We Know: How Alcohol Treatment Programs Work What is an Alcohol Treatment Program? An alcohol treatment program is a specific process set up for each individual’s needs in order to provide the patient with the tools necessary to achieve abstinence. A variety of scientifically based approaches to alcohol addiction treatment exist and can include behavioral therapy (such as counseling, cognitive therapy, or psychotherapy), medications, or both. What Are The Different Treatments Available? The various treatments vary from hospital stay, treatment center for a long or short-term residency, day treatment in a hospital or rehabilitation center, or outpatient therapy and are chosen upon each individual patient’s needs. They can last anywhere from 6 months to 2 years and include several types of therapy and for some patient medications. How does Long Term Residency Treatment work? Long term residency treatment provides care 24 hours per day, generally in non hospital settings. Though there are many long term treatments available, the best-known is the therapeutic community (TC). Those in need of this treatment have a long history of alcohol abuse and severe mental health problems. TC treatment can last from 6 months to 2 years and focuses on the “resocialization” of the individual to an alcohol-free lifestyle. How does Short Term Residency Treatment work? Short term residency treatment provides brief residential treatment based on the 12-step approach. The treatment consists of a 3 to 6 weeks inpatient treatment phase followed by outpatient therapy and participation in a 12-step self-help group, such as Alcoholics Anonymous. How does a Day Treatment work? In day treatments which are a little more intensive than the outpatient program, the patients reside at home and meet 5 days a week, 6 hours a day. Though designed as the follow up to a residential treatment, they have become widely popular as a stand alone treatment. Insurance coverage impacts the length of the treatment varying from 15 days for those with private health coverage to 60 days for those covered with Medicare. How does an Outpatient Treatment work? Outpatient treatment has the patient living at home and attending a program several days a week. It is designed primarily for those who can refrain from drinking for up to 72 hours and are strongly motivated. This treatment usually lasts 6 weeks where the patients meet 3 to 5 times a week for 3 hours. Such treatment costs less than residential or inpatient treatment and often is more suitable for individuals who are employed or who have extensive social supports.
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