Learn about inpatient alcohol rehab programs in Dallas
The North Texas region was instrumental in the temperance and alcohol prohibition movements in the late 19th and early 20th century. Today, inpatient alcohol rehabs in Dallas serve patients from all walks of life and employ a wide selection of cutting-edge techniques to facilitate full, sustainable recoveries from alcohol use disorder.
While the misuse of alcohol has trended downward since the mid-20th century, Dallas and the rest of North Texas have relatively high rates for alcohol use disorder, compared to the rest of the United States, fueling the demand for rehabilitative services.
Below are some frequently asked questions about inpatient alcohol rehabs, particularly those in the Dallas metro and the surrounding North Texas region.
What are inpatient alcohol rehabs?
An inpatient or residential alcohol rehabilitation program is a treatment plan for alcohol use disorder (AUD) that requires patients to stay in a facility. This is in contrast with outpatient programs where the patient may leave immediately after treatment.
Facilities that host alcohol rehab programs may be single-purpose structures or compounds, or part of a larger multipurpose establishment such as a hospital or health center.
Inpatient alcohol rehab programs are often recommended for moderate and severe alcohol use disorder (AKA alcoholism, alcohol dependence, or alcohol addiction). Individuals signed up for inpatient rehab programs are called recovering individuals, residents, participants, or patients, among others.
Are all inpatient alcohol rehab programs the same?
Not always. Today, there is more diversity than ever before in the treatments these programs offer, their specific goals, and in how they are run.
For example, the critical alcohol detox procedure that is usually the first part of alcohol recovery may be done differently in various programs. Some may refrain from giving patients any medication unless necessary and others may prioritize patient comfort and be somewhat more liberal with medication.
Some inpatient programs also have a narrow range of treatments. Many, for instance, only handle medical detox and withdrawal management, referring patients to other programs once the treatment is completed. Others, on the other hand, may offer multiple treatment approaches under one roof, including psychiatric therapy and professional training, in many cases.
What is medically-supervised alcohol detox?
In the context of alcohol rehab, medically-supervised detox and withdrawal management is the practice of helping an individual with AUD withdraw from alcohol and providing medical intervention as needed. This is distinct from a “self-detox”, where the individual attempts to quit alcohol without medical supervision.
In contrast to some other commonly-misused substances such as cannabis or amphetamines, withdrawal from a serious alcohol use disorder presents serious issues. Abrupt withdrawal from alcohol has been associated with relatively high mortality rates in some studies, significantly higher than many illicit drugs. Alcohol withdrawal can also be extremely painful for some people, which often leads to early relapse .
For these reasons, it’s recommended that patients with moderate or severe AUD should first consider medically-supervised detox before proceeding to standard counseling and psychiatric treatments.
Do inpatient alcohol rehabs include medically-supervised detox?
Not all inpatient alcohol or substance rehab programs offer medically-assisted detox. Patients may be referred to a different program or facility for this part of the recovery process. However, more comprehensive programs may include detox and withdrawal management as part of their service.
Alcohol detox sessions are often recommended to be done in an inpatient setting. This is because withdrawal can affect the patient’s mental state and may cause them to act against their own interest. Relapse is also a very real risk at this early stage and supervision and monitoring in a controlled facility can help prevent it.
However, due to the cost of residential treatment, outpatient rehabs have become a more common option. While not ideal for every patient, they may be a good option for those with milder AUD and those who plan to enter further treatment.
What benefits do inpatient rehab programs offer?
Most standard treatments available at inpatient rehab programs are also available on an outpatient basis. However, inpatient programs offer a few distinct advantages over their outpatient equivalents when it comes to treating alcohol use disorder.
Some of the benefits include the following:
1.) Prevents harm to the patient
As mentioned earlier, an inpatient setup allows treatment specialists to closely monitor patients and give appropriate medical intervention, when needed.
Patients undergoing alcohol withdrawal may also remain in an altered mental state, sometimes becoming violent or suicidal, even after detox. Under an inpatient setup, they can easily be prevented from harming themselves and others.
2.) Reduces potential relapse triggers
Because alcohol is a legal, easily obtainable substance, people with AUD often find it hard to stay clean. Alcohol use triggers are extremely common and exposure to them so soon after detox can lead to a relapse.
Staying at an inpatient rehab center can often be the best way to avoid these relapse triggers. Patients will also undergo therapy and learn healthy ways to cope with cravings. In other words, these facilities can give the individual the breathing space they need to make a recovery.
3.) Gives the patient time to heal
This is especially true for long-term alcohol rehab programs. People with severe AUD may continue to crave alcohol for months or years after detox. While there may no longer be traces of alcohol in their bodies, their brains have already adapted to constant exposure to alcohol.
Adapting to a more normal state takes far more time than it does to detox. This usually means recovering individuals will still crave alcohol in the meantime. Being in an inpatient facility can buy the individual the time they need for their brain to rewire itself into a more normal state. At the very least, inpatient treatment can give time for the cravings to be more controllable.
These advantages often make the cost of inpatient treatment worthwhile for individuals with AUD. If you’re in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro, contact our team at Dallas Drug Treatment Centers at +1(214) 935-2287 for a listing of inpatient alcohol rehab programs in your area.
Can you cure alcoholism with inpatient rehab?
While some people have, by common definitions, been completely “cured” of AUD, the term cure is rarely used these days because it implies that a person has reverted to a state before they had the disease.
Today, we know that alcohol and other substances often cause permanent lingering changes to a person’s brain, even if the individual no longer has any cravings or difficulty at all resisting alcohol.
Thee days, the preferred term in most substance rehab centers tends to be “recovery”, as it implies that the condition is controlled rather than nonexistent. Thankfully, all substance use disorders, including AUD, are treatable. While some people may take more time to recover than others, in virtually all cases it’s possible to come up with a course of treatments that brings alcohol cravings under control.
As discussed earlier, time plays a critical role in helping an individual with AUD achieve full recovery. Because they effectively limit the exposure to relapse triggers, inpatient rehab programs are ideal for helping many people with AUD make a full recovery.
Can I get fired for entering an alcohol rehab program?
Texas allows employers to terminate employment relationships for nearly any reason, including for drug use. However, the federal Americans With Disabilities Act and the Family Medical Leave Act provide job protection for employees who are currently seeking medical help for substance use issues. Generally speaking, employers are also legally barred from firing someone over drug use that happened before employment.
Please note that these matters can be complicated by different circumstances. To learn more about your rights as an employee in the State of Texas, please reach out to a qualified legal expert.
Will joining an inpatient alcohol rehab program interrupt work or school?
Unfortunately, in most cases, it will. Inpatient programs will usually keep participants on a strict schedule to help them keep their mind on recovery, leaving little time for any work or school-related activities. Their communication with the outside world is also usually restricted for the same reason, making remote arrangements for school and work problematic.
However, many inpatient programs also allow participants greater degrees of freedom as they progress through their treatment. This may open up the possibility of doing part-time work for some patients. Unfortunately, the type of work available will always be limited due to the setup of most inpatient rehabs.
Is inpatient alcohol rehab expensive?
According to the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Agency (SAMHSA), cost is the biggest reason many people with substance use issues do not go to rehab.
In Dallas, the cost of a short-term 30-day inpatient rehab starts at around $2,000 and can go as high as $100,000 for 30 days for some luxury options. Given that outpatient treatments usually cost $3,000 to $10,000 for 90 days, it’s understandable why many choose outpatient alternatives.
Compared to an equivalent outpatient program in the same area, an inpatient program will almost always cost more. Inpatient programs need to pay for 24/7 staffing, secured facilities, and the cost of room and board. Luxury rehab centers also spend more on facilities and will also tend to be located in remote areas, which further increases their overhead.
However, with the right insurance, quality inpatient care is within reach of most people. Many inpatient facilities will also accept credit cards or rehab financing plans. A few may even offer a sliding rate depending on your income.
To learn about affordable alcohol rehabs in North Texas, contact our team at Dallas Drug Treatment Centers at +1(214) 935-2287.
Should I leave North Texas for rehab?
There are merits to traveling for rehab. For one, moving away from where one often misused alcohol can help bring a sense of perspective. Going to a rehab center in a remote, quiet area may also help the individual focus more on recovery.
However, unless the location offers a specific type of supplemental treatment such as outdoor therapy, this may all be a moot point as inpatient facilities will still restrict patient movement and access to alcohol, regardless of where they might be located.
Thankfully, Dallas and the rest of North Texas have a wide selection of rehab programs, covering the needs of every individual struggling with alcohol. For a list of inpatient alcohol rehab options in North Texas, contact our team at Dallas Drug Treatment Centers at +1(214) 935-2287.
How long does an inpatient alcohol rehab program last?
It all depends on the specific program one enters. Some inpatient programs may only last as little as two weeks, while others may take up to six months or longer.
However, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse says rehab should last a minimum of 90 days for it to have a meaningful effect. This is because, as mentioned earlier, the brain needs to be given time to rewire itself so that it no longer needs alcohol to function. The brain heals much more slowly than other parts of the body, which is why recovery times for AUD and other psychiatric disorders often take so long.
These long periods can be a problem for many, as they can severely disrupt work and school. People with less severe AUD may benefit from enrolling in a short-term inpatient program before moving onto outpatient treatment to better balance their recovery with other responsibilities.
Contact Dallas DrugTreatment Centers at +1(214) 935-2287 to find inpatient rehab programs in North Texas that work for your AUD recovery needs.
Find inpatient alcohol rehabs in Dallas, TX
North Texas hosts a wide selection of rehab and treatment centers that specialize in treating alcohol use disorder. Finding inpatient programs for you or your loved one is just a phone call away.
Call our team at Dallas Alcohol Treatment Centers at +1(214) 935-2287 for a comprehensive selection of inpatient alcohol rehab options near you.