Alcohol Rehab Illinois

What Alcohol Rehab Involves

An initial assessment is an important first step in determining the level of care needed by a patient seeking treatment. This assessment helps identify the needs of each person, and it's used to assign them to a specific level of care. These levels range from outpatient programs through residential treatment. The most common levels of care are:

• Outpatient: This is considered the least intensive form of treatment because patients can go home at night after sessions. Intensive outpatient (IOP) is an example of this type of program.
• Partial hospitalization program (PHP): In PHP, patients attend treatment during the day but return to their homes in the evening. It may be considered a step-down level from residential treatment or an option for someone who needs a higher level of care than IOP.
• Residential: This is usually the most intensive form of treatment because it provides 24/7 care and supervision while patients remain at the facility.

There are several approaches or techniques for treating alcohol use disorders (AUDs). While no single approach has been proven better than others, some have shown greater effectiveness in specific situations. Behavioral therapies help people with substance use problems change both their thinking and their behavior. These approaches assist individuals in developing skills and strategies to achieve long-term goals. The most common treatment approaches include:

• Motivational Enhancement Therapy: This approach focuses on helping patients recognize the need for change and building motivation toward it.
• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT helps people identify, understand, and change thoughts that trigger addictive behaviors, such as drinking alcohol.
• Contingency Management Treatment: In this type of therapy, individuals receive rewards or incentives when they remain abstinent from drugs/alcohol.

Signs It Is Time to Get Help for Drinking

Signs that drinking has become a problem include:

• Not having control over how much or when you drink
• Feeling guilty about your drinking
• Having trouble meeting your family obligations because of alcohol use
• Missing work or school due to drinking
• Experiencing problems with the law, such as a DUI or other criminal charges that are related to drinking

You may want help if any of these things happen after drinking:

• Blacking out, losing memory, or passing out
• Acting angry, mean, or aggressive
• Having trouble thinking clearly or speaking normally
• Having a seizure or having hallucinations

Alcohol Detox and Withdrawal Management

Stopping heavy drinking can bring withdrawal that may cause seizures or delirium tremens. This is why it's essential for heavy drinkers to go through alcohol detoxification, which requires supervision by a doctor and monitoring of vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and breathing rate.

While the most severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms may require hospitalization, people who have mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms can usually be treated on an outpatient basis. Treatment typically involves sedative medications and close monitoring by a healthcare professional until symptoms subside.

People can experience mild-to-severe physical symptoms when they stop drinking. If someone tries to quit abruptly without help, they may develop severe withdrawal symptoms.

During alcohol detox, people undergo a thorough assessment and review of their medical history by a physician. They also receive supportive counseling to learn more about what to expect as the body adjusts to not drinking. Doctors will monitor vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing patterns. They also test for levels of hydration and electrolytes to ensure adequate hydration.

If someone is experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms, medications may be administered to reduce them. Some people may need to stay in a medical detox program until they are able to safely go home.

Common signs and symptoms include:

• Severe anxiety
• Insomnia
• Cravings for alcohol
• Depression
• Irritability or anger
• Shakiness or tremor
• Rapid heartbeat
• Restlessness

Signs of delirium tremens may appear 2 to 3 days after you stop drinking. You might experience:

• Delirium and confusion
• Visual hallucinations
• Body temperature changes
• Increased blood pressure
• Seizures

It is recommended that people with alcohol use disorders avoid detoxing on their own at home. Even mild cases can be dangerous and should be monitored by a health care provider.

Levels of Care in Illinois: Outpatient, Intensive Outpatient, and Residential

Outpatient treatment is usually less than nine hours per week. Activities include individual counseling, group counseling, family counseling and medication assisted recovery support.

Intensive outpatient programs provide at least nine hours per week of highly structured clinical services.

Residential programs are licensed by IDHS/DBHR.

Withdrawal management services provide medically supervised detoxification for individuals who abuse alcohol or other drugs.

Recovery support services include recovery community centers, peer support meetings and mentoring services.

Intensive Outpatient treatment typically includes more hours per week than traditional outpatient, but it's still not as intensive as residential care.

Live-in residential rehabilitation places people in a supervised 24-hour environment.

Residential rehabilitation intensity depends on assessed need, continued evaluation, and level of placement (ASAM 3.1, 3.5). Residential treatment provides alcohol or drug addiction assistance to those with moderate to severe symptoms or issues. A person may need to live in a residential setting for a brief period or longer depending on his/her needs.

Residential programs provide a range of services including but not limited to: comprehensive assessment; individual and group counseling; medication management if appropriate; educational presentations; life skills training; 12-Step support and recovery education; family involvement and education; case management and discharge planning.

Treatment providers and other recovery professionals can help determine the most appropriate level of care for someone with alcohol use disorder. This is typically done by conducting an evaluation or assessment, as well as reviewing their history of alcohol use and related consequences.

Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder

The medication is taken as directed by the doctor and should be combined with counseling and other behavioral therapies, if possible. Medicines include naltrexone (ReVia, Vivitrol), acamprosate (Campral), and disulfiram (Antabuse). Naltrexone blocks opioid receptors in the brain to prevent cravings for alcohol. Disulfiram prevents the breakdown of a chemical called acetaldehyde, which is produced when alcohol is metabolized.

Medications are not appropriate for everyone. Some medicines should be used with caution if you have liver or kidney disease. Before starting any medicine for AUD, talk to your doctor about possible side effects and drug interactions and whether these medicines are right for you.

Naltrexone is a medicine that blocks the euphoric effects of alcohol, thus reducing cravings.

Disulfiram can cause a person to feel physically ill when they drink alcohol. This makes drinking alcohol very unpleasant and reduces the likelihood of relapse.

Disulfiram causes uncomfortable side effects when you consume any amount of alcohol. These include:

• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Behavioral Therapies and Support Groups

Behavioral treatments aim at changing drinking behaviors through counseling.

There are many kinds of behavioral treatments for alcohol problems. Most centers treating alcohol problems offer at least a few of these. Types of behavioral treatment include:

• Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET), which focuses on building motivation to change alcohol use.
• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which helps people recognize, avoid, and cope with situations in which they are most likely to drink.
• Relapse Prevention (RP), which teaches strategies to avoid high-risk situations.

Support groups also can provide motivation, perspective, and an opportunity for patients to learn that they aren't alone in their struggle. The following support groups are free of charge: Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, Alateen, Smart Recovery, Women for Sobriety, LifeRing Secular Recovery, and Secular Organizations for Sobriety.

Behavioral therapies can help people:

• Reduce or stop drinking
• Learn relapse prevention strategies

Many people also benefit from mutual support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous or AA. They also help fill in the gaps left by professional care. Groups come in many different forms, so it's important to find one that works best for you.

Outpatient treatments include counseling, group therapy and/or self-help programs.

Paying for Alcohol Rehab in Illinois

HFS Medical Programs cover mental health and substance abuse services for eligible persons. Eligibility requirements vary by program.

The HealthChoice Illinois Program is the state's Medicaid managed care program. Through this program, eligible people receive health services through managed care plans in their communities.

A Managed Care Organization (MCO) coordinates all of the medical care for participants who are enrolled in a specific health plan.

HFS requires that these services be provided by a licensed organization certified to provide these services by the IDHS/SUPR.

Illinois Medicaid and private plans both address substance abuse as a medical condition.

Illinois insurance parity rules compare substance abuse benefits to other health care benefits, including outpatient mental health services, and hospital stays when determining the level of coverage for an alcohol or drug treatment program. This includes a comparison of out-of-pocket costs, annual dollar limits on services and co-payments. The rule does not require insurance companies to cover every type of alcohol rehab in Illinois.

Office of Consumer Health Insurance can answer your questions about mental health and addiction insurance parity.

Funded treatment for uninsured residents is available from organizations that have contracts with IDHS/SUPR.

The Illinois Department of Human Services / Substance Use Prevention and Recovery (IDHS/SUPR) administers a variety of grant programs funded by the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, as well as state funding for substance use disorder treatment services. This includes residential treatment and other types of licensed care in approved organizations.

Finding a Licensed Program in Illinois

Finding licensed alcohol treatment begins with the Illinois Opioid and Other Substance Use Helpline. Trained specialists can help you find local licensed recovery programs.

Illinois Helpline specialists connect callers with providers for substance use disorder treatment and intervention using a variety of resources including the provider directory maintained by IDHS/DBHR.

For an Illinois resident looking to find an alcohol treatment program, start by looking at your insurance provider and what they cover.

If you don't have insurance or your policy doesn't cover substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, look into state funding programs. The state offers a variety of services for low-income residents.

Other ways to find help include reaching out to friends and family or asking your doctor for referrals. You can also go online to search for licensed rehab facilities that accept Medicaid.

Life After Rehab: Recovery Support in Illinois

After formal treatment ends, Illinois recovery supports can provide ongoing, community-based services and guidance for individuals on their recovery journey.

Recovery homes and Oxford Houses are types of housing for people who do not require or want a high level of staff support but do need the support of others in recovery. These residences generally have rules that prohibit alcohol, drugs, and other illegal behavior, and residents are expected to take part in house meetings where they provide accountability and mutual assistance.

The state of Illinois licenses recovery homes, and they can provide access to peer-based activities or services offered by DBHR-licensed organizations. A list of DBHR licensed organizations is maintained at the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC) programs support community development and help people access a range of support and recovery-focused resources in their communities, including employment, housing, treatment, peer support, and family involvement.

A person in recovery can also find support through a variety of peer support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, or Women for Sobriety. These are typically free of charge, self-help support groups run by volunteers. Many provide meeting schedules online and some offer telephone meetings for those who cannot attend local meetings. Most use the 12-step model while SMART and Women for Sobriety emphasize a non-12 step approach.

Some treatment programs also operate alumni networks which provide ongoing peer support after formal treatment.

In addition to AA and NA, you can find specialized support in SMART Recovery, Secular Organizations for Sobriety, and Women For Sobriety. You can also access recovery groups based on your gender and sexual orientation.

Recovery housing is a general term for a range of supportive housing options that allow people to live together while staying sober.