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