According to consultants at Drug Rehab & Alcohol Treatment Center Referral, only 10 percent of those people who need drug and alcohol treatment receive it. As a friend or family member of an alcoholic, you may become frustrated and worried as you watch the destruction caused by addiction. After convincing an alcoholic that he needs help, there are additional steps you can take to help identify someone's alcohol treatment needs.
Step 1
Try to get a clear picture of the amount of alcohol the person consumes. Those who drink heavily every day may require intensive medical treatment as they go through withdrawals, report doctors at the Mayo Clinic.
Step 2
Talk to a trained counselor at a referral organization such as Drug Rehab & Alcohol Treatment Center Referral or the National Association for Addiction Professionals. Explain the circumstances of the person for whom you are trying to find treatment. Experience with alcoholics can guide counselors to provide you with the proper advice.
Step 3
Find out what kind of insurance coverage the person has to determine what kind of treatment he can afford. Many treatment centers only accept private insurance or are strictly self-pay type facilities. Other centers are run by government-sponsored agencies and serve those with no resources. Check with the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration treatment locator to find various types of programs.
Step 4
Include the person's doctor in the final decision to find the appropriate treatment. A family doctor or therapist may know about other co-occurring mental disorders the person may have that are common to alcoholics. Treatment centers set up to deal with dual diagnosis patients may prove to be preferable alternatives than those that only treat the substance abuse.
Step 5
Consider the family situation to determine if the alcoholic can enter an inpatient program or needs outpatient treatment because of her home responsibilities. Often mothers of small children, for example, do not have sufficient help to watch the children while they enter treatment. People attending outpatient programs return home at night.
Tips and Warnings
- Look for a program that serves people who are similar to the alcoholic in age and gender.
- Keep your expectations reasonable. While you might find the best treatment facility for an alcoholic, the success of the treatment depends largely on the desire of the alcoholic to stop drinking and find a new way to live.
