Admitting you have an addiction and reaching out to alcohol recovery centers for help is never easy. An array of feelings may arise, including embarrassment, frustration, and fear. If you have never sought treatment before, you may be anxious about the unknown and have many questions about what treatment will entail. One of the best things you can do to ease your mind is to learn about the treatment process to know what to expect.
Below are the steps to getting started with treatment for alcohol addiction.
Making the Call
The first step in getting help from alcohol addiction treatment centers is calling or visiting the treatment center’s website to speak via chat. You will talk with an intake specialist about your condition and schedule an appointment to go in for an assessment. In many cases, the treatment center can get you in on the same day and possibly even within a few hours.
If you have some reservations about getting treatment, you can still talk with a staff member without committing to a program. Sometimes, it helps to take baby steps to alleviate your anxiety about quitting alcohol. Ask the center’s representative as many questions as you like; they are there to help and will gladly tell you more about treatment.
Your Intake Appointment
When you arrive for your intake appointment at an alcohol addiction treatment program, you will meet with an intake specialist who will conduct an assessment. They will ask you questions about your alcohol use, including how long, how often, and how much you have been drinking. You will also be asked about your family’s history of alcohol use.
A physician will conduct a physical screening to determine your current state of health and any medical concerns that need to be addressed during treatment. In addition, you will be evaluated for co-occurring mental health conditions.
Creating a Treatment Plan
Once your care team has completed your evaluation, they will review the information and determine the best course of treatment. They may recommend you begin with detox to help you get through withdrawal safely and comfortably. This can last anywhere from three to seven days.
Your treatment team may determine that you can skip detox and go directly into an inpatient or outpatient alcohol abuse treatment program for less severe addictions. If you need a higher level of care, an inpatient or residential program will be suggested. These are typically 30-day programs where you stay in the facility for around-the-clock supervision. If you cannot commit to thirty days in the center, a partial hospitalization program is a great alternative where you will attend treatment sessions most days of the week but return home each evening.
For minor alcohol addictions, you may be enrolled in an intensive outpatient or traditional outpatient treatment program. These programs usually require anywhere from one to five days a week for an hour to a few hours per visit.
Beginning Alcohol Addiction Treatment
When you begin treatment, the initial focus is on alleviating withdrawal symptoms. Your care team will work to keep you comfortable with medications and support as alcohol exits your system. You will also meet with a counselor for therapy sessions based on your assessment. Therapies will address mental health disorders, behavioral issues, and relapse prevention. Regular checkups with a physician will also take place to monitor your health and recovery progress.
Start Your Recovery Now With an Alcohol Abuse Treatment Program
Getting the help you need to quit alcohol safely and successfully starts with that first phone call to an addiction treatment center. Before your intake appointment, you may wish to arrange care for children or pets and time off work if applicable. This can give you peace of mind as you embark on the life-changing journey to recovery.
