Alcohol use begins with the voluntary choice to take a drink. Over time, however, that choice shifts to dependence. Alcoholism is characterized by an uncontrollable craving for alcohol, regardless of the consequences. In 2007, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicated that more than 23 million Americans over the age of 12 needed treatment for drug or alcohol use. Only 2.4 million received help at a hospital or rehab.
In-Patient Treatment
In-patient rehabilitation facilities and detoxification clinics are among the top methods for treating alcoholism. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported in 2008 that about 750,000 Americans sought inpatient treatment for addiction.
Residential treatment can be a seven-day, 28-day or even a 90-day intensive program that gives patients a safe, supervised community in their early days of sobriety. Before rehab can begin, patients will detox, a process that can last up to a week, depending on the severity of their addiction. Once stabilized, individuals participate in one-on-one sessions and group therapy to learn how to cope and manage their lives without drinking. The National Institute of Drug Abuse states that counseling and behavioral therapy are critical parts of addiction treatment.
Outpatient Drug Rehab
Although outpatient rehab does not provide the same level of intensive treatment and supervision as does inpatient rehab, the National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that participation in outpatient treatment for 90 days can be significantly effective and have a positive outcome. "Treatment Options for Abstinence Based Programs," a report by Norman Hoffmann, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry at the University of Minnesota, indicated that 70 percent of patients who participated in outpatient therapy were able to maintain abstinence for at least one year.
Outpatient rehab offers individual therapy and group therapy. Many will also offer a 12-step program such as Alcoholics Anonymous.
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous, or AA is a 12-step recovery program. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. Though not a rehabilitation facility, AA can be a starting point for alcoholics who do not need to detox. It is especially beneficial for people with a history of relapsing.
At AA, members follow a 12-step program starting with admitting that they are powerless over alcohol and that their lives have become unmanageable. AA also encourages sponsorship. For the newly recovering alcoholic, this means partnering with a peer who can guide you through the 12 steps. For those with more sobriety, being a sponsor helps them to stay sober by being of use to another suffering individual. Hoffmann's research found that recovering alcoholics in AA who were in either inpatient and outpatient rehab were more likely to stay sober compared to individuals who were not in the 12-step program.
