Alcohol rehab is the next step in the recovery process. Someone who has become dependent on alcohol has to have been drinking often enough and in dangerous patterns to become addicted. Alcohol rehab involves many of the same treatment options as drug rehab, according to NIDA. These include:
Behavioral counseling. This is the most utilized treatment for addiction in cases of both alcohol and drug addiction. It comes in many forms and several methods have been proven especially effective for alcohol addicts, including cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management, and 12-step facilitation (NIDA). Behavioral counseling can also help to uncover co-occurring mental disorders, which often occur with addictions and can shed light on why they happen in the first place.
Medication. You and your doctor might decide that certain medications will be helpful to your recovery. Drugs like naltrexone, which blocks the receptors in the brain associated with the positive effects of alcohol, or Acamprosate, which reduces long-term withdrawal symptoms, might help you focus on recovery and minimize the symptoms of alcohol abuse in the long run.
Holistic approaches. From yoga to tai chi to meditation to massage therapy, holistic approaches have been helping recovering addicts work through their experiences and emotions in a way that diverges from talk therapy but has proven to be very effective for many individuals (Journal of Psychoactive Drugs).