Outpatient vs. Inpatient Alcohol Treatment

Recovery is an individual process, and inpatient and outpatient rehab have the same aim:
To get you on the road to recovery and ready for a post-addiction life.

alcohol treatment center in santa cruz california

Outpatient Treatment

You attend regular sessions with outpatient treatment over a set period. Each session might consist of individual and group therapy or whichever is best for your recovery process, according to your needs.

This type of alcohol addiction treatment allows you to be at home in the evening and maintain your routine so you can remain with your family as well as keep going to work, school or other social necessities.

Inpatient Treatment

During inpatient treatment, you live at an addiction recovery treatment center for a set period of time. This structured environment controls your daily activities and provides 24-hour care and support.

Residential treatment prevents you from accessing alcohol during your stay and helps you avoid triggers while you work through your recovery.

effective addiction treatment with individual counseling & a focus on prevention

What Is Alcoholism

Alcoholism is a term given to the most severe form of alcohol abuse and describes an inability to manage drinking habits. Alcohol use disorder can occur at different levels — mild, moderate or severe — and those with alcohol dependence can find it almost impossible to function normally without alcohol.

Alcohol use disorder can impact every area of your life. It will have a negative impact on your relationships, particularly with close family and friends. You’ll struggle to reach professional goals and deal with personal matters. Your overall physical and mental health will also suffer.

So, how do people develop a drinking problem? For some, it starts drinking for stress relief after a busy day at work. Others want to feel good and relax when they’re out with friends. Some people drink to mask the symptoms of an underlying mental health condition or to help them deal with loss or trauma.

individualized care for substance use disorders at the key iop

What are the Effects of Alcohol Abuse?

Some short-term negative effects of alcohol use disorder include:

  • Reduced reaction time and poor reflexes
  • Lowered inhibitions
  • Blurred vision and reduced brain activity
  • Restlessness
  • Difficulty breathing

Long-term effects of alcohol abuse and alcoholism that can have fatal consequences include:

  • Liver disease
  • Higher risk of developing diabetes

  • Heart disease and other cardiovascular problems
  • Brain defects and vision damage
  • Bone density loss
  • Increased risk of cancer

In 2019, 14.5 million people over 12 in the U.S. were diagnosed with alcohol use disorder. By 2020, that number had increased to 14.8 million, and it’s growing. The most shocking statistic is that 95,000 people die yearly from alcohol-related causes.

image of signs & symptoms

of Alcohol Abuse

If you’re concerned that you or a loved one in California might be suffering from alcohol misuse, you should be aware of a few signs and symptoms. Alcohol problems can manifest in different ways, some similar to other forms of substance abuse, and they may need intervention and a specific treatment plan.

An Increase in Tolerance

An Increase in Tolerance

When alcohol problems develop, a person’s tolerance increases to feel and get the same sensation from what once was a few drinks.

Craving Alcohol When It's Not Around

Craving Alcohol When It’s Not Around

Actively seek ways to get alcohol and might even start hiding alcohol in different places, so they always have access to it.

Putting Alcohol Above Personal Responsibilities

Putting Alcohol Above Personal Responsibilities

Are you forgoing events, forgetting to pick up the kids, or have to use one too many PTO days? Alcohol has become more important than anything else.

Feeling the Need to Drink More

Feeling the Need to Drink More

Alcoholics find it difficult to stop drinking, even when inappropriate. Increased tolerance to alcohol means the need to drink more in order to feel normal.

Wasting Money on Alcohol Instead of What's Needed

Wasting Money on Alcohol Instead of What’s Needed

Alcohol isn’t cheap. Alcohol problems tend to come with built-in financial concerns — not only will the addict risk their finances, but they will also hurt those surrounding them.

Behavior Difficulties Without Alcohol

Behavior Difficulties Without Alcohol

Alcohol use might affect the ability to deal with strong emotions and they may be depressed or anxious when they haven’t had a drink. Mood changes are rampant.

Treatment Options for Alcoholism

At The Key Addiction Treatment Center, evidence-based treatment for alcohol problems is individualized to suit each person, with an ongoing
treatment process designed to create healthy habits through support groups and different therapy types and prevent relapse.

  • IOP treatment: Regular attendance in the intensive outpatient program includes specific types of evidence-based therapy in an intimate and modern setting.

  • Group therapy: In a small support group, discussions about managing stress, avoiding triggers and other issues are led by a therapist.

  • Family therapy: Family relationships are essential for smart recovery, creating another support group for post-recovery success.

  • Holistic: Understanding the addiction, family history and any underlying medical conditions – creating a whole-person approach.

  • Mindfulness: Self-care and awareness of what makes you spend time drinking daily, including meditation, positive self-talk and other strategies.

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): This type of addiction management identifies negative thoughts and behaviors and replaces them with better ideas.

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): This therapy is about accepting cravings and related thoughts and making commitments to avoid alcohol use.

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): This combines accepting the cravings and triggers and changing the behavior that leads to alcohol use.

What Happens After Alcohol Treatment?

An essential part of recovering from alcohol addiction is creating a happy, healthy and balanced post-recovery life. With support groups, resources on hand and one-on-one time with a counselor, the focus becomes what happens after alcohol addiction treatment.

intensive outpatient programs in california

Relapse Prevention

Part of recovery from addiction is knowing what to do to prevent relapse. Recognizing the red flags or triggers that might lead to a return to drinking is part of the strategy and resources in your individualized aftercare program.

Relapse is a gradual process, moving from emotional triggers to mental triggers and then to physical relapse. More alcohol isn’t the answer, and you’ll be able to make better decisions when you know you can get back on track.

As part of your alcohol treatment, you’ll have a toolkit of ways to cope, including contact details for your support groups and other recovering alcoholics, mindfulness techniques and a focus on self-care and belief.

Case Management

Dealing with addiction in a treatment center, whether inpatient or outpatient, doesn’t end with a diagnosis. Case management is an integral part of the holistic focus at The Key, knowing that alcohol addiction doesn’t happen in a perfect bubble.

People suffering from addiction to drinking often lack the resources to ensure that their post-recovery life works, such as finding a new job, accessing safe housing, getting any benefits or being part of a community.

Your case manager is someone to advocate for you to ensure your transition to a life without alcohol is smooth and straightforward. They’re there to maintain regular contact after treatment and provide extra support.

rehab in santa cruz showing how sobriety works in outpatient programs

Frequently
Asked Questions

You can break free from alcohol and its negative consequences. Find the KEY to happiness with our state-of-the-art treatment program. Call us today.

The Key Addiction Treatment Center is an intensive program that uses evidence-based treatment programs designed to work with your diagnosis and give you access to the resources you need for long-term success. Our intimate, small-group setting in a modern and comfortable treatment center helps people stay in recovery and continue on a supported sober life.

The optimum length of time for the treatment process depends on many factors, from how intense the alcohol use disorder is to how well the recovery is going. Each person will have an individualized treatment program to suit their needs based on the best evidence of what works, whether group talk therapy, individual therapy or a mixture of many things.

The IOP sessions take place Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. or from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. There is also the possibility of sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Aftercare is an important part of the treatment process at The Key Addiction Treatment Center and helps people transition better into a post-recovery life. Aftercare helps with avoiding further alcohol use or relapse.