Alcohol treatment involves giving a person with an alcohol abuse problem tools and methods to help him or her stop using alcohol. Sometimes hospitalization is necessary for alcohol treatment, but most often it can be done on an outpatient basis.

The most effective method for alcohol treatment is Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). This is a 12-step program that involves meetings where a person who abuses alcohol can be with others who are at various levels of recovering from alcohol abuse problems. It's advisable for a person first entering AA to go to meetings daily for the first 30 days of treatment. The program utilizes a series of steps that allow a person to do a thorough personal and emotional evaluation of what has caused him or her to abuse alcohol. It also provides much-needed support for someone who's trying to stop using alcohol.

In addition to AA or another type of 12-step program for alcohol treatment, a person may need to have personal, one-on-one therapy with a substance abuse counselor. In any alcohol treatment, it is essential that a person totally stops drinking alcoholic beverages for the treatment to be successful.