Definition of Types of Treatment:

• Detox: Detoxification centers, a place where the patient is medically supervised during detoxification. Usually stay is 3-8 days.
• Residential Treatment: The patient stays for up to 28 days and undergoes detoxification plus a program of individual and group counseling. Includes regular AA, N.A., or other self-help meetings.
• Outpatient Services: Consists of group and/or individual counseling sessions; client comes to the agency for their counseling sessions.
• Group Counseling: Client meets with other persons experiencing similar problems as a group with the counselor.
• Family Counseling: Client and their family members meet with the counselor and discuss their problems faced as a family.
• Self-Help Programs: Groups formed by persons experiencing similar problems which meet to help each other work through the problems and seek solutions; i.e.: continuing sobriety.

A Focus on Alcoholics Anonymous:

"Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experiences, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism."

"The only requirements for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor proposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety."
-- Preamble of Alcoholics Anonymous

A person becomes a member of AA simply by attending its meetings and feeling he/she is a member. However, AA keeps no membership roles, and no one is required to give their last name, thus protecting the individuals anonymity. No rules are enforced; each member does as he/she wants. Each group does as it wants to.

Assistance from AA extends well beyond its meetings. Members are available at all times to help anyone who is willing to make the effort to stop drinking. Members are also always ready to help the sober person who is threatened with picking up a drink.

AA works and is attested to by a prevailing attitude held by other groups interested in the field of alcoholism. AA is at the present time, an extremely successful vehicle for treating the disease of alcoholism.