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Alcohol Rehab & Recovery
Residential Treatment options in Thailand

An alcohol rehab clinic is a special kind of facility (generally residential) that offers intensive care, treatment, and support for those seeking recovery from their alcohol addiction. Primary treatment methods typically combine behavioural approaches, including cognitive and behavioural therapy, coping skills training, intervention, and relapse prevention, as a means to facilitate behaviour change and encourage the addicted person to take control of their life once again.
Individual counselling, group therapy, and holistic activities such as yoga, sports, meditation, and art therapy are also included in a typical treatment programme at an upscale alcohol rehab clinic. In some (but not all) alcohol rehab facilities, supervised detox and medication management may also be available to provide medical support for addicts facing withdrawal symptoms.

Alcohol addiction & mental health issues

You don’t have to drink alcohol every day to be an addict. Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) can range from mild, moderate to extreme, and it includes people who need to drink every day (alcohol dependency) as well as those who binge drink (alcohol abuse). Trying unsuccessfully to cut back on the amount of alcohol you consume is a good indication that it’s time for you to get help at an alcohol rehab clinic.

Underlying mental health conditions – such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), bi-polar disorder, depression or anxiety – can lead to or exacerbate alcohol addiction. The National Bureau of Economic Research found that mental illness increases the chances of a person becoming addicted to alcohol by 20 percent. Often people will get help for their alcohol addiction, while at the same time failing to seek support for their underlying mental health conditions. This kind of an incomplete approach to treatment can lead to higher rates of relapse. For successful alcohol rehabilitation, co-occurring conditions like PTSD and anxiety need to be addressed during treatment.

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when to seek alcohol rehabilitation
What happens in alcohol rehab clinics
Alcohol treatment options
How long is inpatient alcohol rehab
How much is private alcohol rehab
Private alcohol rehab in Thailand
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When should you seek alcohol rehabilitation

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder-5 (DSM-5), a set of 11 factors determines the diagnosis of an alcohol use disorder and its severity grade. People with 2-3 symptoms are considered to have a mild alcohol use disorder, whereas 4-5 symptoms would indicate a moderate severity. If a person meets at least 6 or more of the symptoms, they are considered to have a severe alcohol use disorder, or an alcohol addiction.

The presence of four or more of the following symptoms suggests that an individual may be at risk for withdrawal effects and would benefit from alcohol rehabilitation.
  • Increased frequency or quantity of use than intended
  • Impaired control over alcohol use, or unsuccessful efforts to cut down
  • Devoting a lot of time to drinking and recovering
  • Persistent desire for alcohol and needing to consume to get through the day
  • Failing to meet work, family, or social obligations
  • Continued alcohol use despite negative impacts on relationships
  • Losing interests in other hobbies and activities
  • Engaging in risky or dangerous behaviours
  • Continued alcohol use despite negative effects on physical and emotional health
  • Increased tolerance for alcohol
  • Experiencing withdrawal symptoms, such as trouble sleeping, shakiness, restlessness etc.

What happens inside thailand's alcohol rehab clinics

Most alcohol rehab clinics in Thailand insist on a 4-week minimum stay for each client, and price their residential treatment packages accordingly. Upon entering treatment, you’ll be given a medical evaluation as well as a mental health assessment. The rehab facility will then determine whether or not you need to undergo detox before beginning your primary care treatment. If detox is needed, then you will need to be under medical supervision for several days, as your body chemistry re-accustoms itself to living without alcohol.
Your period of primary treatment begins with a form of individual therapy which is rooted in psychological treatment. This therapy will help you retake control of your thought processes so that you can resist the urges of addiction when they do arise. Individual and group counselling sessions are other standard elements in primary treatment, helping you bond with other addicts, learn from them, and receive social support during your move towards recovery.
Other elements of primary treatment may include 12-Step-based treatment and family therapy, to help those around you learn how to support your recovery process. For some addicts, medication may also be useful in helping to manage co-occurring mental health conditions.
Finally, when the period of treatment is over, your alcohol rehab clinic should make arrangements for your aftercare. This final step is key to your re-integration with society on a practical level, helping you make living arrangements, attend meetings, and receive valuable outpatient counselling as you move forward.
team building, group discussion or therapy

How long is inpatient alcohol rehab?

The time you stay in inpatient alcohol rehab will depend on the severity of your addiction as well as your overall mental health and wellbeing. In general, residential alcohol treatments last for 30 days, with 60-day or 90-day programmes available for those who need to work on more entrenched issues such as traumatic events, multiple addictions, and family issues.

Long-term rehab means higher success rate

Research shows that long term rehab programmes (usually 90 days or longer) are more successful at helping people stay sober than other types of addiction treatment. Staying in rehab for a longer period of time allows you to:

  • Avoid distractions at home and negative influences 
  • Attend more therapy sessions in order to resolve the deeper issues that are behind your addiction
  • Learn the skills needed to resist alcohol use, and replace it with constructive and rewarding activities
  • Make time for your body to repair itself physically from the effects of alcohol, and restore healthy sleeping and eating patterns
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How much does private alcohol rehab cost?

There is a significant range of prices when it comes to residential treatment at private alcohol rehab clinics in places like the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the United States. Costs of alcohol rehab programmes can range from $8,000 to $100,000 for 30 days, depending on the level of care and the type of facility you require.

Generally, the price tag for treatment is:
  • Detox: $4,000 – $7,000 for 7 days 
  • Standard inpatient rehab: $8,000 – $30,000 for 30 days 
  • Luxury inpatient rehab: $40,000 – $100,000 for 30 days 
  • Intensive outpatient programmes (IOPs): $3,000 – $7,000 for 7 days 

Affordable Alcohol Rehab in Thailand

For most people, the cost of alcohol rehab is a major factor when it comes to deciding where to get treatment for addiction. Even very basic services in Western countries can be quite expensive, which is why many people suffering from addiction are beginning to look for rehab options overseas, where the cost of living is much lower. Private Thai rehab centres are much more affordable than their counterparts in the West – even considering travel costs. 
If you or a loved one is ready to overcome an alcohol addiction, reach out to us today. We will be pleased to recommend top-rated treatment programmes that are right for you. Call us now, or get in touch using the form below, and we’ll help you get started. Your path to sobriety begins here.
Author
Cameron Brown
Psychologist
About the Author
  • “Alcohol Use Disorder: A Comparison Between DSM–IV and DSM–5.” National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 26 June 2019, www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/alcohol-use-disorder-comparison-between-dsm.
  • “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5).” American Psychiatric Association, www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm.
  • NIDA. “Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition).” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 17 Jan. 2018,  https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition. Accessed 1 Feb. 2020.
  • Bussing-Birks, Marie. Mental Illness and Substance Abuse, The National Bureau of Economic Research, www.nber.org/digest/apr02/w8699.html.

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