Levels of Care in Addiction Treatment
Plain, fact-first answers about how care works here. Want to talk to a person? Call (888) 464-2144.
- The Archangel Centers is a licensed outpatient addiction treatment provider.
- The Archangel Centers operates clinics in Tinton Falls, NJ and Charlotte, NC.
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) includes Suboxone, Vivitrol, and Sublocade.
- The Archangel Centers works with most major commercial insurance plans with free benefits verification.
Addiction treatment is delivered along a continuum of care, from the most intensive (24-hour medically managed inpatient treatment) to the least intensive (occasional individual therapy in outpatient continuing care). The level of care that fits depends on the clinical picture, the home environment, the medical and psychiatric situation, and the practical constraints of work and family. this page explains each level, how the levels relate, and how to think about choosing one over another.
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) publishes the most widely used framework for matching clients to levels of care, the ASAM Criteria. We use it.
The levels, briefly
The Archangel Centers delivers Levels 1, 2.1, and 2.5 at our Tinton Falls and Charlotte clinics, plus virtual outpatient for New Jersey residents. For Level 3 and Level 4 (inpatient and detox), we coordinate placement with accredited partner facilities.
| Level | What it is | Setting |
|---|---|---|
| Early intervention (Level 0.5) | Brief, often pre-clinical, screening and brief intervention | Primary care, employer programs, college health |
| Outpatient (Level 1) | Less than 9 clinical hours per week | Clinic, virtual |
| Intensive Outpatient (Level 2.1) | 9 hours or more clinical hours per week, not full days | Clinic, virtual |
| Partial Hospitalization (Level 2.5) | 20 or more clinical hours per week, full clinical days | Clinic |
| Residential / Inpatient (Level 3.x) | 24-hour residential clinical setting | Inpatient or residential facility |
| Medically Managed Intensive Inpatient (Level 4) | 24-hour hospital-based medical management | Hospital |
Detail pages
- Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), Level 2.5, the highest outpatient level
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), Level 2.1
- Outpatient (OP), Level 1
- The full continuum of care, How the levels connect over the course of treatment
- PHP vs IOP: how to choose, The most common decision point
- How long is treatment?, Length expectations across the continuum
How clients are matched to a level of care
The ASAM Criteria define six "dimensions" the clinical team evaluates at intake:
1. Acute intoxication and withdrawal potential Does the person need medical management of withdrawal? 2. Biomedical conditions and complications Are there medical issues that affect treatment? 3. Emotional, behavioral, or cognitive conditions and complications Co-occurring mental health or cognitive issues 4. Readiness to change How prepared is the person to engage in treatment? 5. Relapse, continued use, or continued problem potential Risk of returning to use 6. Recovery environment How supportive (or unsupportive) is the person's living situation?
The matching is dimensional, not categorical. A person with severe use but a strong support environment may fit a lower level of care than the severity alone would suggest. A person with milder use in a chaotic environment may need a higher level. Clinical judgment matters; this is why level-of-care decisions are made by credentialed clinical staff in collaboration with the client.
What if I am not sure which level I need?
Call (888) 464-2144. The admissions team runs a confidential clinical assessment alongside insurance verification. The medical director or Clinical Director reviews the picture and recommends a level. You retain agency in the decision; the team supplies the clinical reasoning.
What about detox?
Medical detox is its own level of care (Level 3.7 or 4 in the ASAM Criteria depending on medical complexity). It is appropriate when withdrawal management requires medical supervision. Common substances requiring detox include alcohol, benzodiazepines, and opioids.
The Archangel Centers does not provide medical detox on-site. We coordinate placement with accredited partner detox facilities and then receive the client into our outpatient continuum for step-down. See:
What about inpatient or residential rehab?
Inpatient rehab is a 24-hour residential treatment setting. It is appropriate when a client cannot safely or productively engage in recovery while living at home, or when the clinical picture requires 24-hour clinical presence.
The Archangel Centers does not run a residential facility. We coordinate placement with accredited partner inpatient facilities and step the client down into our outpatient continuum after the inpatient stay. See:
The continuum is bidirectional
The default direction is descending: detox → inpatient → PHP → IOP → OP → alumni programming. But the continuum runs in both directions. A client in OP whose clinical picture intensifies (a relapse, a triggering life event, escalating co-occurring symptoms) can step back up to IOP or PHP for a defined period, then step down again. Cycling between levels as needed is clinically appropriate; it is not a failure.
Get treatment at an Archangel clinic
The levels described above are delivered at our two clinics. To see the specific program, schedule, and admissions detail for a level of care at the location nearest you, start here:
- PHP in Tinton Falls, NJ, full clinical days, Level 2.5
- IOP in Tinton Falls, NJ, 9 or more clinical hours per week, Level 2.1
- Outpatient in Tinton Falls, NJ, continuing care, Level 1
- PHP in Charlotte, NC, full clinical days, Level 2.5
- IOP in Charlotte, NC, 9 or more clinical hours per week, Level 2.1
- Outpatient in Charlotte, NC, continuing care, Level 1
Insurance and level of care
Insurance carriers use medical necessity criteria (often the ASAM Criteria, or proprietary criteria that overlap heavily) to authorize specific levels of care. The clinical case for each level is documented at intake and reviewed periodically. The Archangel admissions team manages prior authorization and ongoing utilization review with the carrier, with the client's signed release.
For coverage detail, see does insurance cover rehab and in-network vs out-of-network.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to start at the highest level?
Can I move up if I need to?
What if I cannot afford the recommended level?
Is virtual treatment the same as in-person?
How is the level of care decision made?
How are families involved across levels of care?
Can I keep working while in treatment?
What does completing a level of care actually look like?
Admissions are confidential and staffed 24/7 at (888) 464-2144. Or browse a specific clinic page for hours, address, and the full program.