| In considering treatment options for alcohol abuse, | | | | roughly ten percent of those who try AA. |
| dependence, or addiction you will have first decided | | | | If you are comfortable with the AA approach, but still |
| between inpatient and outpatient. Except in very rare | | | | need more help, then you can start looking at program |
| cases outpatient is your best choice: it is cost | | | | philosophies, staffing, duration, and services. That's a lot |
| effective, minimally disruptive, has continuity, and can | | | | to sort through when you're in distress. You can |
| adapt to your changing circumstances and needs (see | | | | shorten the process with a few key questions: |
| Alcohol Abuse Treatment - Inpatient or Outpatient?). | | | | What is the success rate? In fact, no program knows. |
| But having decided this question you are left with a | | | | Anyone who claims to know is misleading you. |
| confusing number of choices. | | | | Are any of the staff former clients? Competent and |
| It's hard to make any choice at a time when every | | | | confident programs do not hire former clients. Nor do |
| decision seems overwhelming. It's also tough when you | | | | successful clients need to stay attached to "their |
| don't really want to choose - who wants to go into | | | | programs" to maintain their progress. |
| treatment for a condition that we hate to admit we | | | | How many of the staff identify themselves as |
| need help with? Or even that we have? Or that | | | | "recovering?" The real world is not made up of |
| works so well in some ways! Not me. | | | | "recovering" people and that's the world you want to |
| Given that we may not want to admit that we need | | | | live in. A program that's merely an extension of |
| help, don't really want help, and that we're probably | | | | treatment for staff members isn't going to help you |
| only looking in order to placate our family or employer | | | | prepare to leave alcohol behind. |
| or the courts, how are we going to decide what to | | | | If traditional AA meetings don't help you, then you can |
| sign up for? And even if we do really, secretly, know | | | | probably decide with some certainly that 12 Step |
| we need some help with this, how are we to pick a | | | | based programs aren't going to either. That being the |
| program or office or counselor or other professional? | | | | case you can sort through the tiny number of |
| There are a lot of choices. | | | | "non-12-Step" possibilities using the same questions. |
| Most of us avoid seeking professional help for messy | | | | Assuming you receive satisfactory answers, you can |
| situations. Things have to be pretty bad before we | | | | add a few more questions. If they don't use a 12-Step |
| head off to the divorce or bankruptcy lawyer, the | | | | basis, what do they use? Generally, they will be based |
| doctor, the dentist and so on. When we do we | | | | on you and your unique circumstances and needs. |
| frequently get names from friends and colleagues who | | | | Additionally, good programs, AA anchored or not, will |
| liked this doctor or got this great settlement and so on. | | | | have physical and medical components; may work |
| But no one talks about, or asks about, their alcohol | | | | with anti-craving medications such as Naltrexone; use |
| problems and solutions. You're pretty much stuck with | | | | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for related and |
| late nights searching Internet or thumbing through the | | | | underlying problems; offer complete confidentiality; and |
| Yellow Pages. That being the case, you'd better do | | | | are unlikely to accept insurance (which is rarely |
| some preparation before you start making those | | | | available in any case and seriously compromise |
| phone calls. | | | | confidentiality when it does exist). |
| Looking through ads, whether electronic or print, will tell | | | | Finally, good service providers will begin with an |
| you a few things about program philosophy. Generally | | | | intensive involvement that tapers down over a year. |
| the possibilities will come down to two: services that | | | | Behavioral change is difficult and takes time, thirty to |
| are modeled on AA, and those that aren't. Ninety | | | | ninety days of focused work on all aspects of your |
| percent are in the first category, the so-called 12 Step | | | | life, followed by decreasing structure as you resume |
| programs. If you have been to AA and been | | | | control over your life. A good program, like a good |
| comfortable with that format then you may prefer to | | | | counselor, is interested in becoming obsolete. |
| continue with that model. If you haven't been to any | | | | Take what time you can afford and choose carefully. |
| AA meetings this might be a good time to go - it's free, | | | | If the muddle, distress, and confusion is too much, and it |
| it's convenient, and it'll answer a lot of your questions in | | | | frequently will be, find a friend you trust who doesn't |
| a hurry at no expense. You may find that it works for | | | | have a vested interest in the outcome to help you |
| you and you can stop looking. That happens for | | | | reach a decision. Listen to them. |