What Happens at the Alcohol Abuse Clinic

National statistics regarding alcohol misuse and abuse are troubling, to say the least. The good news is that there are organisations doing very good work every day to help alcoholics and their families take their lives back. Anyone who genuinely wants to do something about alcohol abuse problem can find the help he or she needs in short order at an alcohol abuse clinic.

One of our tasks, as an invaluable referral service, is to keep track of the different service providers offering programmes for alcohol abusers and addicts. We can then help our clients locate a treatment facility and programme that meets their individual needs. If you require help with an alcohol problem, please feel free to contact us.

When you do call, we will provide a comprehensive assessment that should give you a fairly accurate picture of how serious your problem is. Then we can talk about alcohol abuse clinics and other options. With just one phone call, you could be well on your way to successfully addressing your alcohol problem once and for all. But remember this: if you ignore your problem, it is only going to get worse.

Many Different Treatment Options

People searching for alcohol treatment quickly realise that there are a tremendous number of options. So much so, that it can be difficult to figure out what the best option is. This is where we come in. We walk our clients through the treatment process so that they more fully understand what they can expect. Then they can choose the kind of treatment they prefer.

In the UK, treatment programmes are available through:

• inpatient treatment clinics
• outpatient treatment clinics
• alcohol and drug charities
• alcohol support groups
• private counsellors.

Depending on the seriousness of one’s alcohol abuse problem, treatment can be accessed using just one of the above options or any combination thereof. The idea is to help the alcohol abuser figure out what will work best for him/her before pursuing a treatment plan accordingly. In other words, whatever it takes.

The Inpatient Alcohol Abuse Clinic

An inpatient clinic is a residential clinic that offers alcohol abuse programmes of varying lengths. The shortest programme is typically ten days to three weeks and involves counselling and group support at a minimum. Detox may also be necessary if the alcohol abuser is bordering on full-blown dependence. Longer programmes, designed for those who are already alcoholics, can last between 3 and 12 weeks. These involve detox and more intense psychotherapeutic treatments.

The Outpatient Alcohol Abuse Clinic

A private organisation can run an outpatient clinic, but most are operated by the NHS and alcohol charities. Outpatient clinics offer day programmes that invite alcohol abusers to visit on a daily basis. At the clinic, clients receive counselling, medical exams, and prescription medications where applicable.

The Other Options

In- and outpatient clinics offer the most structured treatments for alcohol abusers. Should the client choose one of the other options, treatments may vary. For example, alcohol and drug charities may offer their own counselling and support while referring clients to an outpatient clinic where prescription drugs can be obtained.

Alcohol support groups are groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon Family Groups. Their primary role is one of helping alcohol abusers change their behaviour through group support and combined activities designed for mutual accountability.

Finally, private counsellors can work with alcohol abusers to try and figure out why they do what they do. Counselling can be immensely helpful for the alcohol abuser who is trying desperately to avoid becoming a full-blown alcoholic. By talking through problems and developing strategies to avoid continued drinking, the client and his/her counsellor can accomplish quite a bit.

Choosing the Right Kind of Treatment

The first step in overcoming an alcohol abuse problem is figuring out how serious it is. Only then can you choose the right kind of treatment. When you call our 24-hour helpline, one of our counsellors will walk you through a step-by-step process designed to assess your situation. We will help you understand which of the following three categories your drinking problem may fall under:

• Lower Risk Drinking – Lower risk drinking describes what is sometimes called alcohol misuse. It is characterised by regularly consuming up to 14 units of alcohol per week but on a schedule that minimises the problems drinking might cause.

• Higher Risk Drinking – This category of drinking is characterised by consuming over 21 units of alcohol per week. At the high end, drinking begins causing problems in a person’s life.

• Hazardous Drinking – Hazardous drinking is characterised by exceeding 50 units of alcohol per week. The hazardous drinker is endangering his/her physical and psychological health; without treatment, alcoholism is almost a certainty.

The lower risk drinker may do very well with an outpatient treatment plan that involves prescription drugs to control drinking and counselling to help him/her figure out ways to reduce alcohol consumption. Support group membership would also be a good idea for the low risk drinker.

Once you get into high risk or hazardous drinking, you need to start thinking about more serious treatments. Prescription medications are available to help reduce alcohol consumption, but doctors are careful to prescribe them only when there is reason to believe that the patient will truly benefit from them. The problem with the medications is that they stop working if the patient continues to drink at the same levels while taking them.

The most aggressive form of alcohol abuse treatment starts with detox. Detox is followed by several weeks of counselling and other psychotherapeutic treatments designed to help the patient turn his/her life around. Psychotherapeutic treatments help the patient understand why he/she engages in addictive behaviour and what he/she needs to do to prevent such behaviour in the future.

Alcohol abuse is a serious problem requiring professional treatment. If you have any further questions, or you are ready to locate a clinic and treatment programme right now, please do not hesitate to contact us on our 24-hour helpline.