Recovery Begins with a Phone Call

• Alcoholic treatment programs are in business to help the alcoholic. However, before any program can begin, the alcoholic must admit she has a problem. In other words, the alcoholic must turn herself in, making the phone call for help to a treatment center. If the alcoholic is a minor, often parents plan an intervention or have a court order done to force their teen into a recovery program.
  
  

Detoxification

• Once registered into a program, the alcoholic must undergo a detoxification process, both socially and medically. Besides detaching from everyone except patients and workers in the treatment center, he also has to rid his body of alcohol. The length of time for detoxification varies; however, most clinics have around a 7-day period. During this time, the patient is under strict medical care and is not allowed visitors.
  
  

Medical Assessment

• Along with a recovery plan, alcoholic treatment programs provide a medical assessment for the patient. Besides a complete physical examination, the patient also receives a mental health evaluation in which it's determined whether there are any mental disorders. He learns about any medication he needs to take as well as how to handle his mental health challenges for the rest of his life.
  
  

Therapy

• After detoxification, an alcoholic treatment program begins to help the alcoholic recover through therapy. In individual therapy sessions, alcoholics discover the root causes of their alcoholism and how to deal with them. In other words, they learn other ways to manage their inner pain that has caused them to medicate with alcohol.
  
  

12-Step Meetings

• Most alcoholic recovery programs introduce patients to the 12 steps of Alcoholic Anonymous by attending 12-step recovery meetings. A powerful healing tool, 12-step programs help alcoholics get sober and stay that way. The first three steps address the alcoholic's need for surrendering his condition to a higher power, followed by accepting the help of that higher power. The latter steps involve self-examination, as well as making amends for wrongs and then carrying out the message of recovery through service to others who still struggle with alcoholism.
  
  

Aftercare

• Once alcoholics complete an intensive residential treatment program, a treatment center helps them re-enter society. Often, patients are directed to halfway houses (also known as sober houses) where they must abide by strict house rules and take care of their financial needs by getting a job. For homeless alcoholics, treatment programs usually help them find housing solutions as well as work with their families.