Alcoholism Treatment & Rehabilitation
Alcoholism treatment and rehabilitation offer excellent options for those who are faced with a drinking problem they have not been able to overcome on their own. It can be the difference between overcoming alcohol abuse and suffering the effects that the disease has on so many. These effects include the loss of health or death, destruction of family and other relationships, loss of job or career, fines and jail time from the consequences of driving while intoxicated and injury or death from vehicle accidents.
This guide to treatment and rehabilitation will help you determine whether or not you have a problem with alcohol dependency. It also explores treatment options, their costs and the place of insurance in covering the costs.
Defining Alcoholism
Often labeled a chronic disease by health care professionals, in many cases the body literally becomes dependent on alcohol. Alcoholism is identified as an inability to control drinking. This does not mean that the person gets as drunk as is possible each time they drink; it means that they find it difficult or impossible not to drink.
Signs of Alcohol Abuse
The person with a drinking problem can identify it through these telltale symptoms. If you have several or all of them, you might be an alcoholic:
- Feeling a compulsion to drink.
- Not being able to limit the amount of alcohol that you consume.
- Continuing to drink even though it is negatively affecting your health, relationships, finances or job.
- Drinking alone or secretly hiding it from those around you.
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you don’t drink, such as nausea, sweating or shaking.
- Blacking out and not remembering events that occurred while you were drinking.
- Making sure you always have alcohol available.
- Drinking at the same time each day and becoming anxious as the time nears if you don’t have alcohol on hand.
- Losing interest in activities or hobbies that were once important to you.
- Believing you must drink to feel normal.
If you are concerned that a family member or friend might have a drinking problem, things to look for include slurred speech, drowsiness or sleeping at unusual times, the smell of alcohol, missing work or appointments and blaming it on having the flu or a virus and noticeable behavioral or emotional changes including irritability, anger, euphoria or depression.
Alcoholism Treatment and Rehabilitation and its Cost
Most communities have high-quality alcoholism treatment and rehabilitation programs with verified success rates. Some of these programs are private or are part of the services offered by hospitals in your area. Residential alcohol abuse treatment programs tend to be very expensive, however. Some have an admittance fee of several thousand dollars in addition to ongoing expenses for treatment, counseling, room and board, medication and more. It is not uncommon for a residential program to cost more than $15,000 per month. Some private treatment programs cost far more than that.
Non-residential programs, sometimes called outpatient programs, will cost less but won’t be effective for many people who need a more pronounced change in their lifestyle in order to cope with their alcoholism.
If you are looking for a treatment and rehabilitation program in your community, ask your doctor for a recommendation. Your community health office should also be able to give you information about your options, including some low-cost programs. You should also be able to find options by doing an online search for alcohol treatment in your area.
Insurance Coverage for Alcoholism Treatment and Rehabilitation
While the cost of treatment can be very expensive, many health insurance policies cover some or all of the cost. Some states require insurers to at least cover the detoxification period. As you know, medical insurance policies vary greatly in their coverages. There are differences in the percentage of the costs paid for as well as the size of the deductibles or co-pays. Check your policy to learn the specifics.
If you are shopping for health insurance, you’ll find insurers that offer the type of coverage you’re looking for. The better the coverage, the more the insurance will cost. But at least you will be able to find insurance to meet your needs.