KEY TAKEAWAYS
Abbeycare does not currently offer a one-week alcohol rehabilitation programme.
A 1-week alcohol rehabilitation programme is:
What Is The Structure Of 1 Week Alcohol Rehab?
Medication
Chlordiazepoxide is given as a first-line medication for alcohol addiction, with doses dependent on scores on the Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ) [1]:
The type of medication used in a 1-week alcohol rehab also depends on the presence of liver impairment [2]:
IV hydration management also forms part of the medication regimen in a 1-week detox, though this is at the discretion of healthcare professionals and is not always required.
Thiamine (vitamin B1) is recommended in both mild and severe alcohol dependence to prevent Wernicke’s encephalopathy (WE), but doses vary by [3]:
Ismail (2018) found that 91% of patients require intravenous vitamins containing 250mg of thiamine, 4mg of vitamin B2, 50mg of vitamin B6, 500mg of vitamin C, 160mg of Nicotinamide, and 1g of glucose [3].
Therapeutic Content
Abbeycare does not provide therapy during the first 7 days of rehabilitation.
Some 1-week rehabs include 1-2 individual therapy sessions along with 4-5 group counselling sessions, discussing issues on triggers for alcohol use and relapse prevention techniques.
As the therapeutic content only spans over 7 days, sessions do not cover issues surrounding deeply rooted core beliefs causing alcoholism; however, patients will be signposted to outpatient therapy if the clinician thinks this is required.
Attendance at individual therapy and group counselling sessions in a 7-day course depends on the physical health of the patient; sessions are encouraged but will not be forced if patients do not feel well enough during detox.
Patients undergoing detox and therapy simultaneously in a 1-week course may not be able to concentrate on or comprehend tasks, as patients might be experiencing nausea and tremors during alcohol detox.
It is necessary to check with specific rehab providers if therapy is included, as some 7-day courses will comprise only detox.
1 Week Alcohol Rehab Vs...
1 Week | 28 Days | 90 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
Primary focus | Detox and crisis management | Detox, rehabilitation, therapy, aftercare | Detox, multiple forms of therapy (CBT, DBT, etc), and extended aftercare planning |
Length Of Detox | Up to 7 days | 7 - 10 days | Up to 14 days |
Continuity Of Care? | Limited | Yes | Yes |
Family Involvement | No | Yes | Yes |
Aftercare Planning Focus | Social services support, assessment of therapeutic needs, outpatient care, and signposting | Continued outpatient therapy, support groups, and relapse prevention with family | Same as 28-day rehab plus: sober living homes and employment support |
Who Is A 7 Day Rehabilitation Programme Appropriate For?
Who Is A 7 Day Rehabilitation Programme Not Appropriate For?
A 7-day rehab for alcoholism is not suitable for the following:
What Happens If Alcohol Detox Takes Longer Than 7 Days?
If symptoms persist beyond the 7-day timeframe, post-detox treatment (e.g., disulfiram) will be delayed, and patients will not be discharged until no adverse reactions are present.
Each rehabilitation facility is responsible for patients' physical and mental well-being; therefore, ongoing symptoms may necessitate longer stays at an additional cost.
All patients are reassessed on the last day of rehab to determine whether extended care is necessary, mainly if nausea and sweating are still evident.
Scores >10 on the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol indicate that medical treatment and inpatient care are still required; otherwise, patients are discharged and signposted to outpatient care.
