Maybe you know someone with an alcohol problem. Maybe you are that someone. We don’t care either way. This is a judgement free zone, and we are here to help. That you even Googled this far shows that you are one step closer to fighting alcohol abuse and are at least partially ready to seek alcohol abuse treatment for yourself or a loved one. We’re guessing you’re a little overwhelmed by all you’ve been reading about the problem and the solution. You know vaguely what a rehab is for example — you watch Intervention, but how does one choose the best rehab? Are alcohol addiction treatment centers all the same, and if so, why do some cost so much more than others?
Below is a basic overview of the different approaches alcohol addiction treatment centers use. Our hope is that after perusing this list, you will understand the treatment landscape and how it is set up according to the addiction severity:
Option 1: Inpatient Rehab
Inpatient rehab, also called residential treatment, is where people go at the end of an Intervention episode. It is a holistic, drastic, intensive treatment option that involves living at the treatment facility full time and submitting to all-day therapy and treatment plans. The kinds of alcohol addiction treatment centers that accept inpatients usually do so for a term ranging between 30 and 90 days. Because of the residential aspect and the full-on, 24 hour treatment model, inpatient rehab is generally your most expensive option.
Option 2: Partial Hospitalization
A slight step down in severity from inpatient rehab, outpatient hospital monitoring for alcohol addiction ensures that patients get the intensive physical and psychological treatment of a rehab but do not require sleeping on site. This option is ideal for patients who know they have an addiction problem but who have a viable living situation with adequate familial support away from bad influences Generally, patients meet at the hospital three to five days out of the week for sessions ranging between four to six hours a day.
Option 3: An Outpatient Program
Alcoholic’s Anonymous is the most famous outpatient program. Ideal for combating the temptation to relapse, outpatient programs and other alcohol support groups can have meetings for two to four hours a day many times per a week. They focus on healing via the twelve step program and using the network of recovering alcoholics in the area for support.
If you’re not quite there yet…
If this all sounds a bit drastic to you, then you might want to consider either administering or consenting to a brief intervention. Brief interventions are for people at risk of developing a seriously harmful relationship with alcohol but for whom alcohol addiction treatment centers would be overkill. They involve visiting an experienced healthcare professional a few times and discussing their reasons for drinking and how to cut down. Often during these interventions root causes for alcohol abuse, such as incipient mental illness or trauma, are identified. This is statistically especially true for adolescent and young adult alcohol abusers.
If you used to have a problem and are afraid of relapsing…
Programs like AA are useful, but if you struggle with the twelve steps it might be time to consider a sober living community. These don’t often have the intense therapy component of inpatient rehab, but allow people committed to their sobriety to live together and support each other in a regimented, alcohol-free environment.
Remember, before committing to an alcohol addiction treatment option, make sure the facility is accredited by the state and run by licensed, qualified healthcare professionals. Also, find whatever you can on the effectiveness of the treatment methods they use and pay attention to the source. A good source in this case is one not affiliated with the center with a lot of expertise either in alcohol treatment or statistics.
Admitting you have a problem is the first step towards recovery. For this reason, we applaud you for getting to the end of this overview and wish you and your loved ones the best of luck.