What Is Alcohol Rehab?
KEY TAKEAWAY
Alcohol rehab is typically a 28 day programme for:
Rehab Facilities For Alcoholism - What Is Alcohol Rehab Treatment?
Alcohol rehab focuses on tackling the problems underneath alcoholism, such as grief, trauma, depression, and emotional difficulties, in order to reduce relapse [2].
Inpatient services provides 24 hour access to specialist care.
A clinic provides a safe place away from access to alcohol, and those enabling addiction.
Process Overview
Before Rehab
Pre-requisites for rehab are:
In Rehab
Detox
Detox allows the body to process any remaining alcohol, with the professional administration of medication that mimics the effects of alcohol, to minimise withdrawal symptoms [3].
Therapy
Therapy helps us understand the psychological aspects behind addiction, identify triggers for addictive use, and the impact of behaviour during active addiction, upon others.
Aftercare Planning
Aftercare is put in place before discharge to prevent alcoholic regression, through continuing support groups, ongoing therapist help, and community meetings.
Day In The Life
A typical day in rehab begins with breakfast and medication.
Morning sessions can include mindfulness or meditation, group therapy and nature walks.
The afternoon agenda may include discussions with other residents, keywork, or breakout sessions from group discussions if there is something that is discussed that needs further attention alone.
There is then an evening meal, followed by either free time or an organised movie night.
In Abbeycare, timings and activities differ between our Gloucester and Scotland clinics [4] [5].
After Rehab
Before leaving rehab, an aftercare plan will be created and individualised to help the alcoholic adjust to a recovery lifestyle and the face the challenges of remaining abstinent, including:
When Is Rehab Required? (When To Go To Rehab For Alcohol)
The suitability of residential treatment, as compared to other support options, depends on consumption levels, pre-existing supports in place, enablers, and previously unsuccessful detoxes.
In most cases, because it is an end-to-end provider, with continuity of care, rehab in a clinic setting is the most appropriate option for treatment.
Compare the most appropriate alcohol treatment options:
Header | AA | Outpatient Treatment | Detox Only | Residential Inc Detox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Consuming 14+ units/wk [6] | No | No | Yes | Yes |
No pre-existing supports [7] | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Addiction is enabled by social group [8] | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Prev unsuccessful detoxes [9] | No | No | No | Yes |
Types Of Treatment Centres - Where Does Alcohol Rehab Happen?
Quasi-Residential
Clients at a quasi-residential service go to a centre during the day, but then spend the night either in a sober living house with other clients, or returning to the community.
Factors of quasi-residential treatment that make it unsuitable for some are:
Fully Residential
Attendees in a residential centre, stay in the facility throughout treatment.
Residential rehab provides 24 hour care, access to medical help, and therapeutic help.
59% of those who complete a medically supervised detox and alcohol treatment in a residential clinic have better long term recovery outcomes from alcoholism [10].
Outpatient Centres
Intensive outpatient programming runs for 3 hours a day for up to 3-5 days/wk, allowing for flexibility around job and life commitments.
18% of those who undertake outpatient rehab maintain lasting sobriety after treatment, with recurrence of alcoholism caused by lack of intensive treatment, associations tied to old patterns, and continued access to alcohol [11].
Location
Rehabs Nearby
Reasons to choose a local rehab include:
Rehabs Further Away
Choose a rehab further away if:
Duration
Header | 2-4 weeks | 12 weeks |
|---|---|---|
Detox Period | 7-10 days | 14 days+ |
Therapy Time | 7-21 days | 70 days+ (more time on causal issues) |
Pricing | ££ (35% relapse rate) | ££££ (17% relapse rate) |
Alcohol Rehab vs...
Rehab vs Detox
Regression rates of those who only complete detox are between 50-80%, whereas those who complete a full rehab stay have regression rates of 20-50% [12].
While detox only deals with the physical addiction, rehab tackles the reasons why addiction occurred, and provide coping mechanisms against further relapse.
Detox alone is not suitable for those:
Rehab vs AA
Header | AA | Residential Rehab |
|---|---|---|
Inpatient Treatment? | No | Yes |
Detox? | No | Yes |
Customised? | No | Yes |
Therapy? | No | Yes |
Free? | Yes | No |
Rehab vs NHS or Public Healthcare System Rehab
Header | NHS/Public Services | Private Rehab |
|---|---|---|
Pricing | Free | £££ |
Accessibility | Limited spaces | Spaces available |
Detox Provided? | Varies | Yes |
Waiting List | 18mths+ | Immediate-48hrs |
Rehab vs Outpatient Treatment
Header | Outpatient | Residential Rehab |
|---|---|---|
Removed From Triggers? | No | Yes |
Pricing | Varies | £££ |
Continue Working? | Yes | No |
Rehab vs Alcohol Home Detox
Detoxing in a facility allows for 24 hour inpatient treatment to minimise withdrawal symptoms and complications, unlike home detoxing where detox nurses attend 4 visits per day for 15 minutes to monitor symptoms.
Rehab provides safe surroundings away from outside influences and distractions that may hinder recovery.
As some patients may feel intimidated by the prospect of detoxification, home detox takes place in a familiar environment, helping ease anxiety.
However, whilst anxiety may be reduced, the person is surrounded by old associations, anchors, and conditionings tied to alcohol, such as:
Alternative Treatments For Alcoholism
Further treatment options for alcoholism are:
Outcomes & Responsibility
Those who stay in treatment facilities longer (28 days of inpatient treatment or 90 days of day-patient treatment) are 5 times more likely to remain abstinent [14].
67% of those leaving a residential alcohol rehab who attended 27 weeks of AA were sober 16 years later, signifying that rehab is not the cure to alcoholism, but the beginning of a lifelong commitment to recovery [15].
Important factors affecting the chances of relapse are:
Rehab For Alcoholics vs NICE
UK NICE guidelines provide a minimum standardised routine for prescribing medicines that are adjusted to suit each patient's needs through detox [17].
Recommendations encourage family to be included in treatment, but this is not always possible if loved ones are also struggling with addiction, or are enabling the alcoholic's behaviour.
NICE suggests that therapy during alcohol addiction treatment should contain:
Alcohol rehab centres may have more therapy than this, including anger management therapy, family therapeutic time, or bereavement counselling.
The recommendations explain the need for a residential assisted withdrawal for those with severe alcohol dependence, but not techniques to combat the risks in tapering down alcohol use in a non-supervised environment.
i.e. Guidance is intended to be applied in a secure environment, and does not take account of individualised needs for greater/less therapist input, individualised care planning, or behavioural needs.
What To Ask Alcohol Treatment Providers
Questions to ask before admitting are:
Going Into Alcohol Rehab With/Without Consent
In the UK, it is illegal to force an alcoholic to enter a rehab centre against their will [18].
In our experience, individuals who are unwilling to achieve sobriety or lack a positive mindset about recovery will struggle with the agendas in a rehab facility and consequently have a reduced likelihood of successful recovery.
33% of those who attended treatment whilst being coerced found it had no impact on alcoholism; 22% found it actually worsened alcohol use disorder [19].
Patients may either be in denial about alcohol addiction itself, or be aware of needing treatment, but unwilling.
These are defence mechanisms that need to be overcome to make realistic progress in sobriety.
At-Risk
Alcohol users at greatest risk, and with greatest need for residential alcohol rehab are:
Rehab Is NOT
Misconceptions about rehab:
When A Rehab Centre Is Not Appropriate
Alcohol rehabilitation in a clinic is not the appropriate care level for:
Does Rehab Work For Alcoholics?
Rehab has a success rate of 59% [20].
As alcohol is legal and socially acceptable to consume, there is less shame and secrecy than for illegal drug users; meaning that those around them to not notice alcohol abuse until it is severe.
Studies found that 64% of those seeking alcoholism treatment were or had previously suffered from a drug use disorder [22].
Pricing
Prices for private rehab range from £1,000 - £5,000 per week, with prices for some clinics being up to £10,000 per week.
Does Health Insurance Cover The Cost Of Rehab?
Private assurance providers have policies that may accommodate detoxification and rehab support at a centre, depending on cover provided.
Providers will usually only cover the cost of one addiction treatment per member, with the length of the treatment determined by each policy.
Programmes At Abbeycare
Abbeycare offer an evidence based alcohol rehabilitation programme, which includes (note that all agendas are subject to availability and may change frequently):
Our brochure is available on our Gloucester and Scotland services' pages.
How To Get Help With Alcoholism
It is possible to be referred to a private residential centre by an NHS doctor, but an alcoholic can self refer.
Assessments will be done by the admissions and medical staff to ensure that clients receive the correct treatment for alcohol dependence.
Admissions Process For Alcoholism
The steps to take to be admitted are:
How To Get Help For An Alcoholic
To help a loved one seeking treatment:
Get your questions answered. For an initial assessment, or to find out about treatment options available, please call our team today on 01603 513 091.
Information provided is not intended to be a substitute for appropriate medical advice from your doctor. Always consult your GP in the first instance when seeking treatment for alcohol addiction. For a free confidential assessment, please call us on 01603 513 091. Or, request a free callback.
