Alcohol and Drug Rehab centers offer a safe, supportive environment for people who struggle with alcoholism and drug addiction. They are usually the last resort for individuals who have been drinking or taking drugs to the point where it’s interfering with their life and in some instances, has ruined it completely.

Alcohol and Drug Rehab Inpatient

Alcohol and Drug Rehab offers something you probably haven’t felt in a long time – Hope. It’s a safe place to step off the world for a while and heal under the care of professionals in the medical, clinical and holistic realm. Alcoholism and drug addiction works on a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level. All of these areas need to be addressed in order for you to begin to heal all the damage created by alcohol and drugs. This is a tall order for what is typically only 30 days of alcohol and drug rehab inpatient treatment.

For this reason, most alcohol and drug rehab inpatient programs have 24 hour supervision and limited connection with the outside world. This is so you can concentrate on the alcohol and drug rehab program instead of being distracted by the happenings of friends and loved ones in the outside world. Then too, many of the friends you have when you come into alcohol and drug rehab may be the ones who encouraged drinking and using drugs. There could also be family members who “trigger” you to drink or use. This is why phone, e-mail usage and personal interactions with friends and family members are limited and may even be monitored.

Alcohol and Drug Rehab Recovery

The time you spend in alcohol and drug rehab is the beginning of recovery. Recovery is defined as a process of time spent healing after an extended illness or injury.

Alcoholism and drug addiction is a serious and life-threatening disease that requires learning how to live life differently in order to stay sober. Generally, alcohol and drug rehab recovery programs provide education on the disease of addiction, offer clinical therapy or drug and alcohol counseling to help address emotional issues, and may offer holistic processes such as acupuncture or massage to help the body and spirit mend.

Recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction is considered a lifelong process and for this reason, the 12-step model is generally introduced in alcohol and drug rehab. The benefit of 12-step meetings is they can be found all over the world and offer a sober support network once you leave rehab.  Ultimately, alcohol and drug rehab is designed to give you a solid foundation with enough life management tools for you to build a happy, fulfilling life in sobriety.

How do you know when you or a loved one needs alcohol rehab? While many people do have to hit bottom in order to ask for help, this doesn’t have to be the case. Many people are able to recognize their need for alcohol rehab before losing everything dear to them. Unfortunately, just as many have to lose loved ones, careers, homes, opportunities and even their freedom before recognizing that they need to get help.

Alcohol is one of the most widely used drugs in the United States and also one of the most dangerous. Most traffic accidents and domestic violence disputes involve alcohol. People who struggle with alcoholism are caught in such a powerful grip of addiction, they often do have to experience severe consequences before succumbing to alcohol rehab. Some may lose their jobs, career opportunities, significant relationships and material possessions before they realize they need help. Family members and friends may be able to convince their loved one to get help at alcohol rehab before it gets too bad. Each individual’s experience is different.

Alcohol rehab offers an opportunity to step out of life for a while into a safe, structured environment where the sole focus is on recovering from the devastating effects of alcohol. Inpatient alcohol rehab programs are generally desirable as quitting alcohol can be difficult, especially in the first few months of sobriety. Alcohol withdrawal can be extremely uncomfortable and the cravings can be overwhelming. A medical detox is recommended as withdrawal symptoms from prolonged use of alcohol can result in hallucinations, delirium tremens (DTs) and life-threatening seizures.

Following a safe alcohol detox, professional staff members work to begin severing the psychological dependency and re-establishing health on a mental, physical and spiritual level. Some alcohol rehab centers offer clinical therapy, drug and alcohol counseling, and holistic therapies to help individuals heal on all levels. Generally, a means of group support such as a 12-step program through Alcoholics Anonymous is introduced as well. These therapies combine to help support an individual in establishing a new way of living that no longer relies on alcohol to cope. While it can take months before the transition feels comfortable, willingness to learn how to live life

Alcohol in moderation can add a festive atmosphere to many a celebration, yet far too often the abuse of alcohol can also subtract from it. Alcohol is one of the most widely used and abused drugs in the world and because it is socially acceptable, it’s not always obvious when someone has enough of a problem to consider alcohol rehab - even yourself.

The major symptom of alcoholism is denial. Denial acts as a blindfold, keeping the ugly truth hidden from the individual in the grips of it. It often takes major consequences in order to get someone’s attention. Some people who struggle with alcoholism are high-functioning and may be able to keep their professional and personal life intact right up to the day they land in jail with a DUI. Others may wind up in divorce court, jail or on the streets. Hitting bottom is different for everyone. For some people it might be emotional and for others it might be financial. Many people in the grips of alcoholism will pull themselves up so far only to reach for another drink to escape what is becoming an unbearable mess. This is the nature of the disease. Even when life is falling down around them, it will likely be friends and family members that suggest alcohol rehab before the individual does.

How do you know if you need alcohol rehab? While alcoholism strikes each person differently, there are some common signs that will alert you as to whether you need alcohol rehab, such as:

Poor school or work attendance

Deterioration in performance, personal appearance, relationships

Hiding or minimizing the amount of alcohol consumed

Little appetite when drinking

Keeping a steady supply of alcohol available so you don’t run out

Spending considerable time planning to drink, drinking, or recovering from drinking

Avoiding functions where alcohol is not served

Keeping a steady level of alcohol in your system to avoid withdrawal symptoms

Drinking to ease withdrawal symptoms (shakiness, anxiety, tremors)
Any of these signs or a combination thereof indicates alcohol rehab is necessary. You may be aware there is a problem but are unwilling to admit it or you think you can handle it on your own. Alcoholism is a disease that is difficult to combat without professional help. Withdrawal from alcohol can be dangerous and even life-threatening, resulting in hallucinations and seizures. Entering alcohol rehab is not easy but ultimately, it can be the best decision you ever make for yourself of a loved one.

Alcohol depresses the Central Nervous System (CNS), which has a central role in the coordination of activity and control of behavior. This is why excessive alcohol intake results in impaired judgment, movement and behavior. Ceasing the presence of alcohol by going “cold turkey” after a prolonged period of drinking can cause the CNS to rebound too quickly, resulting in anxiety, nervousness, tremors, shakes and life-threatening seizures. Alcohol detox should always be medically supervised in order to ensure a safe withdrawal.

The process of going through alcohol detox results in a variety of symptoms that range from mild to severe. Mild withdrawal symptoms include typical hangover symptoms of headache, nausea, vomiting, perspiration, restlessness, agitation, loss of appetite and insomnia. But for the alcoholic who has been drinking heavily and consistently for a long period of time, severe withdrawal symptoms can include night sweats, night terrors, auditory or visual hallucinations, convulsions and the DTs (dilirium tremens). Fear of alcohol detox and the accompanying symptoms keeps many alcoholics drinking long after they know they need to stop. There are three types of alcohol detox available:

Cold Turkey

Cold turkey derived its name from the goose bumps that arise during the process of withdrawal from alcohol, drugs or nicotine.  You just stop drinking alcohol and white knuckle through the withdrawal symptoms as they come. It’s estimated that 1 in 4 people are at risk for a seizure if they choose to go cold turkey rather than receive medical care during alcohol detox.

Medical Detox

The safest form of alcohol detox is a medical detox. Individuals receive mild prescription medication to help ease them through the most dangerous phase of alcohol detox where the potential for seizure is greatest. Hospitals or drug rehab centers state-licensed for medical detox offer these services. Individuals undergoing medical detox receive medication in tapering amounts until their body is physically stabilized and they are able to enter an inpatient alcohol rehab program. This is the most prevalent and comfortable form of alcohol detox available.

NeuroTransmiter Restoration Therapy (NTR)

NeuroTransmiter Restoration Therapy (NTR) is a relatively new alcohol detox process offered by only a few select drug and alcohol rehabs in the United States. NTR utilizes an all-natural amino acid and mineral solution that coats the brain’s neurotransmitter receptor sites where most of the damage from drug and alcohol abuse occurs. This process stimulates the body’s cells to shift into repair mode, easing withdrawal symptoms, cravings and the fogginess that can accompany alcohol detox. In spite of its benefits, NTR is generally combined with medical detox as prescription medication is often necessary to ease alcoholic individuals past the danger stage when life-threatening convulsions can occur.

Okay, so now you’ve looked it in the eye and realize that you have an alcohol problem. You’ve decided what you need is help and you’ve decided to go to one of the alcohol detox centers in your community. This is a wise choice and I applaud your courage. Choosing to make a positive change in your life isn’t easy, but the fact that you’ve looked into alcohol rehab centers means you’re serious about sobriety.

When you check in to an alcohol rehab center, the first thing that will happen will be a medical checkup to make sure that you will get the medical support you need. You might have been drinking heavily enough to need a full detox program and the doctors at alcohol rehab centers know just how to help. Of course, you’ll stop drinking alcohol, and you might be given medications to help make your detox process more comfortable. After breaking the physical addiction, you will go on to the counseling process to learn coping skills and habits to support you in your new sobriety. Experienced counselors will facilitate both group and individual therapy to support you in your sobriety journey and help you on with your new, alcohol free life.

Alcohol Rehab Centers are the First Step

Once you’ve gone through your program at one of your alcohol rehab centers, you will often be recommended for an outpatient program or support group. These meetings are a great way to help ensure that you stay sober and are a good way to meet people with the common goal of sobriety. Every bit of support helps, so when an alcohol rehab center recommends a support group for you when you have been successful in the program, don’t be shy about following up. You want to remain sober and they are there to help.