Does Treatment for Alcoholism Actually Work?
Many people are skeptical about the effectiveness of rehab. Do alcohol addiction programs actually help people get sober? Many addicts fail to seek the help they need. According to a study recently published in the JAMA Psychiatry journal, roughly 1 in 8 Americans are addicted to alcohol. However, research from the annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) tells us that only 10% of addicted people receive treatment.
In other words, there is an enormous gap between the number of people who need addiction help and the number of people who seek it out.
There are many reasons for this. A lot of alcoholics believe that rehab programs don’t work. They think that they can rehabilitate on their own.
While some alcoholics can rehabilitate without professional help, that’s not always the case. Oftentimes, those who try to go solo end up relapsing early on in their sobriety. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, between 40% and 60% of all recovering addicts relapse at some point.
But, addiction rehab can help to limit the risk of relapse. In a rehab program, addicts have access to many benefits. Some of these benefits are described below:
- Structure
- A Supportive Environment
- Professional Treatment
- Time and Space
- Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Many addicts have too much time in their days. When an addicted person is left to their own devices, the temptation to relapse is too high. It helps to have a place to go when the alcohol cravings kick in.
Alcohol rehabilitation is a daily process. The patient reports to the treatment center each day to check in with their counselors and attend meetings. Even if you attend an outpatient program, you still have to show up to rehab every day or so. This type of structure helps you stay accountable for your choices. It’s beneficial for recovering addicts who might be tempted to relapse.