Who Benefits from Outpatient Alcohol Treatment

Author: Emily Oconnor

When alcoholism is a problem in your life, sometimes invasive treatment isn’t necessary—outpatient alcohol treatment can help you get sober without removing you from your regular routine. If you’re not sure whether outpatient treatment can work for you, consider these clues that will help you understand who needs this type of treatment and who may be better suited to residential care.

Certain groups, such as mild to moderate drinkers, are best suited for outpatient rehab.

Mild to Moderate Drinkers

You don’t always need inpatient treatment if you’re not heavily addicted to alcohol. People who are mild to moderate drinkers but who have been in some sort of trouble as a result of their drinking are often referred to outpatient alcohol treatment for help. As long as your alcoholism is not so severe that you have major withdrawal symptoms or that you consistently relapse and fall back into drinking, outpatient alcohol treatment can help you, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Consequence Survivors

People who have been in legal trouble, have suffered financial trouble, have lost a job or have suffered other mild to moderate consequences as a result of their drinking are often well suited to the recovery assistance that is provided in an outpatient alcohol treatment program. The consequences that arise as a result of drinking will often mound up and become worse if you allow drinking to continue to rule your life-but with help, outpatient alcohol treatment can provide you with a foundation for recovery.

Residential Treatment Graduates

If you’ve already graduated an alcohol treatment program that provided residential or inpatient care, outpatient alcohol treatment is likely the next big step in your recovery. People who successfully complete a residential treatment program can move on to a less stringent and invasive outpatient program and still reap great rewards from the supportive care that is received.

Business Professionals

Working professionals who have realized that their drinking is spiraling out of control can find great support and assistance in the care offered in an outpatient alcohol treatment program. Not all business professionals can ease right into outpatient treatment, but if your addiction is not full-fledged yet, you still have a job and you’re worried about taking time off for treatment—outpatient care can provide you with the support you need during your off hours so that you can continue to work and maintain your career while getting help for alcohol addiction.

Others

If alcohol is ruining your life, but you’re not so heavily addicted that you cannot quit without medical intervention and around-the-clock care, outpatient alcohol treatment can help. While this type of treatment is not for everyone, many people find that the supportive care, medical guidance, counseling, therapy and consistency of an outpatient program are highly effective in providing a means of getting sober and staying that way.