Alcohol Treatment Programs

Alcohol is legal and easy to access for anyone over the age of 18 in the United States. It is also in the majority of liquor cabinets and refrigerators of most households. This makes for funny scenes in many movies throughout the decades of teenagers who tried their parent’s whiskey and refilled the bottle with water, only to be caught later. It is not so funny when it is your child doing this. Alcohol is expected to be at social events, including backyard picnics and even kids’ birthday parties. It is a part of the American culture. This makes it all the more challenging for someone who has found that the effects of alcoholism have led them down a path that either have or is about to ruin their life. Recognizing that you have an addiction is only the first step to treating alcoholism, and knowing what the options will help to ensure the likelihood of successfully achieving and maintaining sobriety. It is never too late to return to the path of living the happy life of which you once dreamed was possible.

What is the best way to treat alcoholism?

Someone whose thoughts and actions revolve around finding alcohol, drinking it, and recovering from a hangover may not even realize that they have a problem. At the stage of active alcoholism, it is almost impossible to get someone into treatment. With 14.8 million people aged 12 and older being diagnosed as having alcohol use disorder (AUD), there is no blanket treatment that helps everyone the same. Each person exhibits different behaviors and will react to each treatment method differently as well. The key to deciding which is best for you will be to find the one that matches your personality and goals best.

What kinds of alcohol treatment options exist?

The desire to get help is not felt by many of those who are indeed abusing alcohol, but when it does show up, it is generally in a sudden moment of realization. Determining what treatment is best can be initially based on a few factors that determine the severity of the addiction, such as:

• How long have you been drinking?
• How much do you typically drink in a sitting?
• Is there a dual diagnosis, or co-occurring mental health issue?

Achieving a clean life can be found in following basic steps, that include:

• Detoxification
• Rehab and recovery
• Aftercare and maintenance

 There are details that cannot be overlooked in each process.

• Detox from alcohol
  • Allowing the body to rid itself of alcohol is one of the most difficult and dangerous processes when compared to any other abused substance, requiring medical monitoring 24/7 and medications that will help prevent seizures, heart attacks, and the discomfort associated with detox. It is highly recommended that this is done at an alcohol detox center if you have not chosen an inpatient program that has it included, since it can be life-threatening. Symptoms that include increased blood pressure, nausea, insomnia, delirium, and tremors can last five to seven days. Most detox programs include:
    • Medications
    • Stress management
    • Emotional support
    • A healthy diet
    • Other therapies, such as massages, that may ease symptoms
• Rehabilitation
  • Reentering life immediately after going through detox is not recommended. The person has not learned how to handle the anxiety that may have led them down this path, nor has it taught them how to say no when they are faced with the cravings that will come. Inpatient and outpatient alcohol rehab programs help them learn coping skills with a combination of medications and psychotherapies, that include:
    • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
    • Family therapy
    • Contingency management
    • Motivational enhancement
    • 12-step support groups
  • Some locations, whether they are standard or luxury treatment centers, include specific amenities or features that may benefit people as well. Some examples are:
    • Holistic alcohol treatment
    • Men only alcohol treatment
    • Women only alcohol treatment
    • Couples alcohol treatment
    • Pet-friendly treatment
    • Teenagers only alcohol treatment
    • Jewish alcohol treatment
    • Christian alcohol treatment
• Aftercare and maintenance
  • Every step in the journey to find sobriety is important, but this one is the longest lasting and will require the utilization of the coping skills that were learned. About 40% of those who successfully completed an alcohol treatment program were sober after one year. This is compared to only 23% of those who tried to stay sober on their own. Relapse is a part of the process but knowing how to handle the experience is essential.
  • Group and individual counseling may continue post-rehab, and attending AA meetings offers the non-judgmental support of people going through similar issues. Other 12-step programs are also available, such as SMART recovery, NA, Al-Anon, and Nar-Anon.
  • This may also include sober living homes for those who are not transitioning well back into a routine life without alcohol. They will reside with a group of people who are fighting the same fight.

In what settings will I find alcohol treatment?

There are a variety of programs. Finding the one that fits the needs of the alcoholic is important. The facility should offer features that will help that person remember the joy they used to feel in life and what they used to do to fill their time before alcohol took over their focus and behavior. The options will vary, depending on the severity of the addiction:

• Inpatient, residential alcohol treatment
  • Effective for those with severe AUD, as well as those who have a co-occurring mental health condition. Usually includes detox and helps with the next step of an outpatient program after intense group and individual counseling and activities. It can be a short-term or long-term treatment.
• Outpatient alcohol treatment
  • Helps in mild addiction cases and allows flexibility to continue job and family responsibilities while attending group or individual therapy sessions during the day. It offers more affordability and access to support system; however, it leaves them closer to what may trigger a relapse.
• Recovery housing
  • Transitioning back into the life that caused enough anxiety to want to continue drinking can be trying, so living amongst peers who are going through the same thing can be of great assistance in achieving a successful recovery. Halfway houses and sober living homes provide emotional safety and support.

Learning to live without alcohol is not something that people who love the taste and feel of alcohol want to do. Alcoholism is a disease that has changed the way the brain works, adapting to functioning with the consistent consumption of alcohol. Simply removing the substance from the body is not enough in the majority of cases; however, there is always hope in reminding the body and mind how it previously lived without alcohol. Only 9% of alcoholics are the ones that the media has taught us to expect, the ones sleeping under bridges. They actually range on the spectrum from homeless to high functioning. No matter what rock bottom looks like to someone, digging deep and finding a way to return to a fulfilling life without alcohol can be the first step to achieving the happiness for which all humans long.