Most alcohol addiction treatment centers also treat addictions to other substances. Alcoholics require a certain level of medical oversight while going through withdrawals, but the treatment for the psychological addiction is virtually the same as it is with other substances. As Mayo Clinic treatment doctors report, alcohol treatment includes medication, self-help groups and counseling.
Types
Alcohol addiction treatment takes many forms, ranging from intensive outpatient counseling to residential inpatient long-term treatment.
Considerations
Inpatient medical treatment usually is required for long-time drinkers. The process sometimes lasts four to seven days and includes medical supervision and sedation to prevent seizures.
Benefits
The main benefit of going into treatment for recovery from alcoholism is that patients can spend time in a safe environment free of the influences that would cause them to resume drinking.
Features
Alcohol addiction treatment includes assessments for other co-occurring illnesses often present in alcoholics, such as depression or bipolar disorder. Emphasis on treatment is to get patients to accept their disease and their inability to drink successfully.
Support
In treatment, most facilities introduce patients to some form of continuing support the patient can receive after leaving the program, such as Alcoholics Anonymous or an outside therapist.
Warning
While there are medications, such as Antabuse, that can help prevent alcoholic relapses, relapse is a common occurrence for people who have gone through treatment. Many patients require multiple visits to treatment before they can get and stay sober.
