Medically Reviewed:
Dr. Randy Gelow, MD, FASAM
Ray Hamilton, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNP-C
Last Updated: May 19, 2023
An estimated 15 million people in the U.S. have mild to severe Alcohol Use Disorder. While that has resulted in an average of 88,000 U.S. deaths each year due to alcohol abuse, less than 20% of people with AUD have sought any form of treatment or alcohol rehab. With a rise in high-functioning alcoholics and alcohol abuse in the workplace, access to high-quality treatment is essential.
Alcohol rehab is a program designed to help individuals overcome alcohol addiction and maintain long-term sobriety. It typically consists of both detox and a 30-day alcohol rehab stay in an inpatient center. After which clients transition to outpatient care and try to combine their daily lives with treatment.
Individuals often opt for a mix of talk therapy, alternative treatments, and medication to curb their addiction.
As Alcoholics Anonymous has grown in familiarity, some think it the only option for those struggling with alcohol abuse. However, there are many types of treatment options available that range from FDA-approved medications for alcoholism to a 30-day alcohol rehab.
There is no one-size fits all when it comes to alcoholism treatment and you should give yourself the opportunity to experiment with a variety of treatment options before giving up.
Inpatient rehab for alcoholism has client move into specific location for treatment. They receive intensive talk therapy and alternative therapies to confront their alcohol addiction. Insurance coverage can greatly impact how long a patient is approved to stay.
Outpatient alcoholism rehab allows clients to live at home while attending treatment. This includes individual and group recovery programs in a clinical setting. Clients return home at the end of each session and return for regularly scheduled appointments. Many choose to live in a sober living to facilitate better recovery from alcoholism.
Typically alcohol rehab consists of 1 week in medical detox and 30 days in an inpatient alcohol rehab. This type of alcohol treatment program is covered by many insurances.
Some clients opt for 60-, 90-, and even 180-day rehab for alcoholism, but it is often paid out of pocket.
Clients often transition to sober living and outpatient treatment following their stay.
Alcohol detox is the first step in treatment but will vary on a patient-to-patient basis. Alcohol detox programs are in place to help those who are dealing with alcohol withdrawal symptoms safely overcome these problems. Many, like delirium tremens, can be life threatening without medical intervention.
Therapy and counseling are the bulk of the recovery process in a rehab facility. During this time, clients will be exposed to evidence-based care programs like:
These types of programs are in place to help clients better understand the root of their addiction, learn to cope with their disease, and learn strategies to help them commit to long-term sobriety and avoid relapse.
Following a stay at a rehab center, patients will continue with their treatment in an outpatient setting. There are a few different options for those looking for outpatient care:
It should be noted that some of these programs may not allow patients access to medication-assisted treatment. However, The Hope House partners with many organizations, helping our patients get the best possible aftercare program for them.
Treatment for alcoholism varies widely in range based on what type of treatment you receive.
Inpatient rehab can be broken down into four distinct categories. While the quality of care varies with each type, understanding what treatments you need creates a solid foundation for researching alcohol rehab options.
Summary: Detoxification is the first step in the recovery process and generally always begins in an inpatient setting. During detox, patients will be assessed, medically supervised, and stabilized as they deal with the dangerous symptoms and effects of withdrawal.
Time Commitment: 24 hours a day
Length of Stay: Varies, generally 4 to 10 days
Summary: An intensive form of treatment conducted in a residential or hospital setting characterized by numerous forms of evidence-based treatment modalities, including behavioral therapy programs and medication-assisted treatment (to those who qualify).
Time Commitment: 24 hours a day
Length of Stay: 15-45 days
Summary: A longer form of inpatient treatment typically done in a residential, community setting as opposed to a hospital. Patients have access to extensive forms of therapy and medication-assisted treatment (to those who qualify).
Time Commitment: 24 hours a day
Length of Stay: 180-365 days
Summary: While patients don’t stay overnight it is still considered a form of intensive inpatient treatment as it takes place in a hospital setting with medical supervision. PHP requires a near full-time commitment and offers numerous treatment options and medication-assisted treatment (for those who qualify).
Time Commitment: 6 – 8 hours a day / 5 days a week
Length of Stay: 14 – 30 days
Outpatient rehab can be broken down into three distinct categories and provide the best results when used following inpatient treatment.
Summary: Patients receive many of the same benefits as many alcohol rehabilitation inpatient programs, including behavioral therapies and medication-assisted treatment, but will not have 24/7 supervision or routine access to treatment options. Additionally, patients return home at the end of the day.
Time Commitment: 2- 4 hours a day / 3 days a week
Length of Stay: 3 – 4 months
Summary: Self-help support groups, such as AA, can help patients work with others who are in a similar position cope with urges to use again. There is limited access to advanced treatment options or medication-assisted treatment. People who attend support groups are not supervised and can come and go as desired.
Time Commitment: 1-2 hours a day / 1 day a week
Length of Stay: Varies by patient, as long as desired
Summary: Can include both one-on-one and group therapy sessions. Many counseling sessions will deal with learning to cope with addiction and relapse prevention strategies to help support long-lasting sobriety. Generally, therapy offered is limited and MAT is not available in these sessions.
Time Commitment: 1-2 hour a day/ 1-3 days a week
Length of Stay: Varies by patient, as long as desired
There are numerous evidence-based and holistic therapies that can be found at almost every inpatient and outpatient alcohol rehab.
Common alcoholism therapies include:
To achieve long-term sobriety while in alcohol rehab, you may be interested in some unique therapies that confront the root causes of addiction on a deeper level. Therapies proven to assist with anxiety, depression, trauma, and chronic pain (many of the catalysts for an alcohol addiction) include:
In short, yes. Addiction is a chronic illness that will affect everyone differently. There is no one-size-fits-all cure that will instantly stop your alcohol addiction. However, when we look around the country, 1 in 3 people who receive treatment for alcoholism no longer abuse alcohol a year after treatment.
Working with a facility dedicated to your sobriety is key to finding the right mix of treatment to help you confront addiction at the source and achieve long-term sobriety.
Whether you choose inpatient or outpatient alcohol rehab, it is most important to find a comprehensive program that treats the individual, not the addiction.
When it comes to alcohol addiction specifically, lifetime AUD problems have been closely linked to mental health. Some of these problems include persistent depression, panic disorders, specific phobias, generalized anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Some rehabs offer specific dual diagnosis programs to treat both diagnoses simultaneously.
Clients may opt for FDA-approved medication to help them curb their addiction moving forward. The three most common forms of medication used to treat alcohol addiction are:
You need to be prescribed and administered addiction medication by a trained medical professional.
Medication alone does not provide the most effective results for an alcohol addiction. Physicians strongly recommend medications be paired with ongoing therapy to solve the physical and mental causes of addiction. This is called medication-assisted therapy (MAT).
If you’ve determined inpatient rehab is the best treatment for, but don’t like the idea of giving up your job or being crammed into a house with a bunch of patients, there are other options. Luxury alcohol rehab may be the perfect solution for you. Theses programs often include dual diagnosis and personalized treatment built in.
For options in the Valley, learn about the best alcohol rehab centers in Arizona by calling The Hope House’s admissions team today.
Many luxury rehabs offer executive treatment programs that allow business professionals to receive treatment while maintaining their professional lives.
At The Hope House, this includes access to electronics, single occupancy rooms, and more.
Luxury rehab is one of the few facilities to offer truly personalized care due to few patients in a single home.
At The Hope House, a personalized approach is at our core. Many of our therapy options are 1:1 and we admit just 10 clients at a time — whereas most other facilities provide beds to 30 or more people at once.
For those who need to deal with legal issues, a luxury facility may be right. At The Hope House, for instance, we provide dedicated case managers to ensure you are able to focus on treatment. Whether you need to get your vehicle out of impound from a DUI or have court proceedings — case managers are there to assist.
If you’d prefer to stay close to home, The Hope House offers high-end Arizona alcohol rehab programs in Scottsdale. Our recovery centers are staffed with masters-level clinicians and addiction experts. They are dedicated to providing our clients with the tools they need to commit to long-term sobriety.
We offer 30-day alcohol rehab programs as well as extended stay programs, all of which include completely custom treatment programs. We also accept many insurances including: Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, GEHA, and more.
However, if you are looking for treatment elsewhere, SAMHSA has a tool available to find one closer to home.
