Schuylkill / Rehab for alcohol addiction
1Inpatient and residential alcohol rehab
Rehab for alcohol addiction Pennsylvania
Updated
Alcohol rehab is live-in treatment where you work closely with a team of medical professionals to learn how to live without alcohol. The goal is to help you stop drinking completely, if possible, or at least limit your drinking habits so that they don't damage your health or relationships.
Rehab centers vary widely in their offerings and may treat addiction along with other behavioral health issues. It's important to understand what rehab looks like and how it can fit into a plan for treating alcohol use disorder (AUD).

What Alcohol Rehab Is
Living in alcohol rehab means staying on a 24-hour basis at a facility where you will receive care for your substance abuse and addiction. You'll be under the care of mental health professionals who are specially trained to help you with your recovery. While you're in alcohol rehab, you'll take part in group therapy sessions and individual counseling.
A lot of times, people who need alcohol rehab are also suffering from other addictions or psychiatric conditions such as depression. If this is the case for you, then the best way to receive treatment would be through dual diagnosis treatment programs that treat both your mental health condition and addiction at the same time.
Residential programs provide round-the-clock support and care in a safe setting away from external triggers that could tempt you back into drinking.
Who Needs Inpatient or Residential Alcohol Rehab
Inpatient or residential alcohol rehab fits some people's needs better than others. For example:
- People who need detox and are at high risk for complications from withdrawal may benefit from inpatient treatment.
- If someone has failed to stop drinking after outpatient services, they might do better with an intensive treatment setting like inpatient or residential.
- Inpatient or residential treatment is best suited for people whose living situation makes them vulnerable to relapse. These include people who:
- Have unstable housing
- Live in unsafe neighborhoods
- Don't have family or social support
Inpatient or residential alcohol rehab fits someone who:
- drinks heavily and often
- has tried outpatient treatment for their AUD and hasn't been able to stay sober
- has had many unsuccessful attempts at staying sober, with a history of relapse
- also suffers from a mental disorder
- is suffering from severe withdrawal symptoms that require medical attention during detox
- does not have access to support or a safe place to live outside of treatment
Rehab helps you break the pattern of addiction. It will teach you coping skills to manage cravings. You will learn strategies to avoid situations that might tempt you to drink. You will also learn ways to deal with stress and other issues that make drinking attractive or necessary to you.
Withdrawal Care at the Start of Rehab
At the start of alcohol rehab, staff will supervise you closely while you go through withdrawal symptoms. You'll be monitored so that health care providers can intervene if needed to make sure that you're safe. In some cases, your doctors may prescribe medicines to help with detox and minimize uncomfortable or dangerous withdrawal symptoms.
When you are no longer at risk for seizures or delirium tremens (DTs), they will transfer you to an inpatient rehab facility.
Staff will monitor you carefully for signs and symptoms of problems during this initial period at the start of rehab.
Therapy in Alcohol Rehab
Therapy during an alcohol rehab stay often includes a combination of the following approaches:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on helping people change their patterns of thinking and behavior. It can be effective for treating addictions, including alcohol use disorder.
Motivational enhancement therapy: Motivational enhancement therapy (MET) is a form of counseling designed to increase an individual's motivation to seek treatment or make lifestyle changes related to a particular health issue. In the context of addiction recovery, MET may involve helping individuals overcome their resistance to getting help for their problem and providing them with tools and strategies to achieve sobriety.
Individual therapy: Individual therapy involves meeting one-on-one with a licensed mental health professional who can provide support and guidance while helping you work through any underlying emotional issues that might be contributing to your addiction. It also provides an opportunity for you to openly discuss your struggles without judgment or interference from others.
Group therapy: Group therapy is a form of counseling where people meet together under the supervision of a therapist and engage in discussion about their experiences related to alcohol use disorder.
In group therapy, everyone in the group has a substance abuse problem. The members in your group will be able to provide you with support and insight into what causes them to self-medicate their problems with alcohol. You can learn how to change unhealthy behaviors by listening to other people discuss their own experiences.
Medications Started in Rehab
Approved AUD medicines may begin once you've completed your alcohol detox program. These medicines can help you avoid relapsing on alcohol by reducing the urge to drink. They do not cure AUD, but they can make staying sober easier. Your healthcare provider will talk with you about which medicine might be right for you.
There are three FDA-approved medications for the treatment of alcohol use disorder. They include:
- Disulfiram (Antabuse) - This medication makes drinkers sick when alcohol is consumed because it interferes with the way the body processes alcohol. It prevents the breakdown of acetaldehyde, one of the byproducts that result from metabolizing alcohol.
- Naltrexone (ReVia, Vivitrol) - This medication reduces cravings for alcohol and blocks the rewarding effects associated with drinking. Naltrexone is available as an oral medication and a monthly injection called Vivitrol.
- Acamprosate (Campral) - This medication helps reduce cravings for alcohol, especially when you're first trying to stop drinking. It's not known how acamprosate works to reduce cravings.
Your doctor might prescribe naltrexone or acamprosate when your symptoms have eased and you're ready to focus on abstinence. The medication's purpose is to prevent relapse, which is most likely during the first few months after inpatient rehab.
A Typical Stay
During a residential alcohol rehab stay, residents will learn how to live without using substances in their everyday lives. This process can be very challenging for some, but it is necessary in order for recovery to take place.
During this time, patients receive both group and individual therapy sessions where they learn coping skills needed for sobriety while also building healthy relationships within a supportive community.
During this time, they are immersed in an environment that is free of the stresses and triggers that might have caused them to return to drinking prior to their entry into rehab.
During this period, most clients engage in a series of different therapeutic activities that address all of the issues associated with their alcohol abuse and addiction. Once these underlying issues are addressed and resolved, the patients then learn how to live lives that no longer revolve around the use or abuse of alcohol.
After completing a successful detoxification process, most patients will then begin to engage in therapeutic activities such as counseling sessions with licensed professionals. These therapy sessions are intended to help patients uncover and address any underlying mental or emotional issues that may have led them to drink excessively in the first place.
In addition to counseling sessions, many rehab facilities also include group activities into their programs. These group activities can be very valuable for some people, as they allow clients to share their experiences with one another and learn from others who are going through similar situations.
Residential rehab offers a safe, supportive environment free of distractions that allow patients to focus solely on getting better.
After Alcohol Rehab
After alcohol rehab, continuing care often is necessary to help avoid relapse. The need for ongoing support varies by person, but may include counseling, group therapy, 12-step programs or sober living.
A lot of the same factors that lead to a relapse are also linked to stress. This includes changes in your environment, people you hang out with and other things outside your control. When you go through alcohol rehab, you'll learn ways to cope with these triggers so they don't cause a return to drinking.
It's important to find new activities after going through alcohol treatment to help keep yourself from falling into old habits.
Many individuals continue on with regular outpatient therapy sessions and/or 12-step programs after graduating from a residential program.
Aftercare can also involve outpatient counseling with an addiction specialist. This allows the individual to continue living at home while receiving ongoing support.
It's important to keep in mind that after treatment, there will still be times when you're tempted to drink alcohol again. The first few months are usually the most critical for preventing relapse, but these temptations can arise at any time. It's crucial to seek support during these times and avoid situations where you might be tempted or triggered.
Getting Into Alcohol Rehab in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvanians seeking alcohol rehab can start by visiting their single county authority (SCA). This government office, also known as a drug and alcohol resource office, can assist Pennsylvanian residents with accessing the services they need to enter treatment. In addition, Pennsylvania residents who are enrolled in Medicaid can obtain care through the Behavioral HealthChoices Program.
SCAs can help Pennsylvanians navigate treatment options, connect with local resources, and apply for funding to afford care.
Your SCA will also be able to provide assistance in locating a facility that accepts your insurance.
Rehab for alcohol addiction by Pennsylvania city
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