Alcohol Treatment What You Need To Know

Conditions vary from place to place but this article will give you a bit of a better idea about what to expect from an alcohol treatment centre and address some of the concerns that many people have.

Admission

At most alcohol treatment centres, a person can be admitted by their doctor or by anyone else, including themselves. They may also be referred by social services, primary healthcare teams, drug and alcohol agencies and psychiatrists and therapists. Emergency admissions are usually possible too.

Referral/application forms are quick and easy to complete in most cases and can be submitted online as well as by fax, email and post. When a client is being referred, the following documents will usually be needed (where available):

Application form Copies of recent assessments and risk assessments Copies of previous assessments, summaries and reports History of offending, where relevant Alcohol treatment costs

The cost of alcohol treatment varies from place to place and depending on the individual's needs. However, all good rehab centres will explain the costs clearly to enable the client to make a decision.

Many alcohol treatment centres are recognised by health insurers - if you're considering rehab and have insurance it's worth contacting your provider to find out whether some or all of the costs could be covered.

Assessment

Initially all clients will be assessed so that a personal alcohol treatment plan can be drawn up for them. The assessment will evaluate the level of alcohol dependency, a person's medical health, their misuse patterns and more. From this, treatment can be prescribed and measured as it progresses.

Conditions and rules

Each rehab centre will have its own conditions or rules and it's worth asking about these before admission. Some centres specialise in treating young alcoholics, whilst others require clients to be over 18. Most will specify that no alcohol is allowed either on or off the premises and no drugs either, other than those prescribed.

Violence and gambling will often be banned and breaking these rules could see the treatment being terminated.

Sometimes centres will refuse to treat people with a history of violence or sexual offences. However, each situation will usually be assessed on a case by case basis. These organisations have a deep understanding of alcoholism and the issues that go with it and these will be taken into account when a decision is made.

You should feel free to ask lots of questions at each alcohol treatment centre to make sure you get the treatment that's right for you.