Alcohol & Drug Services of Gallatin County

 

Other Options for Restoring Health

A Consumer's Guide to Alcohol & Drug Addiction Treatment

On this page: Twelve Step and Self-Help Groups | Meetings in Gallatin County| Inpatient Treatment
Recovery House

Twelve Step and Self-Help Groups can complement and extend the effects of professional treatment.

Anonymity and ongoing abstinence, maintained by working through Twelve Steps to recovery, are two of the hallmarks of all Twelve Step groups.  Programs based on A.A. also include accepting certain spiritual values; however, those values are open to interpretation.

Most treatment programs encourage people to participate in self-help groups during and after treatment.  They involve no cost, have no waiting lists, and are readily available in most communities – powerful incentives for participation. 

Research on A.A. has found that participation can be as successful as formal treatment for people who attend meetings weekly or more frequently, participate actively, and attend for over two years. 

Twelve Step groups combined with and following treatment increase the participant’s chances of maintaining abstinence, relationships, and employment.

Trying a twelve-step program by itself may be appropriate if:

• anonymity is a primary concern
  
• constrained finances make attending a treatment program impossible
  
• the person needs sustaining, daily reinforcement to stay sober
  
• the person wants a spiritual component to treatment.

• Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.)
  
• Narcotics Anonymous (N.A.)
  
• Cocaine Anonymous (C.A.)

Gallatin County has meetings in several locations. County meetings serve a variety of
populations so people can find a program that’s right for them.  In fact, experts advise
shopping around for the right group by attending at least six meetings in different
locations.

Meetings are held year round, including on holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and
New Year’s Eve, to provide support to people in recovery and their families who may
feel especially vulnerable at these times when other people are drinking as a part of their celebrations.

To find twelve step meetings in Gallatin County, call 406-585-4279, or visit Montana's AA meeting finder site.

Inpatient treatment requires staying for a period of time at a treatment facility.  The first phase of recovery can be intense, so being away from home gives people the time and space they need to start their recovery.

Inpatient treatment may make the most sense if the person has
• Already tried outpatient treatment and it didn’t seem to work.
• Medical problems such as heart problems, liver problems, digestive problems, infections, intense depression, or anxiety that require more than the usual attention.
• A chaotic home or social situations that undermine recovery.
• A home so far away from an outpatient treatment program that regular attendance isn’t practical.

Inpatient care has its drawbacks. People who travel far from their communities to receive treatment have to work harder to connect to aftercare services and self-help group support once they return home.  Their treatment program should help them make those connections before they leave.

Alcohol and Drug Services of Gallatin County can make referrals for inpatient care.

Some people leave treatment for a transitional residence where they live with other
people in recovery.

Residences often have a small number of clients, a small professional staff, clear and
enforced rules about abstinence, and a significant level of structure—somewhere between what is found in inpatient treatment and what is found in a family household. 

Residents are expected to become employed within several weeks of entry and
participate in the upkeep of the residence.

A long-term residential program may make the most sense if the person
• has been unable to remain alcohol- and drug-free when living alone, at home,
  or with friends or relatives
• can make a 3-6 month commitment to live in a group situation where a major focus is remaining clean and sober
• wants to assume more responsibilities while living in a structured setting
• is able and willing to accept group support from others in recovery

Other Useful Consumer Guide Pages: Youth Substance Abuse Indicators| About Substance Abuse 
Other Options for Restoring Health |Other Considerations  | Other Programs Offered by ADSGC

This information is courtesy of:  Join Together, a project of Boston University School of Public Health

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