Here’s the sad truth. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “Alcohol is among the most used drugs, plays a large role in many societies and cultures around the world, and greatly impacts public health.” Also, more people “over age 12 in the United States have used alcohol in the past year than any other drug or tobacco product, and alcohol use disorder is the most common type of substance use disorder in the United States.” This is why Colorado partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) often have to focus on alcohol use disorder (AUD) much more than any other addiction.
Understanding the Prevalence of Alcohol Use Disorder
Because substances like fentanyl and Adderall are dominating public conversation, many people forget that alcohol is still the most abused drug in the United States. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) recently reported that “According to the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 29.5 million people ages 12 and older (10.6% in this age group) had AUD in the past year.” Also, those are just the people that participated. The numbers in surveys such as this are generally underrepresented.
Also, this reporting is specifically for people who have alcohol use disorder (AUD), not those who are merely at the stage of disordered drinking or alcohol abuse. Many individuals with these less severe issues with alcohol will find that programs such as intensive outpatient programs or general outpatient programs (IOPs and GOPs) will work well.
However, individuals who struggle with severe AUD often need a more intensive option for a program of recovery. One of these options is a partial hospitalization program. Also, the good news is that many Colorado partial hospitalization programs are some of the best in the country.
What Is a Partial Hospitalization Program?
Partial hospitalization programs are very similar to their namesake. They are intensive programs that require quite a bit of intensive work in the facility or treatment center but do not require full residency.
These programs are ideal for those individuals who do not need round-the-clock monitoring but do need close attention and contact with their doctors and alcohol addiction specialists. Also, these programs are intended for people who can maintain functionality in their day-to-day lives. If an individual is either in danger of harming themself or others, then a more intensive residential program is probably best at the start.
Colorado Partial Hospitalization Programs and Their Benefits for Treating Alcohol Use Disorder
To start, partial hospitalization programs can be a great option for treating AUD, because other than intensive inpatient programs, a partial hospitalization program is an ideal program to enter directly after an alcohol detox. Alcohol detoxes can be very intense, so going into a program that follows up that intensity with a focus on recovery is crucial.
Also, partial hospitalization programs are effective at treating AUD, because, unfortunately, people with AUD tend to have a higher rate of relapse than people with other forms of substance use disorder (SUD). While many factors may contribute to this, the two primary ones are often the fact that alcohol is legal and remains readily available.
Due to this “relapse reality,” it is important for people in early recovery to stay closely connected to a treatment program. A partial hospitalization program offers this opportunity. Generally, a partial hospitalization program requires about 30 to 40 hours a week physically at the facility, as well as recovery work, such as attending recovery meetings, while away. This type of intense connectivity is crucial for treating AUD, and many Colorado partial hospitalization programs focus on helping their clients with these connections.
Colorado Partial Hospitalization Programs and Their Place in Transitional Recovery
Partial hospitalization programs are also ideal because they are centrally located on the transitional scale of recovery, and recovery is most certainly a transitional process. People who have gone through a residential treatment program for AUD have found transitioning down to a partial hospitalization program to be a perfect step.
Also, people struggling with AUD who have completed a partial hospitalization program are then in an ideal place to transition to a less intense outpatient program to continue their recovery journey. Just as there are great Colorado partial hospitalization programs, there are exceptional Colorado outpatient programs and effective sober living facilities.
Colorado Partial Hospitalization Programs: A Focus on Long-Term Recovery at The Redpoint Center
Here at The Redpoint Center, we focus on long-term recovery over short-term “fixes.” This is why we have multiple options for recovery, including exceptional partial hospitalization programs.
For many individuals, their AUD attempted to take everything away. Here at The Redpoint Center, we aim to help our clients get everything back, and then some.
While there is much discussion about fentanyl and other substances these days, alcohol remains the number one cause of addiction in the U.S. With alcohol use disorder (AUD) remaining so prevalent in the U.S., it is important to keep offering effective and evidence-based treatment options and opportunities. For many people with AUD, a partial hospitalization program (PHP) is the right choice of treatment. Also, Colorado remains an ideal location for both PHPs and recovery from AUD. If you feel like you or a loved one may be struggling with AUD or any other issues of addiction or mental health, we can help. For more information on effective PHPs in Colorado, please reach out to The Redpoint Center at (303) 710-8496.
