Treatment Compass

Work out which treatment you actually need

Most people researching addiction treatment are handed a list of facilities before anyone explains the choices. This site does the other half: what the levels of care mean, what your insurance is likely to cover, and what to do when the person who needs help has not agreed to it yet.

We do not run treatment centres, we do not sell placements, and we do not take calls on behalf of facilities. Every page cites its sources.

The five levels, in one picture

Treatment is sorted into levels of care, and almost every decision you will be asked to make is really a question about which one fits. Here is the whole ladder at a glance.

DetoxWithdrawalmanagement24/73–7 daysResidentialInpatient,live on site24/7weeksPHPPartialhospitalisation20–30 hrssleep at homeIOPIntensiveoutpatient9–19 hrskeep workingOPStandardoutpatient1–8 hrsweekly
Weekly structured hours by level. Most people move down this ladder rather than starting at the top — and the honest question at every step is whether the hours not covered are safe.

Start with the choice in front of you

  • Sober Living Home vs Halfway House

    Sober living is privately paid and open-ended; a halfway house is usually assigned with a fixed time limit. Cost, rules, testing and stay length compared.

  • PHP vs IOP

    PHP runs 20-30 structured hours a week and IOP runs 9-19, but the real question is whether home can hold the other 148. Compared against ASAM levels.

  • Detox vs Rehab

    Detox manages withdrawal safely, rehab treats why the drug or alcohol use started, and detox alone rarely holds. What each stage does and when.

  • Suboxone vs Methadone

    Methadone needs a licensed program with daily visits at first, while Suboxone comes from a regular prescriber. Both work, so access usually decides.

All comparisons →

Before treatment starts

Check what your plan covers

Coverage lives in your specific plan, not in the name of your insurer. These pages give you the exact questions to ask so the answer you get is the one that governs your bill.