Rehab Centers | alcohol.org (2023)

If you or someone you care about is struggling with alcohol dependence, also known as alcohol use disorder (AUD), you may feel stressed and don't know who to turn to. The good news is that AUD is a treatable condition.¹Knowing that help is available, understanding your withdrawal options, and learning how to find the best alcohol withdrawal solution for you can help you feel less overwhelmed and more in control of your life.

What is an Alcohol Rehabilitation Center?

A drug rehabilitation center is a treatment facility that provides support, care and therapy to people suffering from alcoholismalcohol use disorder, AUD.²Treatment is important for several reasons. It can educate people about AUD, help people quit drinking safely, address the root causes of addictions, and help people deal with stress in a healthier way, andrelapse prevention skillsso that they can stay sober.^3,4

Treatment is offered in a variety of settings and levels of care that may vary based on your unique recovery needs and concerns. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), effective treatment should be tailored to individual health and recovery needs and consider mental health, community health, and any business or legal issues.⁵

People's needs may change during treatment and may vary with the intensity and different levels of care in alcoholism treatment centers.⁵

Alcohol withdrawal in the hospital

Alcohol withdrawal in the hospitalmeans you live in a treatment center for the duration of your treatment. These may be hospitals, outpatient clinics, or other inpatient drug rehabilitation centers that provide 24-hour care.^2,3This setting can be helpful for many people, including those with severe AUDsimultaneous disorderspeople with a history of relapses, people with an unstable life situation or limited mobility, and teenagers.^3,6

Types of hospital rehabilitation

Typical hospital treatment settings include:

• Long-term home renovation.This ensures a stable living situation, a structured environment free of distractions and triggers (people, places and things that make you drink) and supportive care over a longer period of time. It can be low or high intensity. It is suitable for people without permanent homes and supportive families, as well as for people with serious addictions or co-occurring disorders.^2,3,6
• Short-term inpatient treatment.This is usually done in a hospital, medical clinic or other facility that provides 24/7 medical supervision. These facilities usually providealcohol detoxification servicesemployeecoping with alcohol withdrawal symptomsand rehabilitation treatment.^2,3
• Homes for sober living.They are also referred to as convalescent homes, transit homes, or intermediate homes. They provide temporary temporary shelter and various forms of support for people who have recently completed a rehabilitation program and are returning to everyday life.³

Outpatient alcohol withdrawal

Outpatient alcohol rehabilitation provides treatment services in a health clinic, community mental health center, free-standing addiction treatment center or hospital.⁷You live at home and regularly go to the facility for treatment.⁷Some outpatient programs offer some or all of their programs through remote rehabilitation or virtual health care via telehealth.

People who can take advantage of itoutpatient alcoholism treatment centersinclude those leaving hospital treatment or those with mild addictions, good health, strong social support, reliable transport and a stable living environment.^3,6,8Outpatient rehabilitation can take place at different levels of intensity.²

Types of outpatient rehabilitation

Common types of outpatient drug rehab centers include:

• Standard ambulancewhere you visit the practice regularly for advice and addiction treatment if needed. Standard outpatient programs typically require you to attend treatments 1 to 3 times a week, although some meet daily.^2,7
• Intensive outpatient, IOP. This is a higher intensity program offering 9 to 20 hours of structured programming per week.^7,8
• Partial hospitalizationPHP.This is the most intensive level of outpatient care. This includes the daily presence of treatment for at least 6 hours a day.⁸

Drugs used in alcohol withdrawal

Drugs can be used in an alcoholism treatment programhelp people stop drinking and prevent relapse.⁷Some common medications include:

• disulfiram. This drug can help people refrain from drinking alcohol while they are recovering because it causes unpleasant symptoms when drinking.^10,11
• acamprosate. This helps people stay abstinent and avoid relapse. It helps to reduce unpleasant symptoms that can sometimes occur with persistent abstinence, such as insomnia (difficulty sleeping) and anxiety.¹¹
• naltrexon. This can help people stay sober by reducing their appetite and blocking the pleasurable and beneficial effects of alcohol when drinking.¹⁰

How long does alcohol withdrawal last?

The duration of alcohol withdrawal can vary depending on the environment and individual needs.⁵The usual duration of treatment for inpatient rehabilitation is 28 to 30 days, 60 days or 90 days. It can take even longer for a long-term inpatient drug rehab facility, which can last up to a year.³Outpatient rehabilitation usually lasts from 2 months to a year.³While the length of treatment can vary, there are three common types of treatment30 i,60 i, I90 i.

In many cases, treatment does not follow a standard timeline or established endpoint. Because addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease, many people find it helpful to attend support groups, therapy sessions, or other forms of ongoing care after formal rehabilitation.

How to choose a drug rehab center

You should learn as much as you can about the different alcoholic rehab centers so you can choose the one that best suits your needs and recovery goals. A doctor or other addiction specialist can assess you and your drinking habits and advise on appropriate treatment options.⁶

Factors to consider when choosing a rehab center include:

• attack. Rehabilitation does not involve specific costs; may vary by property, location, amenities and other factors. Even if you are insured, you may have to cover a number of personal costs.
• Place. Perhaps you prefer to stay close to home to be close to your support network, attend virtual rehab, or it might help to travel to another part of the country to escape your triggers and focus solely on your recovery.
• Contents. Different facilities offer different benefits; some may have a simpler approach, while luxury properties have a more luxurious feel and offer a wide range of first-class amenities.
• Insurance. Coverage may vary by plan, so check with your insurance company to find out what's covered and what's not.
• Requires the right level of care. This may vary depending on your rating.⁶For example, you may need more care if you have a physical or mental disorder.

It is also important to check whether the withdrawal clinic offers alcohol treatment for specialist groups. Some demographics may face unique challenges when dealing with alcohol dependence, and specific addiction programs can lead to positive outcomes. Some popular specialty programs include:

• Alcohol rehabilitation programs for starters.
• Alcohol rehabilitation programs for veterans.
• Alcohol withdrawal programs for women.
• Alcohol withdrawal programs for men.
• Alcohol withdrawal programs for the elderly.
• Alcohol rehabilitation programs for LGBTQ people.
• Alcohol withdrawal programs for teens.

Does the insurance cover alcohol withdrawal?

This may depend on your plan, but generally most plans include some form of addiction treatment. The Mental Health and Addiction Equality Parity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008 states that insurance plans must provide the same level of mental health and addiction treatment and services as medical and surgical care.¹²

Coverage may be affected by several factors, including the level of medical care and the setting of the selected program, as well as location, program duration, benefits, specific plan, and other considerations.^7,13American Addiction Centers (AAC) are affiliated with many common insurance plans, and we offer you an easy way to get them nowsee your benefits onlinelager.

How to pay for alcohol rehabilitation without insurance

Cost shouldn't stop you from seeking help. There are other payment options if you don't have insurance or your insurance doesn't cover rehabilitation, such as:

• Using payment plans, sliding scale or stock market. Some rehabilitation centers offer various forms of financial assistance depending on your needs or financial capabilities.
• Departure to the facility frompublic fund. Maybe you can find itfree or low-cost rehabilitation; it's important to know that states have allocated money to help people without insurance.¹⁴
• Apply for Medicare or Medicaid. Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people age 65 and older or certain younger people who meet eligibility requirements.¹⁵Medicaid is a government-funded health insurance plan for people on low incomes who meet eligibility requirements.¹⁴
• Pay out of your own pocket. For example, you can use your savings or ask family or friends for help.
• Loan.You can take out a loan to cover (part of) your medical expenses.
• Alcoholics Anonymousor similar mutual aid organizations.Recent evidence suggests that AA and other free 12-step mutual aid groups may be as effective as other recognized treatments for achieving abstinence and other alcohol-related outcomes such as drinking consequences, drinking intensity, and degree of addiction.¹⁶

How do I find my nearest alcoholic rehab center?

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to treating alcoholism. ANDtreatment centermust consider all your unique needs to provide the best possible support.⁶American Addiction Centers offer evidence-based alcohol rehabilitation at locations across the country, so you're never far from the help you need.

If you or someone you care about is struggling, please contact our hotline attalk to one of our caring registration navigators about your options.