Treatment Options for Alcohol Abuse & Addiction

With approximately 14 million Americans suffering from alcohol abuse or addiction, a discussion of alcohol abuse and addiction treatment options is not only timely, it is extremely relevant.

It is important to understand that alcohol abuse and addiction are problems that are difficult to overcome, and they are best handled by substance abuse professionals. It is never recommended that you try to tackle your alcohol problem on your own simply because of the physical and emotional risks that are associated with the recovery process.

What Treatment Involves

One of the first things to understand is that relapse is a common occurrence with alcohol addiction. While relapses are frustrating, they should not discourage you from continuing to seek treatment in an effort to be free of your addiction.

Treatment for alcohol abuse involves more than simply addressing the physical symptoms that are associated with the recovery process; it involves a complete mind and body treatment in order to help people be successful in their efforts. This is why relapse is such a common occurrence, particularly among people who try to stop drinking alcohol on their own.

Treatment programs also teach people how to develop the skills they will need to live a life that is free of alcohol in a world that emphasizes alcohol use, particularly in social situations. Without adequate coping and decision making skills, people are far more likely to suffer a relapse once their initial treatment period is over and they have returned to their “normal” lives.

Getting Sober

Getting sober, more commonly referred to as detox, is the very first part of any alcohol recovery program. Detox generally lasts between one and five days, depending on how much of a tolerance you have built up for alcohol. During this time, people normally experience withdrawal symptoms while their bodies gradually adjust to functioning without alcohol.

Withdrawal symptoms can include the following:

• Hand tremors
  Headaches
  Nausea, vomiting or loss of appetite
  Insomnia
  Agitation
  Increased blood pressure
  Heart palpitations
  Hallucinations, seizures or delusions (normally only in severe cases of alcohol addiction)

Alcohol Addiction Treatment Programs

As a general rule, the longer a person has been addicted to alcohol, the longer the treatment period will need to be in order to be truly effective. Regardless of how long a particular treatment program is, it is essential that you see it through to the end, including all recommended follow-up care requirements.

There are a variety of available treatment options, depending on each person’s needs. It is helpful to conduct some research to determine which of the following options will be most effective for treatment:

• Residential treatment: These programs require patients to live at the treatment facility while they go through treatment. The length of residential treatment programs ranges from 30 to 90 days.
• Intensive outpatient programs: These are relapse prevention treatment programs that require patients to meet at least three days each week for at least two or three hours each day. These sessions can be scheduled around a patient’s work or school obligations.
• Partial hospitalization: Another relapse prevention program, these programs require patients to meet for several hours a day, up to five days per week. People who choose this option usually need medical monitoring strictly on an outpatient basis. They also need to have a safe, stable living environment in order to be successful with this type of treatment.
• Intervention: People who require a brief intervention are those who are at risk for alcoholism or alcohol abuse. Intervention involves several visits to a substance abuse professional.
• Counseling: This type of treatment should always take place in conjunction with some type of substance abuse treatment, or as a part of a person’s follow up therapy once they have completed a course of treatment for alcohol abuse. Counseling is extremely important because it helps people to gain a new perspective about their lives, and it provides them with the necessary tools that are required for making better decisions throughout life.
• Sober living: Sober living homes are useful for people who have completed a residential treatment program and who don’t have either a safe home to go to or a home at all. These are places for recovering alcoholics and addicts to provide support to each other in a safe and relatively controlled environment.

When choosing an alcohol addiction treatment program that will effectively treat you, it is important that the program has proper accreditation and licensing.

In some cases, medical insurance may pay for some of your treatment for alcohol abuse or addiction. If finances are a concern, you might want to search for programs that offer reduced payment options, or those that offer payment plans for patients whose insurance will not cover the cost of treatment.

To maintain a life that is free of alcohol abuse or addiction, it is necessary that you stay involved in some type of support group. Support groups are invaluable tools that can help you stay sober, particularly at times when you feel like your resolve is being challenged.