Continual sobriety, or abstinence, is the ideal. But treatment for addictive disorders does not cure the condition, rather, it provides tools to manage the symptoms and reduce the related suffering and consequences. Therefore, success is measured not only by the ability to achieve abstinence, but quality of life issues, as well. General health, family and community support, openness to treatment and severity of use all play a role in determining the outcome. Intensity of substance use refers to the frequency of use and the number of substances used.
Quality of life is measured in terms of family, employment, community and spiritual function.
When seeking treatment for alcohol and chemical dependency, you will want to find a comprehensive program that provides a variety of options. In the next section, we provide Cleveland Clinic outcome data pertaining to abstinence, usage and quality of life. Most outcomes were derived from a telephone survey administered six months after completion of treatment. An inpatient stay is typically only necessary to stabilize medical conditions and initiate detoxification. A shorter length of stay encourages more time in outpatient treatment programs.