In 2013, nearly 7% of Americans 12 and older were dependent on alcohol, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
They drank in their homes or public places, drank alone or in groups, and wanted to stop but were unable to do so.
Alcohol abuse disorders like this can seem determined, and even a little unbeatable, but they can be treated. Individuals who enroll in an alcohol rehab could pick up the skills they’ll need to say “No” to that next glass of alcohol, and they could be an inspiration to the thousands of others who want to get sober, but just don’t know how to do so. When a person drinks too much, families can be of great help. By investigating alcohol rehab alternatives, they can present an individual in need with a comprehensive treatment plan with all of the specifics nailed down. These are just a few of the questions families should upon reflect as they begin their research.
Does the person require residential alcohol treatment, or is outpatient care better?
An inpatient treatment program enables a person with an addiction to step away from the daily concerns of life to focus on the specifics of recovery. It could be a particularly useful approach for people with alcoholism. Many patients who enroll in treatment programs for alcoholism are middle-aged or older.
For instance, SAMHSA reports that about 15.2 percent of individuals enrolling in treatment programs in Alaska in 2014 for alcohol issues alone were 51-55 years. That’s the biggest age group of people acquiring alcohol-only help. When people are a little older like this, they have all sorts of stressors that pull on them daily. They may have:
- Children
- Careers
- Spouses
- Friends
- Pets
- Mortgages
- Gardens
- Hobbies
It’s hard to focus on addiction care specifics when there are all these other demands on a person’s time.
An inpatient program might be perfect for people who have tried outpatient alcoholism recovery in the past and found those programs unhelpful. When relapses seem to happen repeatedly, that’s a sign that the program of choice isn’t optimal. If outpatient care hasn’t worked before, inpatient treatment might be an excellent way to go.
But some people can do well in outpatient programs. Those with a relatively new alcoholism habit might succeed in outpatient care, for example, as might people with a strong family connection and a good support group. People like this might not need all of the security and supervision inpatient care can deliver.
What does an alcohol treatment plan look like?
After an evaluation, an alcohol rehab pulls together a roadmap to alcohol wellness. This is a treatment plan, and it might provide a mix of services including:
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Support group work
- Occupational therapy
- Relapse prevention
- Exercise
- Nutrition
- Family therapy