate. Lengths vary. | People who need round-the-clock structure and support to focus on treatment, often after detox. |
| Partial hospitalization (PHP) | Full treatment days, with evenings at home or in supportive housing. On-campus housing costs extra and is separate from the clinical program. | Varies with your progress, your clinical needs and, if you use insurance, your plan's approval. | People stepping down from residential care, or people who need full days of treatment but not a 24-hour setting. |
| Intensive outpatient (IOP) | Treatment on weekday afternoons, with weekly individual therapy, group sessions, case management, and family therapy when clinically indicated. | Varies with your progress, your clinical needs and, if you use insurance, your plan's approval. | People who can live at home or in supportive housing and still need structured treatment. |
| Aftercare and alumni | Weekly alumni meetings in person or on Zoom, a weekly virtual meeting, an alumni support line, regular check-ins and community events. | Starts at discharge. Staff begin follow-up two days after you leave. | People finishing treatment at FHE Health. |
Medical detox
For some substances, withdrawal can be dangerous. Stopping drinking suddenly after a long period of heavy drinking can cause painful or even life-threatening withdrawal, including seizures. Stopping benzodiazepines suddenly, or lowering the dose too fast, can also cause seizures.
FHE Health's detox provides 24/7 medical supervision. A team of addiction medicine physicians, registered nurses and licensed therapists manages withdrawal from alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, cocaine and other stimulants, and watches for complications.
For qualifying patients, FHE Health uses Suboxone (buprenorphine with naloxone) and Vivitrol (naltrexone) during detox and residential stabilization. If you need medicine for the long term, FHE Health helps you move to an outside medical provider for ongoing care.
Detox is not the whole of treatment. It is the first step. Read what happens in medical detox to learn more.
Residential treatment
Residential care is a live-in stay on FHE Health's Deerfield Beach campus. Therapy can include individual and group sessions, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), DBT skills, EMDR and family therapy.
FHE Health's residential addiction program usually lasts 21 to 90 days or more, based on your needs and progress. Most residential mental health stays run 30 to 90 days, or longer when clinically appropriate.
Residential mental health care at FHE Health is voluntary and not locked. It is supportive residential care, not a psychiatric hospital. For people seeking mental health care without substance use, care begins at the residential level. Learn more about mental health care.
Residential care usually means stepping away from work for a while.
Partial hospitalization (PHP) and intensive outpatient (IOP)
In PHP, you spend full days in treatment and spend evenings at home or in supportive housing. It often follows residential care.
IOP runs on weekday afternoons for adults with substance use, mental health or co-occurring concerns. It includes weekly individual therapy, case management, group sessions, and family therapy when clinically indicated. The first responder program has its own morning IOP track.
You can join PHP or IOP by stepping down from FHE Health's residential care, transferring from another program, or commuting from home. On-campus housing is available at additional cost and is separate from the clinical program.
PHP or IOP may allow more flexibility around work, depending on the program schedule and your clinical needs.
How you move from one level to the next
Treatment is not one fixed track. At FHE Health, the same clinical team supports you as you move between levels.
Step 1
Assessment
Licensed clinicians assess your physical, mental and social needs and recommend where to start.
Step 2
Treatment plan
You and your care team set goals for the level you are in.
Step 3
Stepping down
As your needs change, you can move to a less intensive level, for example from residential care to PHP, then IOP.
Step 4
Stepping up if needed
If things get harder, your team can recommend moving back to a more intensive level.
Step 5
Aftercare
When you finish, the alumni program and regular follow-up check-ins help you stay connected.
Licensed and accredited care
Florida's Department of Children and Families (DCF) licenses FHE Health for inpatient detoxification, residential treatment, day or night treatment and intensive outpatient treatment. You can check this in the DCF provider search. Search for Deerfield Florida House, provider PROV-001119.
FHE Health is also accredited by The Joint Commission, and CARF accredits several of its adult programs, including inpatient detox. Links to each record are on our about page.
Common questions about levels of care
Do I have to start with detox?
Not always. Detox is for people whose withdrawal may need medical care. FHE Health's clinicians recommend whether you need it after an assessment.
Can I start in PHP or IOP?
Sometimes. People join FHE Health's PHP or IOP by stepping down from residential care, transferring from another program, or commuting from home. For mental health care without substance use, care begins at the residential level.
How long will I stay?
It depends on your needs, your progress and, if you use insurance, your plan's approval. Residential addiction stays usually run 21 to 90 days or more, but lengths vary.
Can I keep working during treatment?
Residential care usually means stepping away from work for a while. PHP or IOP may allow more flexibility, depending on the program schedule and your clinical needs.
Is on-campus housing part of treatment?
No. On-campus housing during PHP or IOP is available at additional cost and is separate from the clinical program.
Not sure which level fits?
Call (833) 596-3502 to talk with FHE Health's admissions team. They can answer questions, check your benefits and explain the next steps. FHE Health's clinicians make the final recommendation after an assessment.