Short Term Treatment: Is It Right For You?
Millions of people enjoy alcoholic beverages every day, and most suffer no health-threatening side effects. In fact, many health studies show that one alcoholic beverage per day is actually healthful. Some people, however, abuse alcohol, putting their health at risk.
Most drinkers don’t realize that abusing alcohol—having more than two drinks every day, or binge drinking several times per month—can lead to alcohol dependence, better known as alcoholism, a devastating disease that destroys families and lives and can lead to death.
But the road from alcohol abuse to full-blown alcoholism is complicated, affecting each individual in different ways. Becoming alcohol dependent usually takes years of alcohol abuse, and many people do not even realize they are at risk.
Most people know that alcoholism can be treated with long term rehab, but alcohol abuse—the stage before alcoholism—can be treated with short term rehabilitation that can help people better manage their alcohol consumption and prevent alcohol dependence.
Unfortunately, sometimes the people who have the greatest need for short term treatment feel deterred because they don’t know the benefits of this relatively new preventive treatment, don’t think they have a problem with drinking, feel stigmatized, or think they can’t fit even short term rehabilitation into their lives.
But short term treatment might save them from long term social, psychological, and health problems that will surely result if they become alcoholics.
Short Term Treatment Offers Flexibility in Curing Alcohol Abuse
Traditional treatment programs tend to approach every addiction the same way. However, short term treatment programs use a variety of alternative and modern rehab methods to suit a number of individual needs. The 10- to 30-day short term rehabilitation process typically includes:
- A focus on medical stabilization, alcohol abstinence, and lifestyle changes
- Detoxification to flush alcohol from the system (although some short term treatment programs do not require this)
- Inpatient therapy within a short term residential treatment setting
- Outpatient therapy including daily or weekly counseling sessions
- Inpatient or outpatient therapeutic communities that use a modified 12 step program or an alternative non 12 step program.
Deciding on the best short term treatment depends on many individual variables, but getting into a short term rehabilitation program is essential to prevent the long term threat of alcoholism.
Benefits and Effectiveness of Short Term Treatment for Alcohol Abuse
No matter the individual circumstances, short term treatment uses a variety of methods to achieve positive results that have been proven to prevent the onset of alcohol dependence. Many people who choose a short term rehabilitation center experience:
- A reduction or elimination of alcohol cravings
- A reduction or elimination of alcohol addiction symptoms
- Improved enthusiasm and energy for life
- Improved memory, attention span, self-esteem, and confidence
- An increased sense of health and clarity.
Deciding whether a short term treatment program is right for your situation depends on the duration of the alcohol abuse and the severity of the symptoms.
If you or someone you know has been acting depressed or withdrawn and appears to rely on alcohol for coping with life or lies about drinking, these symptoms, among others, definitely warrant checking into an alcohol recovery program of some kind.
The Diagnostic Benefits of Short Term Rehabilitation: When Short Term Treatment May Not Be Enough
Generally, a short term treatment program is best suited for someone whose alcohol addiction has existed for only a few months or if symptoms have only begun to show. However, if you have been wrestling with alcohol abuse for a significant amount of time, even years, and have seen the signs of alcohol abuse grow from serving as a mild crutch to full-blown debilitating dependence, long term rehab may be necessary. Only a health professional can accurately assess each case and determine the best treatment.
In fact, depending on how a person responds to treatment, a short term program may exceed its typical 30 days and become a long term program. Also, sometimes a short term rehabilitation program is not effective if the symptoms are too aggressive or if the person may fall into relapse. In that case, a long term program may be recommended.
Taking the First Step in the Alcohol Recovery Process Is the Most Important
Alcohol abuse has the effect of making the edge of the cliff you have been clinging to feel as though it’s about to crumble. But help is within reach, and there are many clinical specialists out there to assist you in taking the first step back from the edge.
If you suspect you are abusing alcohol, contact an addiction specialist today. They will help you find the best alcohol recovery plan for your specific problem. These highly trained social workers can refer you to alcohol treatment programs that can save your long term health.
Regardless of the type of treatment you choose, be honest with yourself about which alcohol rehab center plan would offer the most successful recovery for your individual situation.
Most importantly, never avoid alcohol addiction treatment because of a full work schedule, social shame, or financial reasons. The price of not getting treatment for alcohol abuse far exceeds the cost of alcohol treatment, and things will only get worse if you don’t get help now.
If you or someone you know is abusing alcohol or exhibiting the symptoms of alcoholism, contact a specialist or your counseling psychologist immediately. These professional and understanding drug and alcohol recovery counselors are standing by to listen to you and help you make the right choice for your treatment program. Your path to a new and happier life without alcohol abuse starts now.