Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), commonly referred to as alcoholism, is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Due to the chronic and multifaceted nature of the disease, treatment exists on a continuum of care, adapting to the individual’s clinical needs, severity of their condition, and co-occurring mental or physical health issues. The most widely used framework for determining the appropriate level of care in the United States is The ASAM Criteria (The American Society of Addiction Medicine). This criterion uses a multidimensional assessment that considers six life areas, ranging from acute withdrawal risk to the patient’s living environment, to place a person in the least intensive, yet safest, and most effective setting.
ASAM Levels of Care: A Comprehensive Approach
The ASAM criteria outlines a spectrum of services, broadly categorized into four main levels of care, which include several sub-levels to ensure a precise match to patient needs:
Level I: Outpatient Treatment
This level is the least intensive and involves structured, non-residential services, typically consisting of fewer than nine hours of service per week. Treatment often occurs in an office setting and includes individual, group, and family counseling. It’s suitable for individuals who are medically stable, have low risk of withdrawal, and have a stable and supportive living environment.
Level II: Intensive Outpatient (IOP) and Partial Hospitalization (PHP)
This level represents a significant step up in intensity. Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) provide nine or more hours of treatment per week in a structured program, allowing patients to live at home and continue with work or school. Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP), sometimes called Day Treatment, are more intensive, offering 20 or more hours of service per week. These settings are crucial for patients who need daily structure and monitoring but do not require 24-hour medical management.
Level III: Residential Treatment
Residential treatment provides a planned, live-in regimen of care, offering 24-hour support and a structured environment in a non-hospital setting. Sub-levels exist based on medical and clinical intensity:
- Low-Intensity Residential (Level 3.1): Offers a safe, structured recovery environment with relatively minimal weekly clinical service hours.
- High-Intensity Residential (Level 3.5): Provides 24-hour staffing and more hours of clinical service per week for patients with higher risk or more complex needs.
- Medically Monitored Intensive Inpatient (Level 3.7): Includes 24-hour nursing and access to a physician for medical monitoring, necessary for individuals with unstable medical or psychiatric conditions who still benefit from a residential setting.
Level IV: Medically Managed Intensive Inpatient Treatment
This is the most intensive level of care, delivered in an acute-care inpatient hospital setting. It is designed for patients who require 24-hour nursing care and daily physician visits for severe, acute intoxication or withdrawal management, or for those with serious co-occurring physical or mental health conditions that pose an imminent danger. Often, this is the first step, providing medical detoxification to safely stabilize the patient before they transition to a lower level of care.
Beyond the Levels: Key Treatment Components
Regardless of the level of care, effective alcoholism treatment incorporates evidence-based components:
- Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT): FDA-approved medications like naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram can be used in combination with counseling to help reduce cravings and prevent relapse (NIAAA, 2024).
- Behavioral Therapies: Interventions like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, and contingency management help patients identify triggers, develop coping skills, and enhance motivation for change (APA, 2023).
- Support Groups: Involvement in peer support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or SMART Recovery, provides essential long-term support and community for sustained recovery.
Treatment for AUD is a dynamic process; patients often transition between higher and lower levels of care based on their progress and evolving needs. Successful recovery emphasizes personalized care, addressing the individual’s unique biological, psychological, and social factors throughout their journey.
New Dimensions Can Help
New Dimensions Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Programs for Alcohol Use Disorder offer a structured, compassionate, and effective pathway toward sobriety—without requiring you to leave your life behind. By addressing both the psychological and physical aspects of alcoholism, outpatient rehab helps individuals build the foundation for a healthy, alcohol-free future. To schedule your free assessment, visit us at www.nddtreatment.com or call 1-800-685-9796
New Dimensions offers interventions to help families to assist their loved ones who need treatment. An alcohol intervention is a carefully structured process where family members, friends, and a professional intervention specialist confront the individual about their substance use. The goal is to break through denial and encourage them to seek help. If you’re feeling lost and unsure of what to do next, an intervention could be the critical step in starting the recovery process. Don’t wait until it’s too late—contact New Dimensions today to get your loved one the help they need. Call 800-685-9796 or visit online at www.nddtreatment.com.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2023). What are the different types of substance-related and addictive disorders? Retrieved from APA website: Understanding alcohol use disorders and their treatment
American Society of Addiction Medicine. (2015). The ASAM Criteria: Treatment Criteria for Addictive, Substance-Related, and Co-Occurring Conditions (3rd ed.). The ASAM, Inc.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). (2024). Treatment for Alcohol Problems: Finding and Getting Help. NIH Publication No. 24-AA-7603. Retrieved from NIAAA website: Alcoholism Treatment