Alcohol Program

The following alcohol program information has been prepared under the supervision of Consultant Addiction Psychiatrist Dr Bruce Trathen MBBS MRCPsych, and Senior Addictions Therapist David Goodlad FRSPH MA Dip. MBACP (Snr. Accred) UKRC NCAC CADC.

Accessing reliable and accurate alcohol programme information can be confusing and time consuming. Triage Advisors are here to help you make fully informed and accurate decisions. Call 0117 339 0080.

What is an Alcohol Program?

An alcohol program is designed to deal with all aspects of addiction and can take place either on a residential or an outpatient basis.

The first stage of all alcohol programs is to deal with the physical side of the addiction. Physical addiction occurs when a person experiences withdrawal symptoms when alcohol is not present. This can include sweating, shaking, vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea and hallucinations amongst other symptoms. In some cases, sudden withdrawal from alcohol can also be fatal as a result of withdrawal seizures. Therefore, it is important that alcohol detox medication is available to make the process as safe as possible whilst completing the detox from alcohol. The medication typically used in an alcohol program would be Librium, Diazepam, or sometimes a combination of the two. In cases of liver damage, some alcohol programs may use other combinations of drugs.

Once the person has successfully completed an alcohol detox, it is important that they focus on the psychological side of the addiction. Alcohol detox is the first step on a long journey. Alcohol programs will also focus on the psychological and behavioural aspects of the dependence. This will usually combine several types of therapy such as group and one-to-one therapy, educational seminars, and personal reflection. It is important that the person learns to understand their addiction and the reasons behind it in order to avoid future relapse.

A residential alcohol programme differs from other treatments in that it is more intensive. The person is given some time away to really focus on getting themselves better. Another advantage is that the person is in a therapeutic environment surrounded by professionals that will make the process as easy as possible.

It is possible to access private overseas alcohol programs. This option can be particularly appealing to those individuals who have already accessed alcohol programs in the UK with limited success. By travelling overseas to access treatment, the person is completely removed from their problematic surroundings. Overseas alcohol rehab programs can also represent better value for money in some cases.

A home based alcohol program may be a consideration in some circumstances. Triage Healthcare always recommend a residential alcohol program is considered before a home based alcohol program due to the environment in residential treatment being more conducive to successful outcomes. It is also a more cost-effective route to explore. However, if a residential alcohol program is not a feasible consideration, then Triage Healthcare may be able to arrange a home alcohol programme. Patients will be fully assessed by a specialist nurse before a home alcohol programme is approved. Overall medical responsibility falls on our medical director, Dr Bruce Trathen, consultant addiction psychiatrist.

If the home based alcohol program is decided upon, then it is vital that the appropriate psychological support is also in place. Triage Healthcare can arrange an aftercare programme that ensures that one-to-one support is available in the local area. This increases the chances of an alcohol programme being successful because all aspects of the addiction are being treated.

When should someone be admitted to an alcohol program

Anyone suffering from a physical or psychological addiction to alcohol can benefit from an alcohol program. When someone is physically addicted to alcohol it can extremely dangerous for them to complete a detox without the medical supervision offered in most alcohol programs. The environment in an alcohol programme is designed to alleviate as many of the withdrawal symptoms as possible, ensuring that the person has a detox in the safest, most comfortable manner possible.

Psychological withdrawal symptoms can include anxiety, depression and disturbed sleep patterns. These symptoms can be extremely difficult for a person to deal with by themselves, and so the psychological support offered as part of treatment is vital. It is important the person learns to understand the nature of their addiction in order to develop the appropriate coping strategies for when they return home. Future relapse prevention techniques are focussed upon closely whilst in treatment.

How long is an alcohol program

The duration of an alcohol detox will vary depending on the particular situation. The physical side of the addiction can normally be treated within 7-10 days, but the longer term psychological treatment will usually be between 4 and 12 weeks long. Regardless of the length of treatment, an attitude of ‘seeing it through’ is central to effectiveness (Trathen et al, 2008).

For the best outcome of success, an alcohol detox should be accessed as part of a full psychological treatment programme. This is supported by the National Treatment Outcome Research Study (NTORS) in 1996 that showed those who completed a minimum of 28 days in a treatment centre were four times more likely to maintain abstinence than others.

Where to find Alcohol Program help in the UK

There are a number of different treatments available. It is important that the treatment is tailored to the individual - addiction is different for each person; there is no “one-size-fits-all solution”. In order to find out the treatment that represents the best chance of success for all concerned, call one of our experienced advisors. Our advice is all completely free and confidential.

Triage Healthcare offers an immediate response service. Our helpline is open 7 days a week, and has a 24 hour messaging service which will be responded to by one of our trained advisors as soon as possible should you call out of hours. When considering private treatment it is important to know exactly what you are getting for your money.

We are staffed by highly experienced and expert professionals in addiction medicine and counselling, who are ethically bound to give you advice according to the latest evidence of what works, and who are not allowed to advise you according to a profit motive. Rather we will find you the best value treatment given your particular circumstances and wishes.

We understand that there may be concerns regarding treatment, particularly in terms of cost, location and success. That is why we are here. We can advise you on centres running individually tailored programmes. We can help all concerned decide on a comprehensive program that is affordable to your budget. You can telephone to speak with us straight away in confidence or email us with the guarantee of a timely response.

We have an in-depth knowledge of the full range of treatment services and programme options throughout the UK and abroad, and will advise you independently of any particular centre.

References

NTORS The National Treatment Outcome Research Study: Summary of the project, the clients, and preliminary findings: First Bulletin. (1996). Gossop, M., Marsden, J., Stewart, D., Edwards, C., Lehmann, P., Wilson, A., & Segar, G. Department of Health: London.

Trathen et al. (2008). Guidelines for the best practice treatment of Substance Misuse. Triage Healthcare: Canterbury, UK.