Treatment for Alcohol Addiction: Understanding Your Options for Recovery

Alcohol addiction, also called alcoholism or alcohol use disorder (AUD), is a long-term illness that afflicts millions of Americans. It is characterized by an inability to control or stop drinking and always seems to get worse, never better, when left untreated. 

The path to recovery is complex and takes many different directions, often depending on the individual. But we know several things for certain about effective treatment for alcohol addiction. What follows is a basic introduction to the condition, along with an overview of the standard therapy options.

Inpatient vs. Outpatient Care

People choosing between treatment options for alcohol abuse must decide whether to go for inpatient or outpatient care. Inpatient treatment requires the individual to live in a rehabilitation facility for a set amount of time, usually between 30 and 90 days. This all-in approach grants the patient the opportunity to live in a structured, supervised, and secure environment where he or she can be almost entirely devoted to the business of recovering. 

On the other hand, you can also receive care while still living at home. You just need to go to a clinic for your scheduled appointments. You’re then free to go home after. Your care can be scheduled around your other obligations. You go to work. You go to classes. You take care of your family. You just also go in to see your therapist regularly.

Going Through the Detoxification Process

Usually, the first step in recovering from alcoholism is detoxification. In the simplest terms, this is medically supervised alcohol withdrawal. Detox can be challenging and even dangerous. 

And detoxing from alcohol is much more serious than quitting even some classes of drugs. For this reason, it is highly recommended that this is done under the watchful eye of a trained medical provider.

Counseling and Behavioral Therapies

Following the completion of the detoxification process, persons with a diagnosis of severe alcohol use disorder usually take part in a range of counseling and behavioral therapies. 

These therapeutic practices target the patient’s mind as much as their body and attempt to delve into what’s going on mentally that caused the person to lean so heavily on alcohol in the first place. By doing so, the treatment for alcohol addiction targets the root of the addiction, not the symptoms.

Support Groups Aid in Long-Term Recovery

Group therapy offers people a chance to air their experiences, problems, and triumphs in the company of others who are dealing with the same life issues. This makes for a very communal aspect of recovery that is unique to group therapy. And it is that communal aspect that can aid recovery by offering a strong lifeline. 

Members tell their stories, support one another, and keep one another accountable. Indeed, some experts think the very act of storytelling, with its inherent morality, serves as a kind of therapy and motivator to stay sober. 

The Right Time to Seek Treatment for Alcohol Addiction Is Right Now

Each part of recovery serves a purpose, and together, they form a cohesive approach to treating a complicated, multifaceted disease. Through understanding and knowledge about these options, individuals can choose with confidence, knowing they are directing their lives toward the kind of future they want to live.