For hardcore alcohol addicts who have been dependent on alcohol for a long time, a short term inpatient rehab program might not get them the desired results. Alcohol addiction is a problem that not only affects the addict, but it is a problem that affects the lives of the people around the addict too. The immediate family and friends around the addict also have a role to play in the recovery and rehabilitation of an alcohol addict.
Though a short term inpatient alcohol rehab program can help the addict to overcome the terrible withdrawals and cleanse his or her body of the harmful chemical toxins, it might not be sufficient to help the addict stay sober for life. Simply put, a long term addict will need long term support.
In a long term alcohol rehab program, the addict is not only detoxified and helped through the withdrawal phase, he or she is lent support for a very long time. This support could be in the form of regular counseling and follow ups, through medication, or through other holistic forms of treatment. A long term alcohol rehab program will help the addict to not only cope with the problem of addiction, but will also help him or her to cope with the pressures and responsibilities of a normal life. A long term alcohol rehab program will ensure that the addict has the confidence and courage to face the world after he or she recovers from the addiction.