Finding the Right Treatment for You
No one treatment program is right for everyone. Each person has his own medical needs, social needs, legal and vocational issues, psychological needs, and spiritual needs. Financial concerns are also significant. It takes time to find the treatment program that is the best “fit.” Be patient! Finding the right program will lead to the best opportunity for successful recovery.
The two basic types of treatment programs are residential/ inpatient programs and outpatient programs. Within that framework, many variations are available, depending on the addict's particular needs and situation.
Residential or inpatient hospital programs typically last for 21 to 30 days. These programs are appropriate for individuals who:
Require medical supervision
Are unresponsive to less restrictive forms of treatment
Have inadequate support systems at home
Have spiraled out of control with the addiction and need help to break the cycle
Alert
Remember that many individuals struggling with addiction have more than one addiction and/or other mental health problems. When choosing a treatment program, make certain that professionally trained staff are available to manage complex treatment issues if necessary. Programs targeting only one addiction, such as alcohol, will likely be unsuccessful and discourage the addict from seeking further treatment.
Outpatient programs typically last 30 to 90 days or even longer with support and maintenance. These programs are appropriate for individuals who:
Have adequate support systems in place at home
Can maintain a level of safety
Are motivated for treatment
Are medically stable
Several types of outpatient programs are available and a professional evaluation may be helpful to determine which will best meet the addict's needs. One such program is a partial hospitalization program or intensive day program. To be eligible for these programs, a person must be medically and psychiatrically stable with an adequate, supportive living situation.
The programs last from two to eight hours per day, two to five days per week. Although they may take place in a hospital setting, the individual goes home at night and has the opportunity to practice coping skills in real-life situations.
What is a therapeutic community (TC)?
Therapeutic community is a specialized type of inpatient treatment. This highly structured residential treatment program is for an addict with a long history of severe addiction. The program often lasts six to twelve months and is designed to completely change the addict's lifestyle and equip him to successfully re-enter the job market and society.
Outpatient programs can be an excellent solution for someone who wants to maintain her employment and help meet family obligations. Some outpatient programs are primarily educational and supportive in nature. Group counseling is often a component of both inpatient and outpatient treatment.
Some programs provide individual and family counseling as part of the package, or you may opt to find these services privately. Network therapy is a type of treatment that includes specified family members and friends who help the treatment team promote behavioral and attitudinal change on the part of the addict.
The most successful treatment programs are comprehensive, employ professionals who specialize in working with addictions and mental health disorders, and offer multiple levels of treatment to accommodate the changing needs of the addict. Comprehensive programs include vocational rehabilitation, parenting skills training, legal services, social skills training, educational services, spiritual support if desired, and aftercare programs.
