Many people struggle with addiction to alcohol. When they realize they have a problem, the idea of seeking help can seem overwhelming. Alcohol rehab is more complicated than getting medicine for a sinus infection, but it’s not impossible to get on the road to recovery. The best way to do it is by following a plan that includes a combination of detox, counseling and support groups. There’s no one-size-fits-all program, but the overall goal of treatment is to help you gain independence from alcohol or drug use.

There are a variety of alcohol rehab programs available, both inpatient and outpatient, depending on the severity of your drinking problem and your individual needs. Typically, inpatient programs involve staying at the facility for 30 days or more, but outpatient treatment can range from regular office visits to intensive outpatient care.

Most alcohol rehab programs start with a period of detox, which usually involves medically supervised withdrawal from drugs or alcohol. This process may take a week or more and can include medication to ease symptoms and prevent relapse. It’s important that you find a rehab that has qualified medical staff who can monitor your health and wellbeing while you are in detox.

Once you’ve successfully completed the detox phase of your alcohol rehab, you can move to the more comprehensive treatment program. This will likely include a variety of different therapies, including group and individual counseling sessions, family therapy, life skills training and relapse prevention techniques. Many rehabs have a zero-tolerance policy towards alcohol and drug abuse, so they’ll have strict rules about what you can and cannot bring into the facility and will require that you agree to random drug tests.

Alcohol rehab also provides you with access to mental and physical health experts 24/7. The rehab will have nurses on duty to deal with any health issues that arise and the mental health staff can help you cope with underlying psychological problems that might be triggering your alcohol use.

Most major healthcare insurers will cover some or all of your rehab expenses, but you’ll have to find a program that accepts your health insurance and fits within your budget. Alcohol rehabs like Recovery Centers of America (RCA) can help you find in-network providers, so you don’t have to pay out-of-pocket.

Once you’ve graduated from alcohol rehab, you can often continue to receive treatment by attending a sober living house. These are usually a group of homes that share space and work together to support the residents, who will have to adhere to strict rules such as avoiding alcohol and being home by a certain time. Other options include harm reduction rehabs, which offer similar services to sober living houses but are less restrictive. There are also a number of outpatient alcohol rehabs that offer day/night and intensive outpatient services, which can be more flexible and affordable than residential options.