The issue of how to choose an alcohol treatment programme is one that many of those who have realised that their use of alcohol has reached a stage where they no longer have control face. It is also something that the family members of alcoholics think about before they tackle broaching the subject of addiction and treatment with their loved one.
When it comes to treatment for alcohol addiction, there are many different options. Therefore, it can be a struggle to find the one that is right for you or someone you love, especially if you have never had to find a rehab programme before. The rest of this article will give you an idea of the options available to you and will discuss essential information on how to choose an alcohol treatment programme.
What Treatment Options are Available
Anyone affected by alcohol addiction will need treatment to get his or her life back on track. This will usually mean starting with a detoxification – or detox – which is the process designed to help separate the affected individual from alcohol.
A detox can take place at home or in a supervised detox facility; it is your choice if you are the affected person. However, there are times when detoxing at home is not advisable. For example, if you are abusing another substance such as prescription medication or illegal drugs, or if you have any underlying medical issues.
Some treatment providers offer both detox and rehabilitation programmes while others concentrate on one or the other. But knowing how to choose an alcohol treatment programme to suit your needs is the most important issue. To do this, you will need to know what types of rehab programmes are available and what you should look for in a good provider.
In terms of rehab programmes, you have the option of one that takes place in a residential clinic or one that is daycare based and that runs in conjunction with everyday life. While the end goal of each programme is the same, each is very different in terms of how they are run.
For example, inpatient programmes are intensive and concentrated. They typically run over the course of several weeks and you will be expected to leave daily life and move into the clinic for the entire duration of your programme.
In an outpatient programme, you will not stay overnight, and the programme will be far less intensive. This means that it will run for longer as you will have far fewer treatment hours each week. In fact, many outpatient programmes run for many months, with some even continuing for up to a year or more.
Who Provides Alcohol Treatment?
In the UK, alcohol treatment programmes are provided by, for the most part, the NHS, charities, and private clinics. Local support groups can also help some individuals to get sober and stay that way, but in general, these groups are included as part of a comprehensive recovery programme and come into their own after completion of detox and rehabilitation.
The NHS and charity organisations tend to offer outpatient programmes only, although some charities can offer a limited number of residential places for those who are in most need of help.
Private clinics, on the other hand, tend to have the remit when it comes to inpatient programmes. Some also provide secondary care by way of outpatient counselling after an initial residential stay.
How to Choose the Right Alcohol Treatment Programme
When contemplating how to choose an alcohol treatment programme, there really is a lot to think about. It is not simply a case of choosing the very first clinic you come across in an online search. It is vital that you find a programme that will suit you and your particular situation.
For example, you will probably already have an idea of the type of programme that you would prefer. Maybe you like the idea of a residential programme where you can get away from everyday life and recover in the comfort and tranquillity of a luxurious clinic. Around-the-clock care might also be something that appeals to you and could be the thing that is swaying you towards inpatient care.
Or perhaps the thought of being away from your loved ones for weeks on end is something that fills you with dread and you are adamant that you do not want to recover in an inpatient clinic. You might also be leaning towards an outpatient facility because you are worried that taking too much time off work could affect your career prospects.
These are all things you need to think about before starting your search. But in addition to that, it is important that you are aware of what your treatment requirements are. You might be certain that you don’t want to recover in a residential facility, but your addiction may be so severe that you would struggle to stay sober while trying to recover in an outpatient facility. The same might be true if your home life is quite chaotic; while you might want to have your treatment on an outpatient basis, it may not be the wisest choice.
Choosing the right rehab programme is all about finding the one that meets your needs. You need to consider your personal preferences, family and work commitments, and budget. After all, residential programmes are rarely available free of charge, so this is something that you have to think about.
Why Pay for Alcohol Treatment?
Paying for treatment is also a major consideration when trying to choose the right rehab programme. For example, you might be wondering why anyone would consider paying for alcohol treatment when free programmes are readily available.
The reality is that there are many good reasons to consider paying for alcohol treatment. The first of which is the fact that most of the free programmes that are out there come with a rather long waiting list. With a private programme, you could even access treatment within hours of initial enquiry.
Programmes provided by the NHS or charities rely heavily on government funding or donations. Unfortunately, with budget cuts to the NHS, addiction services are usually the first to face a reduction in funding.
There is a huge demand for free treatment programmes but supply typically cannot meet demand. This means that most people will face a wait of up to many months before their initial appointment with a treatment service. For many of these individuals, a delay like this could mean the difference between getting their life back on track and slipping further down the path of addiction.
Admitting that you have an alcohol addiction is never easy and having to face a delay in treatment when you finally do take that step can be detrimental to your chances of recovery. If you are ready to get help and are then faced with a long wait, you might not be able to muster the determination to get better when a place does become available.
Paying for treatment can be expensive, but it is well worth it in the long run. If you opt for a private programme, you could be alcohol-free in as little as four weeks. You will have care and support from some of the best people in the addiction services industry and you will learn all about getting sober and how to live a substance-free life long-term.
When you are no longer abusing alcohol, you can start to rebuild your life. You will have the opportunity to save money now that you are not spending every penny on alcohol and you might even be able to secure a promotion at work or look for a new and better paying job. Many individuals find that private treatment actually pays for itself within the first year.
If you would like more information on how to choose an alcohol treatment programme, please contact us here at Liberty House Clinic. We can provide further information on the options available to you and can discuss our programmes in detail should you wish to get started on a programme of recovery as soon as possible.