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.
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.
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.
What are the Effects of Alcohol Abuse?
Some short-term negative effects of alcohol use disorder include:
Long-term effects of alcohol abuse and alcoholism that can have fatal consequences include:
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 IOP, 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.
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.
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.
