Choosing Inpatient Alcohol Treatment for a Loved One
Alcohol addiction is a potentially fatal problem that affects the lives of both the addict and the loved ones who are involved. The damaging effects of alcohol can lead to long term consequences that are difficult to overcome and which may require professional treatment. In the event that you need to find help for a loved one, choosing inpatient alcohol treatment may the your most effective and successful option available.
It can be difficult to accept that addiction has become an eminent problem in your life or to accept the fact that your loved one is suffering from more than just a minor problem with alcohol abuse; but once you realize how detrimental the need for help really is, it can be equally as difficult to make the decision to seek inpatient treatment as your primary method of help. Most people don’t want their loved one to spend time away from them, are afraid of what inpatient alcohol treatment may entail and fear that they will not be able to get their loved one to accept or admit that there is a problem which requires such an invasive method of help.
Choosing inpatient alcohol treatment can be challenging at best. There are so many factors to consider such as cost, location, length of the program, effectiveness, methods of treatment and availability that it’s easy for a family member to become consumed with the idea of making the best choice—but how? What will be the best choice for your loved one and where will you find the most effective inpatient alcohol treatment when you are ready?
Factors to Consider when Choosing Inpatient Alcohol Treatment
You’ll want to first consider a number of different factors before you make a final decision on the help that you or your loved one will ultimately receive. Some of the factors that will come into play here and the information that you should consider includes:
- Cost of the treatment program and whether you can afford it
- Location of the treatment, there are benefits to both choosing a location that’s set apart from the individual’s current place of living as well as to choosing a location that is close to home
- Length of the program. Consider the fact that the National Institute on Drug Abuse recommends that addiction treatment programs be at least 90 days long in order to effectively break the bond between the addict and the substance.
- Method of treatment provided. Some inpatient alcohol treatment centers provide holistic healing, spiritual guidance, natural options or medication based treatment. You’ll want to take some time to understand all of these options and determine which may be of most importance to your loved one.
Benefits of Inpatient Alcohol Treatment
When it comes time to discuss the decision to have your loved one placed into an inpatient facility for alcohol addiction treatment, chances are you will need some foundation and benefits information before you’ll have them convinced that it’s going to be the right decision. This is in part due to a fear of the unknown that comes when an individual knows little or nothing about alcohol addiction treatment but it’s also partially due to the addiction causing the individual to not want to be taken away from the alcohol. Fortunately, when it comes to inpatient alcohol treatment, there are many positive benefits to be had for the user including:
- On site living prevents relapse dangers.
- Recovery can be the sole focus 24 hours a day which means that the process can take less time.
- Success rates are dramatically increased with inpatient alcohol treatment versus outpatient treatment for alcohol addiction.
- Programs cater to the individual needs of the patient and treatment can quickly and easily be adjusted to meet changing needs along the way during various stages of recovery.
- Safe, medically managed alcohol detox in a controlled environment where medical response to withdrawal can take place rapidly.
- Peer support by others who share common grounds including similar problems with alcohol and similar goals for recovery.
- Individual and group counseling and therapy that can alleviate stress, educate on new ways to control urges to drink and prevent relapse in the future.
- A clean and safe place to live and experience recovery.
- Long term support from others who care.