alcohol treatment

Alcoholism is a disease that impacts the lives of millions of individuals and families each year. Overcoming an addiction to alcohol is never easy, even if you are committed and motivated to live a life of sobriety. Choosing an alcohol rehab center or program that is right for you greatly depends on your needs, personality, and the severity of your addiction.

Not all alcohol rehab solutions are ideal for individuals who are struggling with addiction. While inpatient rehabilitation treatment programs are optimal for those who require a stable environment and the assistance of medical professionals, an outpatient program or support group may be better for those who wish to maintain their job and current living situation.

Types of Alcohol Rehab Programs and Facilities

Before choosing an alcohol rehabilitation program, it is important to consider the different types of solutions that are most common. Some of the most prominent types of alcohol rehab include:

Inpatient Rehabilitation Treatment Centers and Facilities (Short and Long-Term Solutions)

Intensive Outpatient Programs and Guidance

Outpatient Support Groups and Programs

Individual/Group Therapy Sessions

Not all rehabilitation solutions are ideal for anyone struggling with an addiction to alcohol. Consider the severity of your addiction and whether or not you are capable of abstaining from purchasing and consuming alcohol when left to your own devices. If you lack self-control when it comes to consuming alcohol, an inpatient rehabilitation program or an intensive outpatient solution is likely your best option. For individuals who have only just recently become dependent on using alcohol more frequently than just socially, outpatient programs and local support groups may be more suitable.

Determining the best alcohol rehab solution for you highly depends on the current severity of your addiction and whether or not you have struggled with extreme addictions throughout the entirety of your life. Most individuals who have struggled with consistent addictions are more prone to relapsing and giving into temptation when not monitored and guided using an inpatient rehab center or treatment facility.

Choosing an Inpatient Rehabilitation Center

Inpatient rehabilitation centers and treatment programs require individuals to complete 30, 60, or even 90 days of their program while living within the facility itself. Inpatient programs are ideal for those who have a serious health risk of quitting their addiction “cold turkey” and without medical guidance. Inpatient programs not only provide monitored detoxing, but also offer the assistance of both medical professionals and addiction counselors who specialize in alcoholism and treating it effectively.

Intensive Outpatient/Outpatient Programs

Intensive outpatient solutions and outpatient programs work for individuals who are currently employed or unable to move from their home or place of living. Intensive outpatient programs may require an individual to visit a medical facility for checkups while working together with both doctors and therapists who specialize in helping those with severe alcohol addictions.

Outpatient programs do not typically require individuals to live within a rehabilitation treatment center or facility. Instead, outpatient programs may require attendance to various meetings, checkups, and therapy sessions depending on the program you have selected and the type of assistance and support you are seeking.

Support Groups and Group Counseling

Attending local support meetings and sponsor groups is another way to obtain the necessary mental and emotional support required to overcome a serious addiction to alcohol. Obtaining a sponsor is one way to stick to your goals without giving into temptation and indulging in bad and detrimental habits. Support groups are optimal for those who have not yet developed a physical addiction to alcohol but want additional emotional and mental support to stop overindulging.

Support groups provide a safe space to communicate openly and honestly about the challenges and obstacles you face each day. Connect with others who steer clear from alcohol to prevent falling back into bad habits. Share your story while listening to the stories of others who have experienced similar situations.

Understanding the most common types of alcohol rehabs and treatment programs that are currently available is essential when you want to stop using alcohol altogether. With a complete understanding of various alcohol rehab solutions, select a treatment center or program that is right for you and the future lifestyle you envision for yourself.

Are you ready to make a positive change in your life while eliminating your addiction to alcohol? Our counselors are available 24 hours a day.

You’ve made the decision to get help for your addiction, but most of the centers that you’re considering seem to focus on treating alcoholics. Maybe you want to enter treatment as a couple, but you’re each addicted to different substances. There’s no need to worry. In almost every case, an alcoholism treatment center will treat other addictions.

How is Alcoholism Treatment Different From Drug Addiction Treatment?

Alcoholics and addicts share many things, but there are a few key differences that affect treatment for them.

Withdrawal from alcohol is more dangerous than withdrawal from other drugs.

Alcohol is more readily available and more socially acceptable than drugs. This can make alcohol harder to resist when people complete treatment.

Most addicts don’t engage in the “binge” behavior that some alcoholics do.

Will an Alcoholism Treatment Center Treat Other Addictions?

Any treatment center that specializes in substance abuse will treat both drug addiction and alcoholism. There are good reasons for this.

Some Addicts Use Both Drugs and Alcohol

Although some alcoholics and addicts prefer their favorite mind-altering substance, it’s also true that many of them will “cross over” if they can’t get access to their favorite.

The bottom line is that for a desperate addict, any substance will do. Chronic alcoholics and drug abusers have been known to use household chemicals and toiletry items to get their high. The pattern of addiction are the same.

There are also addicts who use alcohol to intensify the effect of their drugs, and vice versa. If you have difficulty with any type of substance abuse, you’re facing the same problems.

The Treatments for Addiction Rely on the Same Principles

Just as the patterns of addiction are similar, treatment of alcoholism and drug addiction are dependent on the same basic principles.

• The addict or alcoholic must be committed to recovery and sobriety.
• Individual therapy is a proven method for helping addicts overcome their addiction.
• Peer support and family support are key to ongoing sobriety.
• Addicts and alcoholics need to learn new ways of coping with daily stress and other triggers.

Alcoholics and Addicts Can Help Each Other

At a treatment or detox center, you’ll find other people who are going through the same thing that you are. While there may be differences in your substances of choice, you are all in this together.

Peer support is an important part of getting and staying sober. By talking with others, you’ll get ideas that you may not have thought of on your own. You’ll also be able to share insights from your own experience. That mutual help makes everyone stronger.

What You Should Look for in a Treatment Center

If you’ve made the decision to get help, the next big step is finding an inpatient or outpatient facility. Both have their advantages and disadvantages.

At an inpatient center, you’ll be away from the temptations to drink or take drugs, but you’ll have to leave your family, job and other responsibilities. At an outpatient center, you’ll have more daily temptations to abuse substances, but you’ll also have your family nearby and keep your job.

A Proven Program

Whether you’re considering inpatient or outpatient treatment, you should look for a facility or rehab center that provides the following things that are proven to help with addiction:

• Individualized treatment plans.
• Therapy based on proven techniques.
• Group therapy.
• Family therapy.
• Couples counseling if you are attending as a couple.
• Relapse prevention training.
• Attendance at peer support groups.
• Follow-up care to help you maintain sobriety.

What About Withdrawal?

It’s natural to be concerned about the effects of withdrawal. You should ask if the center you’re considering provides safe, medically-supervised detox.

• Medical detox means that you won’t have to suffer the pain, sickness and other symptoms of withdrawal.
• Medical detox is especially important if you’re addicted to alcohol, because sudden withdrawal from alcohol can be dangerous.
• It is harder to get sober if you still have alcohol or drugs in your system.
• Medical detox is done in complete privacy.

Find a Treatment Center for Alcoholism and Drug Addiction

There are many choices out there when it comes to treatment centers for addiction. Our knowledgeable counselors can help you make the right one. If you’re ready to start a new and better life, call us anytime.