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What Inpatient Alcohol Care Means in Practice
In practice, inpatient alcohol care means living onsite while you are getting help for your problem with alcohol. This can be the case whether it’s an actual hospital or a dedicated rehab facility. There are a few different types of facilities that offer inpatient treatment. These include:
- Long-term residential treatment (between 6 and 12 months)
- Short-term residential treatment (3-6 weeks)
- Detox centers
- Hospitals
In all these cases, you’ll stay at the facility while you get the help you need to quit drinking. You can also go through detox, if needed.
In an inpatient alcohol rehab program, your treatment is structured around your needs. You might need to attend a detox program for medical or psychiatric reasons or because you cannot stay sober without medical assistance.
You can also choose inpatient care if you have been unable to overcome your addiction on your own, even with outpatient support.
While some people prefer the privacy and anonymity of an outpatient program, others want or need a completely separate environment away from their daily lives. Inpatient alcohol rehab means you are living at a facility where 24-hour care is provided for you, including food and housing.
In residential addiction treatment, you stay at the facility around the clock, while receiving a range of support services to help you overcome your alcoholism. You will likely have group therapy sessions to discuss your thoughts and feelings as well as any challenges you are facing in early recovery. You will also get education about the disease of alcoholism and the benefits of remaining sober.
The staff will also offer you one-on-one counseling sessions.
Residential and intensive inpatient alcohol settings both provide care 24 hours a day.
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Signals That Point Toward Inpatient Care
Moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms can indicate a person needs treatment in an inpatient environment.
Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal may include:
- Confusion
- Heart racing or fast heartbeat
- Seizures
- Sweating and tremors
- Nausea and vomiting
- Delirium, which is characterized by confusion or loss of contact with reality.
- Hallucinations
People with mild-to-moderate withdrawal symptoms often do well with outpatient treatment.
In addition, if you have tried an outpatient program that did not work, or there is a concern about your safety due to past episodes of delirium tremens, then it may be time for a hospital stay.
Signals that point toward inpatient alcohol care at a rehabilitation center:
- You’ve already tried outpatient treatment and relapsed.
- Your substance abuse is severe.
- You have other health problems related to your drinking or drug use.
- You can’t stop using or drinking, even when faced with harmful consequences.
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Hospital Beds Versus Residential Campuses
Hospital inpatient services provide the most intensive level of care, including 24-hour nursing and medical care and individualized treatment planning.
When you first enter an inpatient treatment program for alcoholism, your condition will be assessed to determine if you have any health issues that require immediate attention. You might also be given a psychological assessment to help the medical team design an individualized treatment plan that addresses both your mental health needs and substance use disorder. This may include detoxification and withdrawal management.
The medical staff in an inpatient hospital can also treat any other health conditions you have. This may include physical problems that occurred when using substances, such as infections, liver damage, or heart issues.
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A Day Inside an Inpatient Program
Residential and intensive inpatient alcohol settings both follow similar schedules: you wake up, get a meal, go to group sessions, eat again, attend individual therapy, get some down time, then do it all over again.
In an inpatient program, a person lives at the facility while they undergo treatment. This is very different from outpatient programs, where a person visits a clinic for several hours per week before returning home or to their apartment.
The residential and intensive treatment programs both have daily schedules that are very structured.
Depending on the facility and the type of addiction treatment program, different types of therapies may be used to help people recover from substance abuse. Some common treatments include:
- Behavioral therapy
- Psychotherapy
- Support groups
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
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Length of an Inpatient Episode
Research on treatment duration notes that individuals often need several episodes of care before achieving lasting recovery. Research also shows that individuals with longer periods of treatment have improved outcomes. The length of treatment and services varies depending on the type of program, individual needs, and resources available.
Inpatient treatment is usually offered in a hospital or residential care center. In some cases, patients may need to stay in the facility for several weeks while they recover from physical problems caused by their drug addiction.
Patients' length of stay in residential care programs depends on the type of program they attend.
Therapeutic communities, which are highly structured programs that typically last from 6 to 12 months. Therapeutic communities provide intensive counseling and behavioral therapy coupled with activities to rebuild the recovering person's life as well as support systems. Participants engage in individual and group therapy to learn coping strategies and live together in a community where people share the common goal of getting sober.
The length of time needed in inpatient treatment depends on a number of factors including the severity of your addiction and the presence of co-occurring conditions.
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Paying for Inpatient Alcohol Care in Ohio
Medicaid, a federal-state partnership program, provides health coverage to individuals with low incomes.
Paying for inpatient alcohol care in Ohio can be a daunting task, but there are resources available to help.
Depending on your plan, you may have to pay a copay or deductible before services are covered. It is important to review your policy carefully to understand what is and isn’t covered by your plan.
County ADAMH boards plan local substance care. Inpatient residential treatment is a key element in the continuum of care, particularly for people suffering from addiction.
Private payment is another option available to pay for inpatient alcohol care in Ohio.
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Stepping Down After Discharge
Stepping down after an inpatient discharge often involves switching from 24-hour care to outpatient treatment. Outpatient programs may also involve therapy, but you'll be able to attend on your own schedule and return home afterward. Some common forms of outpatient treatment include:
- Partial hospitalization (PHP): PHP provides more intensive services than an IOP. You may receive counseling or behavioral therapies at the rehab center during most of the day, then go home in the evenings.
- Outpatient treatment: Outpatient programs may include group or individual counseling, family therapy, and educational classes to help prevent relapse.
Some examples of outpatient services that promote long-term recovery are:
- Mutual support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or SMART Recovery can offer encouragement, accountability, and community.
- Aftercare planning: Addiction treatment programs will often work with you after discharge to develop an individualized relapse prevention plan. This may include counseling and other services.
After residential treatment, continuing outpatient programs help with the transition back into everyday life.
Stepping down from residential or hospital-based treatment involves transitioning back into their regular daily routines. Some people return to work during this time. Others move to less intensive programs like outpatient counseling.