An addiction to alcohol is a real disease that can become life threatening if taken too far. Alcohol is a drug that has a fine line between social drinking and a full blown addiction. When drinking alcohol becomes necessary rather than a simple pleasure every now and then or the amount of alcohol that can be consumed without the drunken feeling increases, alcoholism is a real threat. When a person requires a drink to stop the symptoms of withdrawal, especially first thing in the morning, a reputable alcohol treatment center should be sought.
Inpatient versus Outpatient
Inpatient and outpatient treatment centers for alcohol addiction both offer a chance at successful recovery. The personality of the user, as well as the level of addiction, will determine whether inpatient or outpatient treatment should be considered.
Both inpatient and outpatient treatments include variations of the 12-step program, behavioral therapy, individual therapy, group or family therapy and holistic variations of treatment. The exact treatment an alcoholic gets will depend on his initial evaluation upon requesting treatment. Every alcoholic has different needs and will respond differently to different methods. An alcohol treatment center that treats alcoholics as individuals and not copies of each other will have the best results.
Benefit of Inpatient Treatment
An inpatient treatment center offers the benefit of being completely removed from the threat of consuming alcohol. Alcoholics are taken into a serene, 100 percent controlled environment where they are shut off from the outside world, including the threat of alcohol. This allows alcoholics to become completely sober before entering the real world once again.
How Outpatient Treatment Differs
Outpatient treatment offers the same benefits of inpatient treatment in terms of counseling, therapies and various other treatments. The difference is that alcoholics get to go home after an intensive eight to 10 hour day of treatment. For some, this is not a good option if the threat of alcohol or enabling friends will be within reach, causing the alcoholic to partake in their addiction before ever having a chance to become completely sober.
Understanding the ramifications of an inpatient and outpatient alcohol treatment center will help an alcoholic choose which treatment is best. If the addiction to alcohol is severe, an outpatient facility typically is not the best choice because it offers the lowest level of success. Choosing an inpatient facility for complete recovery and support before entering the real world is the better choice for many.
