Alcohol Treatment Center

The following alcohol treatment center 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 treatment centre 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 Treatment Center?

An alcohol treatment center is a facility designed to help an individual overcome both the physical and psychological dependencies that exist within alcohol addiction. Alcohol treatment centers can offer support either on an inpatient or outpatient basis. The most intensive alcohol rehabilitation programs take place in residential alcohol treatment centres.

The advantage of a residential alcohol treatment centre is that it offers the recovery programme in an extremely supportive environment. Each day spent in alcohol treatment centres is highly structured in order to get the most out of the program, and highly qualified staff members are available to provide support every step of the way. This is particularly valuable during the physical detox stage offered at an alcohol treatment hospital. To detox from alcohol can be extremely dangerous if it is not managed medically, and so staff in an alcohol treatment hospital will make the detox as safe and comfortable as possible.

Whilst in an alcohol treatment center, intensive psychological support is also provided. This is a vital part of the recovery process as it is important for the individual to understand the reasons behind their addiction before they can learn to take control of it. The increased knowledge about the psychological aspects of addiction provided by the alcohol treatment centers will also enable the individual to work on relapse prevention techniques in the future. This will help to keep their recovery on track when they leave the alcohol treatment centre.

The psychological support offered in alcohol treatment centers takes many forms. Group meetings are designed to provide the individual with the confidence to speak openly about how their addiction makes them feel, and also to receive support from other peers in alcohol treatment centres that have been through similar situations. This lays the groundwork for the continuation of fellowship meetings such as AA once the person has left the alcohol treatment hospital.

One-to-one support is also valuable to anyone starting along the route to recovery. Addiction is a very personal problem, and so it is important that the individual is given the opportunity to explore their own issues and triggers on a one-to-one basis whilst in alcohol treatment centers. Reflective therapies offered in alcohol treatment centres, such as diary keeping, can also be extremely useful in encouraging the person to experience and explore feelings that may have been bottled up as a result of the addiction. Alcohol treatment centers support the individual in coming to terms with the large changes made as a result of the decision to become sober. 

When should someone be admitted to an alcohol treatment hospital

It is important to remember that an alcohol dependency can be psychological as well as physical. Many people think that in order to require admission to an alcohol treatment center, the person needs to be drinking first thing in the morning every morning. This is not the case. Some individuals are able to go for weeks or even months without drinking, but when they do drink it will always spiral out of control. These individuals will benefit from the support offered in an alcohol treatment centre.

Alcohol treatment centers also deal with those individuals who have a physical dependency on alcohol. This means that their body has become used to having a certain level of alcohol present, and when this is absent, the body goes into withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms can include sweating, shaking, vomiting, cramping, and in some circumstances can lead to seizures which have the potential to be fatal. This is why it is vital that anyone who is physically dependent on alcohol seeks the medical support offered by an alcohol treatment hospital before engaging fully in the therapeutic programme.

What alternatives are there to an alcohol treatment centre?

Whilst a residential alcohol treatment center is the most intensive form of treatment, and the one most likely to result in success, some individuals may wish to consider an outpatient programme instead. The types of outpatient support available include home detox, counselling and fellowship meetings, such as AA.

A home detox does not provide the person with the time away that a residential alcohol treatment hospital offers. However, if this is the only option that is able to be considered, then a full medical assessment will be carried out in order to ensure that the person is well enough to complete a home detox. Triage Healthcare home detoxification is supervised by our Medical Director, Consultant Addiction Psychiatrist Dr Bruce Trathen MBBS MRCPsych. The detox is delivered by qualified and professional staff members who are registered with their appropriate professional bodies.

In circumstances where there is not a physical dependence, or a detox has already been completed, addictions counselling may be a useful consideration. This gives the person the opportunity to work on their addiction and the things that have happened as a result of it. It also encourages the person to recognise their triggers and develop appropriate coping strategies to deal with them.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is an additional form of outpatient support which allows the person to interact with people that have been in the same situation. AA meetings typically take place during the peak times when alcoholics would normally drink in order to give them some structure and support during this difficult time.

Where to find alcohol treatment centres in the UK

There are a number of different alcohol treatment centres 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 alcohol treatment centre that represents the best chance of success for all concerned, call one of our experienced advisors. Our advice is all completely free and confidential.

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 alcohol treatment center given your particular circumstances and wishes.

We understand that there may be concerns regarding any alcohol treatment centre, particularly in terms of cost, location and success. That is why we are here. We can advise you on the most appropriate alcohol treatment center 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 alcohol treatment hospital.