| It is difficult to make a decision to seek treatment | | | | program, staff, and facility. |
| for alcohol abuse, dependency, or addiction. But | | | | The drawback is that the client isn't isolated or |
| having made that choice it becomes even more | | | | protected from their usual stresses and temptations. |
| confusing when seeking an appropriate type of | | | | But is this really a negative point? |
| program. Essentially the first decision comes down to | | | | Nearly anyone can modify a behavior in a controlled |
| opting for either Inpatient or Out-Patient. | | | | environment for a short period of time. People do |
| First consider In-Patient, commonly referred to as | | | | lose weight at spas; they get into shape at camps; |
| "Residential." Generally these programs run from 30 | | | | they quit drinking in rehab. But they almost always |
| to 90 days at an average cost of $1000/day, though | | | | return to their old patterns when they return to their |
| some may run three or four times that amount. | | | | usual lives and problems, people and jobs, |
| Usually the client is confined to a facility, shielded | | | | neighborhoods and families. All that has changed is |
| from outside pressures, assessed, counseled, and | | | | that they've had a very expensive vacation. |
| released to aftercare which usually consists of | | | | The harsh reality is that change takes place within |
| weekly groups at a hospital, clinic, or other local | | | | the individual in their usual surroundings, or it doesn't |
| facility and the mandate "don't drink, attend AA, | | | | last for long. That said, Out-Patient treatment is more |
| work your program." | | | | effective because it works with all of the day-to-day |
| The benefits are fairly straightforward: removal from | | | | problems that must be coped with. It's cheaper, and |
| immediate stressers; isolation from temptation; | | | | you can always stay at a hotel for awhile if you |
| appeasement of family and employers; time to | | | | need to escape long enough to clear your head and |
| regroup and collect one's thoughts; and a period | | | | develop some plans. It's more inclusive, again because |
| away from the usual alcoholic fog. | | | | it is done within the context of your real life. It's also |
| The drawbacks are equally apparent: expense; | | | | less prone to labeling you with a permanent diagnosis |
| disconnection from reality; labeling; depression; and | | | | which may or may not be accurate and is usually |
| re-entry shock which generally leads to relapse within | | | | demeaning. |
| a month or two and a return to old behaviors which | | | | Finally, modifying behaviors over time is more apt to |
| will now necessitate out-patient services if you can | | | | result in lasting change. It takes time to alter |
| can afford them either financially or emotionally. | | | | behavior, thirty days to break a habit and a year or |
| Out-patient, on the otherhand, allows the client to | | | | more to replace the activity. If you want to succeed, |
| gradually modify behaviors within the ongoing context | | | | expect to give yourself the time you deserve in the |
| of their daily life. It also provides assessment and | | | | most efficient ways available. |
| counseling and followup, but with continuity of | | | | |