Alcohol Detox

The first step in treating an alcohol addiction is typically a detox. This is a medically supervised program where patients cease all alcohol consumption. Generally, patients will experience withdrawal symptoms that range from mildly unpleasant to painful.

A detox can come in many forms, but the duration tends to be between seven and nine days for the average patient. Treatment facilities can opt to go natural for a detox, which means there are little to no pharmacological remedies offered, or they can opt for more prescribed medications and even sedatives to minimize discomfort. After the detox is complete, patients will be ready to explore their next options on the road to recovery, which will include a rehab program.

Short-Term Residential Rehab

Residential rehab, also known as inpatient rehab, is a 24/7 treatment option that includes virtually everything that a patient will need for the duration of the program. This will include accommodation in a sober environment where alcohol isn’t permitted, and it also includes meals, therapies and various treatment methods.

Although the exact duration of residential rehab can vary, short-term programs are the most common. These programs tend, on average, to last 30 days. This gives patients a foundation upon which they can create healthy habits and routines on their journey to recovery.

There are a number of different therapies and treatment methods that can be administered during a short-term residential rehab program. Individual counseling is often the bedrock of the curriculum, and it involves a one-on-one meeting between a patient struggling with addiction and a counselor, therapist or psychologist. Group therapy may also be included as a way to share experiences with others, learn from past mistakes and generally feel less isolated in the environment.

Long-Term Residential Rehab

In many ways, the format of a long-term residential rehab program will be the same as a short-term program. There will still be structure and accountability around the clock, and patients will still have all or most of their needs met right on the premises. However, long-term programs tend to last for six months or longer.

Long-term residential rehab programs can be beneficial for patients who struggle with a more severe alcohol addiction. They might also be recommended for people who have been through rehab several times in the past but need to make a serious time commitment to reshape habits, routines and perspective. Living in a controlled environment for an extended period of time can help to re-frame people’s worldviews, helping them to create coping strategies without the temptation of alcohol anywhere in the vicinity.

Partial Hospitalization Programs

Patients who have a stable living situation, and the support of family or roommates, may do well in a partial hospitalization program. This type of program allows for daily treatment in a facility that offers therapy as well as medical monitoring. There’s a daily accountability at play in this type of treatment, mandating that all participants retain their sobriety throughout the process. However, patients are free to go home each night after their 4–8 hours of curriculum is complete.

Partial hospitalization programs can be ideal for patients who need medical attention and a daily routine for structure. It’s also suited to those with families who don’t want to leave their spouse, their children or their parents for weeks or even months at a time.

Outpatient or Intensive Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient treatment programs for alcohol addiction are the primary alternative to residential programs. There’s no accommodation provided for patients in outpatient programs, so they spend each night independently in their own residence. During treatment, however, patients will participate in group counseling, individual therapy sessions and other treatment methods designed to help with their recovery.

The main difference between outpatient treatment and intensive outpatient treatment is the time commitment. Intensive outpatient treatment is the bigger commitment, often requiring patients to come in three or four days a week for several hours each time. Outpatient treatment, on the other hand, may only take place once or twice a week, and possibly in the evenings. Outpatient and intensive outpatient treatment may be best for those who need to take care of family during the day, attend school or maintain their careers while seeking sobriety.

Sober Living Facilities

Another option for alcohol addiction is sober living. When patients reside in sober living facilities, they are in a type of transition period between residential rehab and independent living. The environment is alcohol free, and residents are surrounded by other like-minded individuals with the goal of sobriety. Sober living facilities seek to eliminate temptations, and increase accountability, which makes it easier to stay on the right path and work toward a lifetime of sobriety.

Sober Companionship

An infrequent means of alcohol addiction treatment, but certainly an effective one, is sober companionship. This is the opportunity to have a sober counselor, or someone trained in addiction treatment and alcoholism, spend most or all of the day by your side or on call. This individual is someone that patients can talk to when they’re struggling with temptation to avoid falling into a relapse. Sober companionship can work best for those individuals who want to return to their careers quickly, but who don’t want to fall into old habits.

Alcohol addiction simply isn’t a condition that can be treated solo. Since there are so many different types of programs available, individuals struggling with an alcohol addiction can easily find a program or treatment method that fits their needs and their schedule.

Sober housing, or living, is drug or alcohol-free accommodation that can help bridge the gap between rehab and independent living. While not strictly necessary for recovery, sober housing can make a significant difference for patients struggling with an addiction.

Defining Sober Housing

Sober housing can go by many different names, including dry housing, halfway homes, supportive housing and sober-living facilities. Sober housing can be privately owned, run by the state, city or federal government or it can be connected and partnered with successful rehab facilities. Sober housing can be small in size, accommodating just a few individuals at a time, or it can be a dormitory where dozens of people live with shared rooms and communal living spaces.

Whatever the size, location or management style of sober housing, the primary goal is always the same: to encourage sobriety among residents. This can be accomplished in a number of different ways, including:

• Establishing curfew rules to eliminate temptation
• Holding residents accountable through drug testing
• Assign chores to make residents accountable
• Establish a schedule to help create daily routines
• Encourage or even require attendance at local 12-step meetings
• Help with employment opportunities

Sober Housing Maintains a Necessary Accountability

An important role of sober housing is providing individuals with a level of accountability that can’t be obtained when living independently. In a closed rehab facility, drugs and alcohol simply aren’t available. Patients are restricted in what they can and can’t access, and sobriety is an assumption.

Once outside of rehab, it can be challenging to deal with a whole new set of rules. Temptations abound, whether in familiar environments or just because of physical and psychological cravings. Sober housing can be instrumental in preventing relapse by ensuring that all residents know they are accountable to others.

Sober housing may require residents to partake in daily or weekly drug tests, or staff and other residents may be on the lookout for signs of intoxication or inebriation. Curfews may also be in place to limit nightlife activities, when relapses are most likely to occur. Many sober houses have a no-strikes policy, which means that any relapse requires you to pack up and leave right away. This level of accountability encourages sobriety, because residents don’t want to leave their home or their support system during recovery.

Opportunities to Develop Healthy Friendships with Peers

Two common reasons people relapse are boredom and loneliness. To reduce the chance of this happening, sober housing addresses both of these important issues.

To combat boredom, sober housing provides the opportunity for 24/7 companionship. Even with family visits and work obligations, there are many hours in a day to fill. Many sober housing facilities encourage dining in groups, organize outings for residents, and create daily schedules to help provide structure.

Such amenities and structure can go a long way in combating loneliness. Instead of feeling isolated from society—an issue noted by many individuals who are recovering from addiction—sober housing offers a group of peers who understand and are going through the same thing as everyone else. This shared connection may encourage true conversation and lasting bonds.

Encouragement to Attend 12-Step Meetings and Support Groups

Participating in 12-step meetings and support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous can be instrumental in retaining sobriety and preventing relapse. Although all alumni of rehab programs should know and understand the effectiveness of something like 12-step meetings, gathering the willpower and desire to attend on a regular basis isn’t always easy.

Sober housing may encourage residents to attend meetings, or they may require it. Either way, they will supply locations and times to eliminate missed opportunities, and many residents will attend meetings together. Having this continued support, education and outlet for sharing can greatly lessen the chance of relapse because ongoing support and help is always available.

Ease the Transition Between Rehab and Independent Living

Some say that the hardest part of recovery is taking the first step to attend a detox or a rehab program. That may be true, but it’s just as tough transitioning from the structure, support and defined boundaries of residential rehab to independent living. To bridge the gap between rehab and living alone, sober housing is crucial.

There are logistical advantages that sober housing can offer to residents. Trying to rent an apartment after rehab, for instance, may be nearly impossible without a proven income or recent rental history. Sober housing eliminates this worry and rejection. In the same vein, sober housing may have recommendations for employment, which makes it easier for residents to re-enter society, contribute in a meaningful way, feel productive, and earn an income.

Statistical Evidence Supporting Sober Housing After Rehab

Clearly, sober housing can be beneficial to patients. More importantly, sober housing can make a difference in terms of lasting sobriety.

Some studies indicate that remission rates (the duration of sobriety) are higher among those who reside in sober housing immediately following rehab program. Equally important, the overall rates of relapse, whether six months down the line or a decade in the future, are lower for those residents who live in sober housing compared to rehab graduates who immediately begin living independently. This reveals that while sober housing may not be a necessity, it certainly gives those struggling with addiction an advantage when pursuing the goal of lasting sobriety without relapse.

Following rehab, sober living can be highly advantageous to residents who are able to gain companionship, an antidote to boredom, assistance with the logistical side of accommodation and employment opportunities. Sober living provides an easier transition to independent living and the accountability it takes to stay sober for the long term.