Types of Alcoholism treatment

Rehab facilities are where alcohol and drug users go to stop their uncontrolled or destructive use of a substance. These recovery facilities focus on both the physiological and the psychological aspects of addiction. Most treatment facilities have the ability to help with co-occurring disorders like depression or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) too.

The following are the various type of rehab that are available to people with chemical dependency problems

Residential treatment – Residential treatment involves living at a treatment facility while undergoing intensive treatment during the day. Residential treatment normally lasts from 30-90 days.

Partial hospitalization – Partial hospitalization is for people who require ongoing medical monitoring but have a stable living situation. These treatment programs usually meet at the hospital for 3-5 days a week, 4-6 hours per day.

Intensive outpatient program (IOP) – Not a live-in treatment program, but it still requires a major time commitment. Intensive outpatient programs usually meet at least 3 days a week for 2-4 hours a day or more. The major focus is relapse prevention. These outpatient programs are often scheduled around work or school.

Counseling (Individual, Group, or Family) – Works best in conjunction with other types of treatment or as follow-up support. Therapy can help you identify the root causes of your alcohol use, repair your relationships, and learn healthier coping skills.

Sober living – Normally follows intensive treatment like residential treatment. You live with other recovering alcoholics and addicts in a supportive alcohol- and drug-free environment. Sober living facilities are useful if you have nowhere to go or you’re worried that returning home too soon will lead to relapse.

Brief intervention – Only appropriate for those at risk for alcohol abuse or alcoholism, not those who have already developed a serious problem. Consists of several visits to a healthcare professional to discuss the harmful effects of alcohol abuse and strategies for cutting back.

(Helpguide.org, http://www.helpguide.org/articles/addiction/choosing-alcohol-treatment.htm, last accessed 11/20/14)

When looking at any addiction treatment facility it is important to consider the following things.

1. Is the program accredited and are the staff licensed.

Make sure the program is accredited with the state it is in and that the staff working there are well trained and licensed addiction and mental health professionals. Have there been any complaints against them and what kind were they.

2. What treatment methods do they use.

What are there statistics on success rates. What do they consider success. Are they a 12 Step program, Christian based, do they use medication to help the process. What is the expectation of treatment? Is it total abstinence, harm reduction, cognitive-behavioral, or replacement therapy. Some treatment facilities us a combination of all of these. Find out if the program fits your moral or ethical standards.

3. Sobriety maintenance aftercare.

Do they run group meetings that you can attend after leaving the program? Can they provide referrals to aftercare if they do not have it?. Are the maintenance meetings run by licensed counselors?

Generally Profitable Reasons for Rehabilitation

· Maybe they live in a house full of drug users.

· They cannot get through withdrawal on their own

· Physical abuse in the home

Generally Unprofitable Reasons For Rehabilitation

· The treatment is court ordered

· It is mandated by work

· Spouse will leave if they do not

A drunk does not want to have to change to enter a rehabilitation program, but treatment, especially sobriety maintenance, is much easier if they do.

Sobriety maintenance is nearly impossible if the drunk does not know think he has a problem and does not want to change. People are much more likely to slip or relapse if they don’t want to stop. There are too many reasons to justify or excuse drinking.

Inpatient Treatment

The main characteristic of inpatient addiction treatment is the person is required to check into the facility and remain there for the entire length of the program. The treatment program can last as long as 90 days or be a short as 28 days, depending on the patient’s specific needs and preferences. Typically, the patient goes through the detoxification process for the first part of the program and then participates in counseling or therapy afterwards.

http://www.rehabs.com/about/inpatient-vs-outpatient-rehabs/

Do not expect the alcohol and drug rehabilitation centers you see in the movies. The nicer the facility the greater the financial burden to you.

Most people go to inpatient rehab as a last resort. They have tried to stop on their own but are unable to. They are desperate.

Inpatient rehab is expensive so the best time for the drunk to go into inpatient treatment is when they are at the “action” Stage of Change. If the drunk wants to be there it will be much more productive. Timing this in nearly impossible because of the lack of beds available in rehab facilities.

One stop gap measure is to send the “ready to change” drunk to outpatient rehab until an inpatient bed becomes available. That is hard, if withdrawal is the where your alcoholic is failing. Withdrawal can be an emotional and physical nightmare. You can, however, wait until the withdrawal symptoms get bad enough and take the alcoholic to an emergency room.

Remember: It is very rare but people can die from alcohol withdrawal.

Outpatient Rehab

Outpatient programs provide patients with more freedom of movement which allows them to maintain a regular commitment to family, work, and educational responsibilities. Because of the ability to go home after a daily or evening program, patients are able to have a greater level of privacy and anonymity. They often do not need to explain a prolonged absence to friends, coworkers, or family members.

http://psychcentral.com/lib/differences-between-outpatient-and-inpatient-treatment-programs/0007531

Outpatient rehab is also more accessible because of its lower cost of entry and because there is more room in outpatient treatment. You won’t have to wait for a bed to open. You will be sleeping in your own. Although, some outpatient rehab programs do having waiting lists but you can always go to layman meetings (AA, SMART, NA, etc.) until the spot opens up.

Sobriety Maintenance

This part of your alcohol or drug rehabilitation usually happens in the layman meetings above. You will learn how to handle a variety of situations. You will learn to overcome some triggers and how to avoid the rest. You will learn how to say no to being offered a drink.

Sobriety maintenance is the most important and hardest part of alcohol rehabilitation. Anyone can not drink while they are locked away in an inpatient rehab center but can they keep not drinking when alcohol is everywhere in our society. It is in the mini-mart when you are buying gas, it is on you television screen, and it is in many of our daily conversations.

Quotes about alcohol use and recovery

Bible verses on alcoholism