In the United States, around seventy thousand Americans receive alcohol rehabilitation treatment on any given day. Due to the fact that alcoholism affects a large number of people, rehabilitation centers are constantly developing modes of treatment that will ensure long-term sobriety for their patients. These treatments are usually combinations of medication and therapy, which help alcoholics to stop drinking and prevent a relapse in the future. However, the effectiveness of these treatments vary for different people as some alcoholics may have specific needs that only certain types of treatment can address.

Common treatments

The type of alcohol treatment that alcoholics receive will depend on their alcohol dependence history and the severity of their dependence. However, there are a few treatments that have been proven to work for most alcohol dependents. Two of the most common and more effective modes of treatment are the three-step process of intervention, detoxification, and rehabilitation and the AA program, both of which have been proven to significantly reduce the chances for relapse.

Another common treatment is the motivation enhancement therapy, wherein the focus is to give patient the motivation to stop drinking by showing patients how their lives would be better if the were alcohol-free. Another common type of treatment is the cognitive-behavior therapy, wherein patients are encouraged to modify their behavior and how they perceive stresses so that they would be able to avoid instances where they would be tempted to drink alcohol. Another popular therapy is the 12-step facilitation therapy, wherein patients are given a checklist of things they need to accomplish on the road to sobriety. These treatments have also been proven to reduce the chances of relapse for the patients that receive them.

The high incidence of alcoholism has prompted experts to formulate different new treatment programs that can help alcoholics achieve long-term sobriety. However, the success and the effectiveness of these new programs have not been fully determined and more studies need to be done to assess their long-term effects. Given this, employing proven modes of treatment would be the best route that alcoholics can take.