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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 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.

Alcohol rehab settings: outpatient vs inpatient

Alcohol rehabilitation can occur in either an outpatient or inpatient setting. Outpatient care may be sufficient if the addiction itself is relatively minor, and your living environment is supportive, low-stress, and free from triggers. By contrast, inpatient care puts you in a controlled environment for the duration of your stay. It also results in far more comprehensive treatment, more frequent therapy sessions, and a higher level of supervision by experienced professionals. Of course, as inpatient care provides for your room and board, the cost for this service is greater.

Outpatient alcohol rehab

Outpatient care aims to disrupt your ordinary life as little as possible, while still putting you on the path to recovery. Outpatient alcohol rehab programmes typically last between 30 and 120 days, and often represent the only type of formal care that its attendees receive.

This care is delivered in the form of regularly scheduled therapy sessions, totalling up to 9 hours per week. In many cases, these services are made available in the evening, so that you can keep to your normal working schedule even while undergoing treatment. Day treatment is also available, as are IOPs (intensive outpatient programmes) – which offer the same course of alcohol rehabilitation, just delivered according to a more intensive schedule.

Such programmes may be a good fit if you have work or family obligations, and your addiction has not yet progressed to an advanced stage. Outpatient care may be used as a “step up” on the way to a residential rehab programme, or alternatively as a “step down” from residential rehab. Either way, this approach to alcohol rehabilitation is significantly less expensive than the inpatient option, while requiring you to exercise your own self-restraint by avoiding exposure to addictive substances outside the facility.

Inpatient alcohol rehab

Inpatient care provides a clear layer of physical separation between you and the substances you’ve become addicted to, as well as the environment which may have contributed to your addiction. Suitable for people suffering from serious addiction (and potentially mental disorders), inpatient alcohol rehab facilities deliver round-the-clock treatment care.

Inpatient clients stay within the facility, day and night, for weeks or months at a time. They receive treatment services within a purpose-built setting, such as a psychiatric hospital, medical clinic or residential rehab centre. Depending on the facility, clients have access to medical and psychological support as well as a range of different therapies, including group and individual counselling.

Despite these features, it is worth noting that not all inpatient care facilities offer the same services. Some alcohol rehab facilities provide both detox and addiction treatment, while others offer detox alone with addiction treatment provided elsewhere. Moreover, the range of individual treatments may vary significantly between one inpatient care centre and the next. Price is also highly variable between inpatient centres, with some facilities choosing to focus on luxury while others prioritise affordability.

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.

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

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

References

“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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Alcohol Rehab & Recovery Residential Treatment options in Thailand