Alcohol Treatment Programs in the U.S.

Jan 22, 2011
Robert McKelvie

Alcohol Treatment Programs - Pam Roth

Alcohol treatment programs in the U.S. vary widely in type and length of treatment, from outpatient counseling to inpatient detox facilities.

Alcohol addiction, or alcoholism, is a chronic condition in which a person becomes dependent on alcohol and loses control over drinking. Many people abuse alcohol but do not necessarily become dependent on it – binge drinkers for example. Both alcoholics and other alcohol abusers can benefit from treatment, although those who are addicted often require more intensive and serious interventions and treatments to overcome their problem. There are a large number and variety of types of alcohol treatment programs in developed countries. This article focuses on alcohol treatment programs in the U.S.

The Main Types of Alcohol Treatment Programs

Alcohol treatment can range from brief interventions to various outpatient programs or a residential inpatient detox and rehab program. Abusers who are not dependent can succeed by cutting down their drinking and by eliminating binges. But those who are dependent (alcoholics) need to have as their goal giving up drinking alcohol completely. But both kinds of heavy drinkers typically require professional help.

Here are several examples of the kinds of alcohol treatment programs that are available in the U.S.:

Simple advice and counseling from healthcare providers
Screening questions or detailed questionnaires to assess the full extent and nature of the drinking problem
“Brief interventions” by primary care physicians
Psychological counseling
Oral or injectable medications
Detoxification and withdrawal centers
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings and programs

An alcoholic or alcohol abuser may benefit from a number of these treatment options.

Inpatient Alcohol Treatment Programs

Inpatient treatment programs enable alcoholics to detox and withdraw under medical supervision with access to doctors, counselors and prescription medicines. These usually require from four to seven days and are held either in a hospital or in a special inpatient treatment center catering to those addicted to alcohol or other drugs.

Rising costs have driven more alcohol dependent people to use outpatient treatment options. However, inpatient treatment is deemed more appropriate in some circumstances, including for:

Patients with serious psychiatric conditions
Patients with other concurring medical conditions
Patients lacking a supportive social or family environment conducive to recovery

Outpatient Alcohol Treatment and Support Programs

Every stage of alcohol treatment and recovery can be handled on an outpatient basis with a good measure of success. These include the following types of treatment and aftercare:

Detox and withdrawal
Oral medications
Injectable medications
Psychological counseling
Family counseling
AA meetings
Other support groups
Learning specific skills and behavior modification

Al-Anon and Alateen are organizations that offer valuable support programs for the friends and close relations of alcoholics or those who abuse alcohol. The premise is that those who are adversely affected by problem drinkers need their own support group to help them cope with the issues and problems caused by the drinking spouse, parent, child, or friend, whether or not the drinker is willing to change. Since the abuse or addiction to alcohol can cause devastating consequences for families affected, such support groups and programs fill a vital social need.

Alcohol Treatment Must be Pursued Although Success is Not Guaranteed

The consequences of alcohol addiction and abuse can be catastrophic for both the individual drinkers and for others affected by them, including society. That’s why getting these drinkers into treatment programs is so important and urgent. Families and communities should employ every available strategy to get professional help that will enable drinkers to gain control or abstain completely from alcohol. Everyone benefits from stopping a person’s continuing abuse of or addiction to alcohol. Don’t give up trying.