Monthly Archives: July 2008

Alcoholism Intervention – How to

Alcohol Treatment Intervention: How To

Despite all the hype about curing alcohol addiction, the one major problem with alcoholics is getting them to even admit they have problem with alcohol. This is always the most difficult step and the majority of alcoholics are in the denial stage until it is too late and then the treatments have high failure rates. The majority of alcoholics seek treatment only after they have run into legal or financial problems. The current day treatments for individuals with alcohol related problems include the following:

Determining alcohol dependence: The first most important aspect of treatment is to check whether you have alcohol dependency. If you can live without alcohol and have not lost control of your senses, then one can try cutting down on drinking alcohol. If you are dependent on alcohol and have no control, the just cutting back the drinking is useless. Your goal must be abstinence.

Counseling: For those individuals who experience adverse effects when drinking alcohol, the treatment approach may involve counseling with health care professionals. The treatment may include self help, counseling or admission to an alcohol treatment center. At the center, one may undergo behavior therapy to overcome negative and destructive thoughts. One is taught a variety of coping methods to deal with alcohol. You once again become the master of your thoughts and actions- not alcohol.

Aversion therapy: Sometimes drugs can be administered which will cause a severe adverse effect when combined with alcohol. The nausea and vomiting generated will cause an instant aversion to alcohol.

Residential treatment programs: If one is admitted to an alcohol treatment center, many types of therapies can help. Besides abstinence, many of these centers offer individual and group therapy, participation in alcoholics anonymous, education lectures, family counseling and a variety of activity therapies.

When drugs (Antabuse, naltrexone, Vivitrol) are used to induce aversion to alcohol, the treatment of alcohol addiction is monitored by health care professionals.

Continuing support. The majority of residential alcohol treatment programs offer some type of aftercare service. Some will arrange outpatient seminars and counseling sessions. The aftercare programs are designed to help you cope with your new lifestyle and avoid relapses

What is Long Term Residential Alcohol Treatment

Residential long term Treatment Centers

There are many individuals who have problems with alcohol and are seeking treatment. The options open to them include outpatient therapy, short term inpatient therapy or long term inpatient residential treatment. Alcoholism is at epidemic proportions in the country and the number of individuals addicted is spiraling each year. While there are many suggestions as to how best deal with the problem, there is no magic bullet as yet. Some individuals claim that inpatient residential therapy is ideal if one is seeking a cure. There are some frail individuals who easily succumb to temptations of alcohol and for these people long term residential treatment is ideal. There are a number of alcohol treatment centers who now offer long term residential treatment. The programs range from 1-6 months.

Since there are many centers who claim to have a good success rate at dealing with alcoholism, it is wise to seek the advice of friends, colleagues and health care professional in selecting the best center. One should ensure that the facility has professional staff and that there is 24 hours staff at the center.

The majority of long term alcohol residential centers offer a comprehensive program. They provide an environment which is serene and suited to treatment. The entire facility is secure to allow one to completely relax and undergo treatment without any additional external source of stress. Long term residential alcohol treatment centers not only offer treatment for the disorder but also provide convenient housing with availability of all the amenities for daily living. Some have sports facilities, swimming pools, saunas, spas, massage parlors, etc

There are many studies which indicate that longer stays in treatment centers which offer rehabilitation have the best success rates. A 90 day treatment provides all clients with enough skills, confidence and education to help them start life all over again. Many of these centers are staffed by professional health care workers who offer the following alcohol treatments:

– individualized treatment

– 12 step program and education

– Cognitive behavior therapy

– Group therapy sessions

– Daily lectures on education and relapse prevention

– Family counseling

– General health care

– Nutrition

– Aftercare planning

Long term residential alcohol treatment centers can be found all over the country. While they are slightly expensive they do provide a cure from the dreaded disease. And the rates of relapse are much lower compared to all other types of treatment.

To find out how much residential treatment might cost visit our article “How much does Alcohol Treatment Cost?”

How Much Does Alcohol Treatment Cost?

Cost of Alcohol Treatment

There are many individuals who are seeking treatment for alcohol related problems. All over the country there are many centers that help individuals deal with various types of drug addiction and alcoholism related problems. The costs of alcohol treatment are variable depending on the State and even the city. The costs of the treatment also depend on whether one is being treated as an outpatient or an inpatient and for how long.

Various treatments are available to help people with alcohol problems. Depending on the individual, treatment may involve an evaluation, a brief intervention, an outpatient program or counseling, or a residential inpatient stay. These are general prices for alcohol treatment at many centers.

  • Initial assessment: this involves a consultation and an examination plus a variety of tests. This initial assessment is about $ 100.

  • Individual sessions: For those individual seeking one on one counseling with regard to social and family related problems the cost per session is $100. Some of the centers will give you a discount if you sign up for 20-30 sessions.

  • Family program: this program is designed to help families with alcohol related problems deal with a family member(s) with alcoholism. The cost is about $120

  • Continuing care: Once you have established yourself as a client and want long term care as an outpatient, these sessions cost about $30-50

  • Intensive inpatient for a month averages about $ 8-12,000

In June 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first injectable drug to treat alcohol dependence. Vivitrol, an analogue of naltrexone, is injected in the buttocks once a month by a health care professional. The drug has been shown to decrease the urge to drink by blocking various neurotransmitters in the brain. Vivitrol has no affect on alcohol withdrawal symptoms. The drug is primarily meant for individuals with alcoholism who are undergoing counseling and have not had any alcohol to drink for about 5-10 days. Although the drug can be taken as a pill, the injection has been found to be better tolerated and has shown improved results. The cost of Vivitrol therapy is about $ 700 for a single injection.

The majority of these treatment programs will provide you free additional treatment if you relapse with 12 months after completing a month’s therapy. The majority of the alcohol treatment centers also accept a variety of insurance programs.