How Effective Is Alcohol Treatment?
Alcohol and drug addiction relapse rates can seem high, especially since many people who relapse into alcohol abuse receive alcoholism treatment. Alcohol use disorder (alcohol addiction) has 40 and 60 percent relapse rates in the first year, similar to other relapsing, chronic diseases such as hypertension.
However, when a person stops their active management of hypertension, they can expect their symptoms to return. Addiction is the same way; one explanation for the high addiction relapse rates is the abandonment of active management of the mental health disorder, leading to symptoms returning and relapse.
The alcohol addiction treatment you can receive at an accredited alcohol rehab such as The River Source is an effective, clinically-driven way to treat alcohol use disorder. While there is no cure for addiction, there are ways to effectively manage the mental health disorder driven by a personalized treatment plan executed over the long term.
Since relapse generally occurs after a person neglects the active management of their addiction, you can say that treatment is highly effective. Still, participation in active management of addiction after rehab is lacking.
So, the answer to the question “does treatment for alcoholism work?” is a resounding yes but only if you stick with it.
For more information on how our addiction treatment programs can help heal drug or alcohol dependence, please give The River Source a call at 866-294-9331.
What Percentage of Alcoholics Relapse After Treatment?
According to research from various government bodies and independent studies that can be found in places such as the National Library of Medicine (NIH)m about 33 percent of people make it through their first year of recovery and maintain their sobriety after treatment. This means that previous data showing that roughly 40 to 60 percent of people relapse in the first year is accurate.
How Can You Make Treatment More Effective?
One of the most significant factors of effective long-term recovery from alcoholism is actively managing the mental health disorder post-rehab. Along with actively managing your addiction, such as using mindfulness techniques and attending support group meetings, finishing your entire rehab program is just as important.
The rehab should also offer personalized treatment, behavioral therapy, a medical detox program, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and aftercare programs. They should also provide holistic treatments that treat the person, not just their addiction. They should remain in treatment for at least three months based on the Principles of Effective Treatment according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
What to Do if You Relapse
In rehab, you’ll learn how relapse works and that it isn’t something that happens suddenly but rather in stages. You’ll learn how to recognize these stages of relapse and know what to do to prevent the stages of relapse from escalating to physical relapse. If, however, physical relapse occurs, the most important thing is to find immediate help – tell your loved ones, suggest your rehab, and tell your support group so you can prevent relapse from continuing.
Relapse does not mean that treatment has failed, just that you need help to get back on track with your active management of the mental health disorder.
Our Recovery Guarantee
At The River Source, we have a unique Recovery Guarantee. Our alcohol addiction treatment works, and in our “150 days to reclaim your life” program, if you complete the entire program and actively manage your addiction post-rehab with the treatment advice you were given and relapse within the first year, you can return to rehab with us for free.
Reach out to The River Source at 866-294-9331 today to access effective alcohol addiction treatment programs and begin your recovery journey.
