What Kinds Of Alcohol Addiction Treatment Are There?
Once a person has decided they need professional addiction treatment and recovery services, they will find the options are endless in figuring out what that treatment path looks like. Before that important decision is made, it’s important to first understand the treatment system and what is available to you or your loved one. The addiction treatment program types are:
OUTPATIENT ALCOHOL TREATMENT
This treatment program is low-to-medium in intensity. Outpatient clients commonly receive no more than nine hours of treatment a week at a specialty facility while continuing to live either at home or another place that is outside the center. This amount could be less for recovering teen users. Some centers offer evening or weekend outpatient services so people can continue to meet outside responsibilities such as work or school.
INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT ALCOHOL TREATMENT
Clients receiving intensive outpatient care can attend between 10 hours and 20 hours of treatment a week at a center while living off-site. Like the outpatient setting, it is medium to high intensity and offers evening or weekend services so outside responsibilities can be met such as work or stay in school. People who require multiple services or have accompanying medical or psychological illnesses along with a substance use disorder may benefit from this setting. Individuals who need a higher level of care than outpatient treatment may also find an IOP to be a better fit.
RESIDENTIAL ALCOHOL TREATMENT
Residential treatment provides a structured environment with medium-to-high intensity that lets clients fully focus on their recovery with 24-hour support. Addiction care and medical professionals are available 24 hours a day to help clients with their needs. These programs can run from a month to 12 months. The severity of someone’s addiction and other factors are reviewed before residential treatment is recommended. Residents go through different phases as they move through their program.
PARTIAL HOSPITALIZATION ALCOHOL PROGRAMS (ALSO KNOWN AS DAY TREATMENT)
Partial hospitalization programs can be viewed as a bridge between residential and outpatient programs. In this medium-to-high-intensity setting, clients attend four to eight hours of treatment a daily, or 20 or more weekly, while continuing to live at home or another off-site facility, such as a sober home or transitional living home. Clients do not require 24-hour supervision or receive around-the-clock medical assistance like residential clients. They are, however, required to meet their weekly commitments and attend intensive therapy sessions. PHPs are an option for people with co-occurring mental disorders.
INPATIENT ALCOHOL TREATMENT
Inpatient treatment, known at some centers as residential treatment, is a high level of care. In this setting, clients receive detox and rehabilitation services for substance addiction in medical clinics or hospital units designed for these purposes. This setting is commonly chosen to treat people who have serious medical conditions or mental health disorders.
MEDICATION-ASSISTED ALCOHOL TREATMENT (MAT)
Medication-assisted treatment combines behavioral therapy and medications to treat substance use disorders, writes the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Clients who have a physical dependence on primarily heroin and other opioids (or other drugs) may benefit from the MAT approach. Medical staff provides medication in a specialized outpatient setting in combination with counseling and other treatment services.
