Alcohol addiction

Alcohol addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drinking, loss of control over alcohol consumption, and the emergence of a negative emotional state when alcohol is no longer available.

People who are addicted to alcohol have a diminished ability to stop or control their alcohol use, despite experiencing the negative social, occupational, or health consequences of their alcohol use.

Thus, alcoholism is a spectrum disorder that can be mild, moderate, or severe. It encompasses the conditions known as alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, and alcoholism. As a result, alcohol addiction refers to the moderate to severe end of the alcohol use disorder spectrum.

Why you should be concerned about alcohol addiction

Alcohol consumption is associated with a variety of health and social concerns, including disruption of personal relationships, heart and liver disease, cancers, motor vehicle and other accidents, alcohol overdose, violence, homicide, and suicide.

People with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder are more likely to consume alcohol at levels that are harmful to their health on a regular basis.

Young people who become addicted to alcohol are at risk of having problems with their brain development. As a result, assisting people who are addicted to alcohol to obtain addiction treatment is a critical priority.

Alcohol addiction treatment

Although there is no cure for alcohol use disorders at the moment, alcoholism, like many other chronic relapsing disorders, can be managed and treated successfully. Professional treatment in a rehab facility can help alcohol-addicted people recover from the problems caused by their addiction and stay sober.

Alcohol detoxification is typically the first step toward alcohol addiction recovery. However, detoxification alone is rarely enough to help an addicted person achieve long-term abstinence. It only assists someone in safely and comfortably withdrawing from alcoholism and entering a formal and long-term treatment program. After detox, the addicted patient can proceed to a suitable alcohol addiction treatment program.

Alcohol addiction treatment programs

After successful detoxification and withdrawal from alcohol use, a patient may need to enter inpatient or outpatient treatment, depending on the severity of their addiction, their level of social support at home, and other factors.

While both inpatient and outpatient alcohol addiction treatment are equally focused on rehabilitation, each has unique characteristics and benefits to offer.

Inpatient rehabs are typically intensive residential treatment programs for serious addictions. Outpatient treatment alcohol addiction rehabs, on the other hand, are part-time programs that allow recovering patients to continue working or attending school during the day.

Intensive outpatient treatment alcohol addiction rehabs

Some people who have serious addiction issues warranting inpatient rehab may be unable to enter inpatient alcohol addiction treatment programs due to obligations at home, school, or work. That is why there are intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) and partial hospitalization programs (PHPs).

IOPs and PHPs can assist you if you are unable to participate in an extended rehab stay but require the dedicated addiction treatment services provided in an inpatient rehab setting. The main distinction between the two will be the amount of time you will be in treatment.

PHPs take more time. The typical time is at least four hours per day, five days per week. The program is carried out in a rehabilitation setting. Intensive outpatient programs are typically completed in a rehabilitation setting and last only a few days per week for a few hours each day.

Lessons from an innovative intensive outpatient treatment facility

I recently went to The Owl’s Nest, a leading outpatient alcohol treatment center near me, to try out their outpatient alcohol and drug treatment services. Patients can attend rehab for three to four hours per day, a few days per week. Outside of that time, their program allows patients to live at home and go about their daily lives.

What I also learned about The Owl's Nest is that clients who participate in their programs can progress through the rehab's phased approach to addiction treatment. They begin with more intensive levels of care and progress to less intensive programs as the patients' needs diminish over the course of their recovery.

The Owl's Nest is the only outpatient drug treatment facility near me that provides clients with addiction treatment as well as supportive housing. This is in addition to PHPs tailored to the individual, co-occurring disorder treatments, and dynamic and evidence-based therapy and counseling.

How do I find an intensive outpatient program near me?

It can be difficult to locate an accredited intensive outpatient program near you. That is why you require assistance in locating one. As previously stated, if you are able to gain access to The Owl's Nest, you will receive excellent treatment.

If you are unable to enter their programs due to your location, you could also speak with them for advice on an appropriate rehab. Click here to contact them right away.