Treatment for Alcohol Abuse or Dependency

The forms of treatment available to help alcoholics today fall into three main categories:

Inpatient Treatment:

The patient is housed in a treatment facility for a period of 30 -60 days, where he or she participates in one-on-one and group therapy, attends workshops that teach relapse avoidance and stress management techniques, and is introduced to the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.

The supportive environment of the facility, its staff and other patients—as well as the “break” this provides from the patient’s day-to-day life (which frequently include “triggers” that could encourage drinking)—and the practical guidance offered by the 12 Steps, make inpatient treatment the most effective form of recovery for most people struggling with alcohol abuse issues.

Outpatient Treatment:

This approach is similar to the Inpatient model, and differs only in that the patient continues to live at home, participating in his or her work (or school) schedule, visiting the treatment facility on a regular schedule—usually 3-5 times each week for 2-3 hours.

The program of treatment follows the same course (therapy, workshops and 12 Step meetings) offered to Inpatient clients. The difference is chiefly cost (the added expense of room and board in the treatment facility isn’t necessary) and convenience (the patient can continue with his or her regular routine). The length of Outpatient treatment may be the same or longer than Inpatient programs. The program’s Client Intake manager generally determines the length of treatment, based on the patient’s needs.

12 Step Programs:

The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous are considered the “gold standard” of self-help recovery. Originally developed by the co-founders of A.A. in the 1930s, this program has grown to encompass the world, helping millions of alcoholics become sober, contributing members of society again.

Meetings can be found in virtually every city in the country—and in more than 100 foreign countries, as well.

The Steps were created by compiling the early experiences of A.A. members, in an attempt to discover what they did to get—and stay—sober. This simple, practical program has been so successful in helping alcoholics recover that it has been adapted to aid drug addicts, and many others who suffer with addictive conditions.

More information about Alcoholics Anonymous, including meeting times and locations, can be found at their website, www.aa.org