Deciding on an Alcohol Treatment Center

The physical dependency that alcoholics have can be treated through different types of programs, with options varying from residential inpatient treatment to outpatient treatment. Alcohol treatment centers have different philosophies and programs that they offer and in order to increase the chances of the addict staying sober, the correct, individualized program needs to be chosen.

While outpatient treatment can be a good option for the alcoholic with a recent history of addiction, programs that last less than 90 days result in poor long-term outcomes. Residential inpatient treatment centers with programs of at least 90 days are the better option, and those programs with a duration of at least a year have the greatest success rate for maintaining long term sobriety. The reasons for this are two-fold: the addict’s physical addiction needs are treated as well as the addict’s mental health needs. While many shorter treatment options address the detoxification aspect, they do not educate the alcoholic with the skills needed to maintain abstinence from alcohol once back into mainstream society, thus rendering them unprepared for the stresses and triggers that can and will lead them down the path of abuse once again.

Long-term treatment facilities offer individualized care which greatly increases the addict’s degree of success. The most successful alcohol rehabilitation facilities offer different programs that are designed to meet the addict’s individual needs, often based on the 12-step program which addresses the spiritual needs of the person while preparing them for life outside of treatment. In addition, behavioral therapies, which teach the addict the coping skills necessary to avoid temptation, and pharmacological treatments, which help with physical withdrawal symptoms and potential mental illness, help individualize care.

Working in combination, the three approaches are the most effective. Alcohol treatment centers that offer this multi-faceted approach properly address the unique needs of each person. This approach addresses the mental health needs of the individual, whether that is for depression or anxiety or the need for counseling. Individuals also learn new behaviors and coping skills that they will need to succeed in life after leaving the treatment facility. These programs also offer continuing care for the recovering addict once he or she is back in the mainstream.

Long-term alcohol treatment centers are most successful through the programs that are offered in conjunction with the individual care provided to each person, as sobriety skills are not learned overnight. They are taught through the course of a year and individuals are encouraged to stay until they have properly strengthened their abilities to function once outside of treatment. Not only does the year of treatment give the addict time to learn coping skills, it also gives them time to heal core traumas that may be the underlying reasons for the abuse. Short-term treatment offers just enough time to detox and does not allow the time needed to properly learn how to function in society.

Although there are many treatment options available, long-term alcohol treatment facilities offer the best chance of a sober life. Accessing the needs of the alcoholic, and being aware of the options that are available throughout the United States, will make choosing an alcohol treatment center easy, leading to long-term sobriety.

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