If you abuse alcohol, your mortality rate is two to four times greater than those who do not abuse alcohol, according to a 2001 report by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Alcoholism can permanently damage organs. According to a 2005 report written by registered nurse Mary G. McKinley in the journal "Critical Care Nurse," 20 percent of hospital patients are considered alcohol abusers.
Intake
The first thing that happens when you check into a 90-day alcohol treatment facility is that an addiction specialist will evaluate your condition. She will need to know how much you drink each day and how long you have been drinking. The answer to these questions will determine whether you first need to detoxify your body before starting a rehabilitation program.
Rehabilitation
A 90-day alcohol rehabilitation program is an intensive program. You can attend an inpatient, residential program, or a part-time, outpatient program that meets in the mornings, afternoons or evenings. In each case, you will have the opportunity to meet with a counselor for one-on-one therapy, you will have group therapy with your peers in recovery and receive alcohol-abuse education. Depending on the program you choose, you may be introduced to a 12-step program like Alcoholics Anonymous, known as AA, which is an organization that is free to join. The only requirement for membership is the desire to stop drinking.
How it Works
A 90-day treatment program is much more intensive compared to the standard 28-day alcohol treatment program. The goal of a 90-day program is to help you to understand why you drink, recognize triggers that will cause craving and teach you how to prevent a relapse. Caron Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centers reports that those who attend AA and participate in other abstinence programs for one year are more likely to stay sober compared to those who do not.
Therapy
Behavioral therapy is an important part of alcohol treatment. In a 90-day program, most of your time will be spent learning how to change your behaviors and how you interact with those around you. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that behavioral treatments help patients learn how to change their behavior and improve their life.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy works by helping you to recognize, avoid and cope with why you drink. Family therapy gets your loved ones involved with your recovery and works by addressing family issues that cause dysfunction. Motivational interviewing will help prepare you for accepting treatment. Motivational incentives use positive reinforcement to help you stay sober.
Relapse Prevention
Burning Tree, a long-term drug and alcohol treatment center in Texas, indicates that most people who try to quit drinking relapse at some point. In a 90-day treatment program, much time will be dedicated to help you develop tools to prevent a relapse. "People, places and things" is a motto popularly used in AA. The idea is that there are people who remind you of who you were when you drank, there are places that will remind you of drinking and things that will cause you to crave alcohol. By changing the people you associate with, the places you frequent and the things you do, you can increase your chances of staying sober.
