If you or someone you love is looking into addiction treatment, you’ve probably come across terms like “IOP,” “PHP,” or “ASAM Level 2.1” — and wondered what any of it actually means. This guide breaks it down in plain language so you can make an informed decision about care.
What Is ASAM?
ASAM stands for the American Society of Addiction Medicine — the leading national organization setting clinical standards for addiction treatment. Their criteria provide a framework that clinicians use to determine the appropriate level of care for each individual.
Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, ASAM levels recognize that people come to treatment with different needs, different levels of support at home, and different severities of substance use. The goal is to match each person to the level of care that gives them the best chance of success — not too much, not too little.
Key principle: ASAM levels are not a ladder you climb from bottom to top. They are a clinical match. Some people start at the highest level and step down. Others begin at a lower level and never need more intensive care.
The Three Outpatient Levels
Lionheart Wellness & Recovery provides three levels of outpatient care, corresponding to ASAM levels 1.0, 2.1, and 2.5. Here’s what each one means:
Outpatient (OP)
Weekly sessions focused on maintaining recovery, building life skills, and long-term support. Best for people with a stable home environment who have completed more intensive treatment.
Intensive Outpatient (IOP)
Multiple group therapy sessions per week combined with individual counseling. Structured support while allowing clients to live at home and maintain daily responsibilities.
Day Treatment / PHP
Our most intensive outpatient level. Daily structured programming for clients who need significant support while living at home or in sober housing. Also called Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP).
How Is the Right Level Determined?
When you call Lionheart, our clinical team conducts a thorough intake assessment. This isn’t a quiz with right or wrong answers — it’s a conversation. We look at six dimensions that ASAM uses to assess treatment needs:
- Acute intoxication and withdrawal potential — Are you currently using, and what does stopping look like physically?
- Biomedical conditions — Any health conditions that affect treatment?
- Emotional and behavioral conditions — Co-occurring mental health needs like anxiety, depression, or trauma
- Readiness to change — Where are you in your own journey toward recovery?
- Relapse potential — What risks exist, and what skills are in place?
- Recovery environment — Is your home situation stable and supportive?
Based on this assessment, our clinicians recommend a starting level of care. That recommendation can change — if you’re doing well, you may step down to a lower level. If you need more support, stepping up is always an option.
Can I Participate via Telehealth?
Yes. All three levels of care at Lionheart are available in-person, via telehealth, or a combination of both through Lionheart Connect — our telehealth access program. If technology is a barrier, we provide pre-configured tablets to qualifying clients at no cost.
What About Insurance?
Medical Assistance (MA), MinnesotaCare, most commercial insurance plans, and county funding all cover outpatient treatment at Lionheart. Coverage is tied to medical necessity, which is established through the ASAM assessment process. Our team can help you understand your benefits before you commit to anything.
The bottom line: ASAM levels exist to make sure treatment fits the person — not the other way around. If you’re not sure where to start, that’s exactly what our clinical intake is for. Call us at 651-456-8411 or send us a message and we’ll walk through it together.