Residential alcohol treatment program recommendations
June 19, 2021 4:19 AM
I think an inpatient alcohol addiction treatment could help me because I won't have access to alcohol but the treatment itself seems frightening (boring, not helpful). What options are there for someone who doesn't want an AA-oriented program? What are the most successful places in the USA?
have a 13 year old child so this decision has been very difficult since I don't want to leave them, but I think that me being an alcoholic is far worse than them being without me for a few weeks, as much as I fear leaving them. My partner will be here to take care of them. They are also going away for two weeks this summer, so I would plan to go during that time.
I am still employed full time but my work ethic has gone down the tubes this past year. I can get time off work and have insurance but could pay out of pocket if needed.
I worry that I will come out of a program and start drinking as soon as I get home, but I need to at least try. I have looked into a place that is local but they are more of a detox inpatient program and don't keep people long-term. I want something that will nurture my soul, be intense but also allow me to learn to love myself again and all that life has to offer. The hard part of not drinking for a month doesn't need to be agony, so if you know of a place that offers fun activities that would be a bonus. I don't want to hate it if there is an alternative. Some reviews talk about how disprespectful the staff is to the patients, that there is little more than group talk that goes nowhere, etc.
Do you know of a place that is effective? It seems so many are just businesses making a buck and not helpful to people in the long-run. I don't want to waste my time and money, so if you can help me find the right place I am willing to go and work hard.
have a 13 year old child so this decision has been very difficult since I don't want to leave them, but I think that me being an alcoholic is far worse than them being without me for a few weeks, as much as I fear leaving them. My partner will be here to take care of them. They are also going away for two weeks this summer, so I would plan to go during that time.
I am still employed full time but my work ethic has gone down the tubes this past year. I can get time off work and have insurance but could pay out of pocket if needed.
I worry that I will come out of a program and start drinking as soon as I get home, but I need to at least try. I have looked into a place that is local but they are more of a detox inpatient program and don't keep people long-term. I want something that will nurture my soul, be intense but also allow me to learn to love myself again and all that life has to offer. The hard part of not drinking for a month doesn't need to be agony, so if you know of a place that offers fun activities that would be a bonus. I don't want to hate it if there is an alternative. Some reviews talk about how disprespectful the staff is to the patients, that there is little more than group talk that goes nowhere, etc.
Do you know of a place that is effective? It seems so many are just businesses making a buck and not helpful to people in the long-run. I don't want to waste my time and money, so if you can help me find the right place I am willing to go and work hard.
You might also look for Facilities that advertise science based treatment. They will be rare, as no standards of treatment are agreed upon or enforced. It's cheap to hire some recovered addicts with minimal or no training.
posted by tmdonahue at 6:00 AM on June 19, 2021
posted by tmdonahue at 6:00 AM on June 19, 2021
I think the biggest factor in not drinking once you're out of the program is to have established an engaging activity that takes its place. Doing X is far easier for your mind to focus on than Not Doing Y. You want to stop thinking about Y. Focus on X instead. Ask about what resources the program provides in this regard.
X can be almost anything as long as you enjoy it. Best of luck to you. And thank you for getting a handle on this now. It's hard on kids to have an alcoholic parent.
posted by ananci at 8:32 AM on June 19, 2021
X can be almost anything as long as you enjoy it. Best of luck to you. And thank you for getting a handle on this now. It's hard on kids to have an alcoholic parent.
posted by ananci at 8:32 AM on June 19, 2021
BYO fun! That way you can take it with you when you leave. Dig through some of those pandemic hobby lists.
posted by aniola at 8:40 AM on June 19, 2021
posted by aniola at 8:40 AM on June 19, 2021
In terms of specific places, I hear Hazelden Betty Ford is considered highly rated, and has different locations across the US.
posted by AlexiaSky at 9:09 AM on June 19, 2021
posted by AlexiaSky at 9:09 AM on June 19, 2021
Hazelden does have a good reputation, as AlexiaSky mentioned, but it can be highly variable depending on the location. If you want a high quality program, look for one that includes naltrexone (marketed as Revia or Vivitrol.) It is a pill or shot you take that reduces alcohol cravings and is the one component of treatment that is most likely to result in long-term recovery. It has been slow to be accepted in the drug treatment community.
Having worked in this field for a number of years and having studied the data, I can tell you that inpatient treatment and outpatient treatment do not have long-term outcomes that are much different. If a relative came to me asking about alcohol treatment, I would suggest to them a local outpatient program that works closely with a local prescriber who can prescribe and monitor naltrexone. Much less costly and helps you to deal with the triggers that your local environment contains. Also, the program will be easily accessible (since they often have alumni meetings) when you work on addressing local triggers in your community.
posted by eleslie at 6:44 AM on June 20, 2021
Having worked in this field for a number of years and having studied the data, I can tell you that inpatient treatment and outpatient treatment do not have long-term outcomes that are much different. If a relative came to me asking about alcohol treatment, I would suggest to them a local outpatient program that works closely with a local prescriber who can prescribe and monitor naltrexone. Much less costly and helps you to deal with the triggers that your local environment contains. Also, the program will be easily accessible (since they often have alumni meetings) when you work on addressing local triggers in your community.
posted by eleslie at 6:44 AM on June 20, 2021
Here are some comments that I’ve made about rehab and medication treatment versus 12-step programs.
The majority of addiction treatment facilities in the US don’t offer any of the three FDA-approved medications (buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone).
baclofen
more about baclofen
posted by bendy at 10:38 PM on July 6, 2021
The majority of addiction treatment facilities in the US don’t offer any of the three FDA-approved medications (buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone).
baclofen
more about baclofen
posted by bendy at 10:38 PM on July 6, 2021
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Inpatient programs are available in every major city, and they're are many in more rural areas where land is cheap.
Things to think about, what do you think alcohol is doing for you? Do you exhibit signs of depression, anxiety, have a history of traumatic events that keep coming up in various ways, have previous mental health history like bipolar disorder, or other things? Some programs are designed to address very particular things behind the substance abuse disorder, so if you can identify that you can find something a little more catered to your needs.
Do you want the program to offer some opportunities for family therapy for you and your child together?
Smart Recovery is a term for a program that offers a group setting without the AA religious stuff, and you may be able to find a local outpatient group right now to see if it would be a good alternative.
In addition, your insurance is going to be a big factor in what you can and can't do, reaching out to them or looking on their provider website to see what is it network will make a difference . Usually if you are willing to travel you will have to reach out to the facility for them to run your benefits.
CBT, DBT should be listed in pretty much any program you go to. Feel free to call them and all how they structure their programs of any place you are interested in. They should be able to offer you a sample schedule of what a week looks like. You should be able to ask questions on how they work on relaspe prevention because this is a primary concern of yours. If they can't or unwilling to talk to you, that is a sign that's not the program for you .
Yes some parts of substance abuse treatment are boring. It's hard to predict what parts are useful for some and not for others. Asking how often you see a therapist for individual and how they individualize treatment plans is useful. Do they offer more than one group at the same time sometimes is a good question for this.
I will tell you substance abuse treatment is mostly how much work you put in. You have to take an active role in your recovery and the decisions you make going forward. Poorly run programs can have great outcomes sometimes, and great programs can have poor outcomes sometimes.
Good luck!
posted by AlexiaSky at 5:38 AM on June 19, 2021