Types of Alcohol Treatment Programs

Alcoholism is a disease that affects millions of Americas. Approximately 14.4 million adults in America had an alcohol use disorder in 2018. There are multiple types of treatment and levels of care available to help someone with an alcohol use disorder in achieving and maintaining sobriety. The most common types of alcohol treatment programs include medically assisted treatment and alternative treatment. The levels of care include, but are not limited to, detox, IOP, PHP, inpatient care, and aftercare.

Medically Assisted Alcohol Treatment Program

Alcoholism is almost always co-occurring with alcohol dependence. When someone with alcohol dependence stops drinking, they will start to experience alcohol withdrawal as early as 5-6 hours following their last drink. These symptoms may get worse over the coming days. Someone with a moderate to severe alcohol dependence will likely experience the peak of these symptoms about 2 to 3 days into detox and the symptoms can last about 5 days. Medically assisted detox treatment is one of the most effective ways to manage these symptoms. Here are some of the types of medications that may be prescribed during a medical detox program to someone in alcohol withdrawal:

• Anti-anxiety medication such as Diazepam may be prescribed to manage increase anxiety.
• Diazepam is also a sedative, another type of medication used during alcohol withdrawal. When symptoms get severe, sedatives can help the patient sleep while detox progresses.
• Supplemental vitamins may be given to support proper nutrition.
• IV fluids may be given to help counteract fluid loss from sweating, vomiting, and diarrhea during detox. Proper hydration is key to the withdrawal process.

Medically assisted treatment is not only beneficial to alcohol treatment during detox, but also at lower levels of care. One of the most commonly used medical treatments used during any type of outpatient treatment is disulfiram. Disulfiram is used for aversion therapy. This drug works by producing negative side effects such as chest pains, nausea and vomiting, sweating, and headaches. The only way someone on disulfiram can avoid these symptoms is by abstaining from alcohol consumption.

The majority of alcohol treatment centers in America utilize medication as a part of their treatment program and is considered a standard of care.

Alternative Alcohol Addiction Treatment

A holistic treatment program is an addiction rehab program that focuses on healing the mind and body. This does not mean excluding medication or therapy but pairing it with alternative addiction therapies as well. Alternative therapies are often types of therapies that can be accessed inside and outside of treatment, meaning they can easily be incorporated into their daily life following treatment. This works well because new, healthy behaviors can help replace old, risky behaviors. Common alternative therapies for addiction treatment include, but are not limited to:

• Chiropractic Therapy – Spine alignments can help improve blood flow and reduce existing back musclar-skeletal pain.
• Yoga – Regular yoga sessions can help increase mindfulness, improve breathing, and increase flexibility and strength.
• Massage Therapy – This type of physical touch can release tension and increase the production of endorphins, a naturally occurring pain reliever. 
• Acupuncture – Connecting certain pathways, or meridians, acupuncture is thought to improve one’s overall health and well being.

The Irreplaceable Addiction Treatment

These treatment practices, medical and alternative, do not replace individual or group therapy sessions. Individualized treatment plans consisting of a combination of behavioral therapy, medication and/or alternative treatments, have proven to be most beneficial for those seeking treatment for an alcohol use disorder. Your addiction counselor will help determine the best treatment path for you. 

Get help from one of the best alcohol addiction treatment programs in the country. Reach out to Level Up Lake Worth for an individualized plan that may include a combination of the types of treatments discussed here. Call 877-219-2888 today!