You’ve done all the planning, the intervention proceeded flawlessly, and you heard the magical words come out of the mouth of the addict, “Yes, I’ll get help.”

But what type of help is waiting for the addict? Prior to the intervention, did you arrange inpatient residential treatment, outpatient treatment, or will it be AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) self help? Is one form of treatment better than the others?

While there is no “cure” for alcoholism or drug addiction, it is well settled that treatment does work. And, there are countless people who have been successful in long term recovery who have used any one or a combination of the above referenced treatment methods.

The answer as to which method should be selected is best determined through an assessment performed by a therapist, alcohol/drug counselor, physician or a qualified intervention specialist. Sadly, a factor in the decision making process oftentimes is money and perhaps time limitations.

One reality based way to approach the question of treatment is to understand that addiction to alcohol and/or drugs is a disease and one that is designed to kill. Good things do not happen to those who are addicted to substances. In that regard, I think it is wise to employ an all out assault on the addiction using whatever resources available to fight the disease. Relapse statistics are daunting. The numbers vary somewhat, but I’ve heard that the relapse rate after a typical 30 day inpatient program can be in the 70 plus percent range. The statistics further suggest that the more treatment time, the lower the relapse rates.

In a fantasy world and generally speaking, I think the combination of inpatient residential treatment followed by oupatient treatment and a strong commitment to AA is an ideal program. Again, consult your own health practitioners for a program designed for your specific needs.

I like inpatient treatment because addiction is a very serious disease requiring treatment for physical, emotional and spiritual ailments. In addition, some addictions require detoxification which can be addressed at a treatment facility. Does this mean that outpatient or AA is insufficient to address and treat addiction? Well…not necessarily, but again, in view of the deadly nature of the disease I think it is wise to strongly consider inpatient treatment.

What if the family can not afford inpatient treatment? If a family has absolutely no money for treatment, do not give up. There are “free treatment” facilities out there. You just have to look around, make a lot of phone calls and be persistant. If you live in a large city, you might look in your phone directory for The Salvation Army. They provide low cost/free treatment and have been doing so for decades helping thousands of addicts and alcoholics. There might be a waiting list, but the price is worth the wait. You might try calling an intervention specialist for some leads.
For those families who have limited financial resources and who might balk at the cost of private treatment, consider this. Addiction is a disease that kills. What is the value of a dear friend or loved one. If necessary, get the family and friends to pool resources in order to finance the cost of treatment. Lastly, don’t overlook medical insurance. Some medical insurance policies afford some level of coverage for treatment. Call the treatment center you are considering and ask them to check on the availability of insurance coverage. Many treatment facilities have employees working full time whose primary job is to determine coverage for insurance policies.

Finally, the question of time. “I can’t take time off from school, work, etc., etc., etc.” As an intervention specialist, I hear this complaint often and the simple fact is that when the addict or alcoholic dies from their disease this concern becomes moot. I hate to keep playing the drama card but the truth is that addiction is a disease and it is designed to kill. And, for the most part, addicts and alcoholics are merely enduring life rather than enjoying it. Stop the family suffering and stop the addict’s suffering. Whether you opt for inpatient residential treatment, outpatient, AA or a combination of the above, get help and stop the suffering.

For information on intervention services, visit Steven Lodge Interventions or call 866 534 4443.