Alcohol dependence is a chronic disease. It affects more than 22 million Americans over the age of 12, according to 2004 statistics reported by Caron Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Pennsylvania. Alcohol treatment helps patients withdraw from addiction and cope with the issues that draw them to drinking. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, that same year only 3.8 million people got help for addiction.
About Treatment Centers
Treatment centers for drug and alcohol abuse can be an inpatient, outpatient or hospital facility. Many programs provide detoxification, rehabilitation, counseling and group therapy to patients who suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence. While some facilities may only offer rehabilitation, they are typically partnered with a separate detox treatment center.
Treatment Centers
You can find alcohol treatment centers in every state, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA. The Betty Ford Clinic, with its main campus in Rancho Mirage, California, offers programs for people with alcohol problems as well as their family members. Hazelden is one of the world’s largest non-profit treatment centers, originally founded in Minnesota. Caron Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centers opened its doors in 1959 and is affiliated with the Treatment Research Institute in Pennsylvania. If these treatment centers do not have affiliate branches in your state, they offer information on finding the right treatment center for your needs.
Treatment Provided
Once you check in to a treatment facility, whether it is inpatient or outpatient, you will be evaluated by an addiction specialist. Your treatment team will need to know your level of dependence. Depending on how long you’ve been drinking and how much you drink, you may need detoxification, a process that can last about seven days. In rehabilitation, which can last from a few weeks to several months or longer, you will learn about addiction, relapse prevention, and participate in group and one-on-one therapy. The goal in rehab is that you understand how alcoholism works, how it affects brain function and cognition and the very real possibility of relapse.
Treatment Statistics
Relapse in recovery is a top concern for recovering alcohol abusers. In fact, the rate of relapse matches the rates of other chronic illnesses like type 1 diabetes, hypertension and asthma, reports Caron. That’s why it is so important that treatment centers not only offer relapse prevention counseling, but also introduce you to self-help programs like Alcoholics Anonymous, known as AA. In a 2004 survey of 7,500 AA members, about 36 percent had more than 10 years of sobriety and the average length of sobriety among polled participants was eight years.
Finding the Right Treatment for You
Finding a treatment center that fits your needs can take a bit of research. SAMHSA compiled a list that can help you search. Some information to consider includes whether the facility takes your insurance, and if not, if they will work with you on a payment plan. Be sure that the program is state-accredited, licensed and staffed by trained professionals. Programs should offer ongoing assessment of your treatment plan so that your changing needs are met.
