Identifying a problem with drugs or alcohol is the first in a series of steps – with the goal to get the person struggling the most appropriate treatment available. As you search for a treatment program, you’ll likely have many questions. One of the most significant questions people ask revolves around what options exist for finding appropriate treatment. The truth is, there are a variety of program types to choose from. The key is to ask the right questions to select the program best for you or your loved one’s situation. Once you have gained a general overview of the treatment programs that exist, you can then narrow down your search to locate the right program in that category.
Inpatient/Residential Treatment
Inpatient rehabilitation (or “rehab” for short) is often also called “residential treatment.” This term indicates that the person entering treatment will temporary live on the facility’s premises. This method is generally considered the most comprehensive and safest because it gives the person time away from his or her daily life to fully focus on recovery. However, it is a big decision to leave home and family temporarily. Often, people considering this option wonder what to expect from inpatient rehab. Any inpatient treatment program you consider should easily answer this question by providing you with an overview of the daily schedule for each day of the week of the period you or your loved one will be attending.
Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient treatment is perhaps the most well-known drug or alcohol treatment. The individual does not leave home to live elsewhere during the initial phase of treatment, but stays at home, maintains a regular daily schedule and simply attends treatment sessions in and around other scheduled activities. Sometimes treatment will revolve around individual and group therapy while other times visits to a medical doctor and/or psychiatrist are also included. Sometimes, inpatient/residential and outpatient treatment programs are combined.
Detoxing Through Medications
Another approach to substance abuse treatment is the use of a period of detox (or “detoxification”) followed up with a course of inhibiting medications. This approach can work very well in cases where repeated attempts to maintain abstinence have proven unsuccessful because the medications inhibit the powerful physical cravings that can lead to a relapse back into drug use or drinking. However, this approach is generally not recommended as a standalone treatment.
Group Support Options
You can access a variety different group support options as well, from community-based programs overseen by SAMHSA (the Substance and Mental Health Services Administration) to 12-step programs and group support provided by local social services, nonprofit or faith-based organizations. Because a comprehensive approach can produce the best results over time, group support is frequently added in as a component of a more comprehensive treatment approach.
Recovery Houses
Recovery houses (often also called “sober houses” or “halfway houses”) provide another approach to substance use and abuse treatment. As with group support, often recovery houses are added in as a component of treatment rather than being prescribed as a standalone treatment. Recovery houses enter the treatment picture during the transition phase when the individual has completed a course of more intensive treatment and is attempting to reintegrate into his or her local community and daily schedule again. The person lives in the recovery house for a period of time to receive extra support around the clock.
By gaining an overview of the many types of substance use and abuse treatment, you can begin to narrow down your search and identify the approach that will work best for yourself or someone you love.
About the Author: Laura Monaghan is a counselor at RehabHotline.org. She was driven to help people with substance abuse issues after experiencing them in her family.
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