Substance use
Alcohol addiction treatment in Ohio
Alcohol use disorder treated on an outpatient basis in Columbus and Dayton. Ambulatory detox covers mild to moderate withdrawal, and medication assisted treatment can be part of the plan.
- Ambulatory detox
- Available for this substance
- Treated at
- Ambulatory detox, Partial hospitalization, Intensive outpatient, Outpatient, Virtual IOP
- Where
- Columbus, Dayton
- Admissions
- (614) 665-8878
Alcohol withdrawal risk
Stopping abruptly after heavy daily drinking can be dangerous. Symptoms usually start within about eight hours of the last drink, though they can start days later: shaking, sweating, nausea, broken sleep, a fast pulse and raised blood pressure. They peak one to three days after the last drink. Seizures, where they occur, usually fall inside the first forty eight hours. Delirium tremens usually appears two to four days in, and sometimes later, with confusion, hallucinations, fever and unstable blood pressure. It is a medical emergency, and untreated it can be fatal. If someone in alcohol withdrawal has a seizure, confusion, hallucinations or a fever, call 911 or go to an emergency department. Risk runs higher with daily heavy drinking, previous withdrawals, older age, or another medical condition alongside.
Get assessed before you stop rather than after symptoms start. If you also take a benzodiazepine, say so, because that withdrawal carries the same seizure risk and can run for weeks rather than days, which changes the plan.
Ambulatory detox limits
Ambulatory detox at both facilities is medically supervised withdrawal on an outpatient basis: a nurse practitioner and a registered nurse assess you and monitor you through the acute phase. Medication for symptoms is prescribed as needed. You sleep at home. It covers mild to moderate withdrawal only, and not everyone is a candidate, because Leora has no beds and no overnight care. If your withdrawal risk points to an inpatient setting, the assessment says so.
Levels of care
- Partial hospitalization
- 5 days a week, about 6 hours a day. 4 hours therapy group, 1 hour relapse prevention, 1 hour nurse education, plus 1 to 2 individual sessions. Lunch provided. Nurse practitioner weekly.
- Intensive outpatient
- 3 to 5 days a week, 3 hours of group a day, 9 to 15 hours a week. Nurse practitioner every 2 to 3 weeks.
- Outpatient
- 1 to 2 days a week, 2 hours of group plus individual sessions, usually a step down.
- Virtual IOP
- fully remote, anywhere in Ohio, with morning, afternoon and evening sessions.
- Therapy
- cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, motivational interviewing and twelve step facilitation. Family therapy available.
Approved medications
Three medications are approved by the FDA for alcohol use disorder. The list below is general information about each. Ask admissions which are offered at the facility you would attend, and the prescriber decides with you whether one fits.
- Naltrexone, a daily tablet or monthly injection, lowers craving and blunts the reward from drinking. It is not started while someone is still using opioids.
- Acamprosate, taken three times a day after you stop, targets the restlessness and poor sleep that persist for months. The dose is lowered in moderate kidney disease, and it is not used in severe kidney disease.
- Disulfiram causes flushing, nausea, sweating and a racing heart if alcohol is taken, which suits someone who wants that barrier in place.
Getting assessed
Both facilities welcome walk-ins. The assessment sets the level of care. Where withdrawal is a concern, a nurse practitioner and a registered nurse assess whether ambulatory detox is safe for you. Bring:
- photo ID
- your insurance card
- a list of your current medications
- a discharge plan if you are coming from another program
Leora accepts all major commercial insurance and Medicaid. Depression, anxiety, PTSD and insomnia often run alongside heavy drinking and are treated by the same team in one plan.
Sources
References for this page:
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, treatment for alcohol problems
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, TIP 45
- American Psychiatric Association, DSM-5-TR alcohol use disorder criteria
Common questions
Is it dangerous to stop drinking on my own?
Does Leora offer alcohol detox?
How long does alcohol withdrawal last?
Which medications are used for alcohol use disorder?
Do I need to know which program I need before I call?
Where this is offered
Hope inspired
Talk to admissions about the right next step.
Outpatient addiction and mental health treatment in Columbus and Dayton, Ohio, from ambulatory detox to outpatient therapy groups. Walk-ins welcome. Call now, or leave your number and admissions will call you back.
