Receiving Treatment Under the Influence
A reader asks if an intensive outpatient program is appropriate for their uncle who continues to drink heavily and attends meetings intoxicated, suspecting he prefers this arrangement.
Answered by Jim LaPierre, LCSW, CCS
Question
Does an intensive outpatient program make any sense for a person that can’t or won’t stop drinking? My uncle detoxed 2 weeks ago and then his insurance company said he could only get outpatient treatment even though he clearly needs to go away because he is in really bad shape. So now he is just drunk all the time and going to these afternoon meetings completely wasted. I am not sure he isn’t happy with the deal because he gets to continue drinking while he ‘works’ on his problems.
The short answer to your question is that no form of treatment outside of medical/detox makes sense for a person who is currently under the influence. If your uncle is sober while receiving treatment (not under influence of alcohol during the 3 hours he's at his treatment program) then there may be a small benefit but it's unlikely to change his behavior. Sending folks off to long term rehabs is something insurance companies try very hard not to do (because they're evil and rehab is expensive). Unfortunately, even with a long term rehab, the difficulty is - what does your uncle choose when he gets home.
My heart goes out to you - what you're experiencing sucks - it's a very cruel form of powerlessness in which we watch people we love be claimed and slowly destroyed by the disease of addiction. Please consider that sharing your concerns with your uncle may be the best intervention. Shaming and anger are ineffective and separate us from loved ones. Good luck.
About the Expert
Jim LaPierre
LCSW, CCS
Brewer, Maine
Specialties
Anger Management, Gay Lesbian Issues, Spirituality, Divorce, Compulsive Disorders, Trauma and PTSD, Life Coaching, Addiction or Substance Abuse, OCD, Mood Disorders, Parenting, Domestic Abuse or Domestic Violence, Anxiety or Fears, ADHD, Impulse Control Disorders, Relationship Issues, Women, Loss or Grief, Eating Disorders, Depression, Finding Your Purpose in Life
License
my_license #LC9830