Alcohol is a socially acceptable drug found at sporting events and celebrations all over the world. Unfortunately, it’s also found in the majority of traffic accidents and domestic violence incidents. Alcohol infiltrates life for better or worse but for the person who is in the grips of alcoholism, it will only get worse.

Alcohol use can spiral into alcohol abuse, alcohol dependency and alcoholism. These are all labels with varying degrees of consequences. Someone may initially start drinking for fun and then find they start drinking to cope with life’s difficulties - a divorce, a death, a job loss or any other major transition. These life-changing events can be the catapult to alcohol abuse. Once alcohol becomes a way to cope, it’s a slippery slope that can lead straight into alcoholism. People who depend on alcohol soon become physically and psychologically addicted. They may have the best intentions to quit but the overwhelming desire for alcohol soon overpowers their good intentions and they drink again. This is why it generally takes professional help at an alcohol rehab in order to arrest alcoholism.

Many people struggle with the idea of being an alcoholic and this label alone can keep them from getting the help they need. It doesn’t matter whether you want to label it alcohol abuse, alcohol dependency or alcoholism, reliance on alcohol to cope with life is a problem that only gets worse. While these various labels can be confusing for someone who is attempting to diagnose whether they or a loved one needs help, the bottom line remains unchanged - If alcohol is causing problems with your health, relationships, work, school or any other major responsibilities that affect your ability to live a healthy, functional life then it’s time to consider alcohol treatment.

The good news is that alcoholism can be treated for those willing to get help and there are hundreds of resources available on this website that offer it. If you or a loved on are caught in the grips of alcoholism, don’t despair. Alcohol treatment is available all over the nation. Many people have overcome their alcohol abuse and you can too.

The terms alcoholism and alcohol dependency are often used interchangeably. While both indicate a physical reliance upon alcohol, alcohol dependency is characterized by a dependence upon alcohol that results in physical withdrawal symptoms while alcoholism is an addiction to alcohol characterized by marked behavioral problems due to prolonged and excessive harmful use.

This may seem like splitting hairs and it’s likely only a trained professional could be able to differentiate between alcohol dependency and alcoholism. While the marked difference is characterized by behavioral and personality patterns, in all likelihood alcohol dependency is merely a precursor to alcoholism. No one can tell when the invisible line will be crossed.

Someone experiencing alcohol dependency can be said to be physically dependent upon alcohol and will suffer withdrawal symptoms when alcohol leaves their system. These symptoms can range from mild to severe, resulting in headache, nausea, tremors, irritability, insomnia and anxiety. A higher level of dependency will result in more severe withdrawal symptoms, such as night sweats, night terrors, hallucinations, delirium tremens (DTs) and seizures.

Its important to not get too caught up in the differences between alcohol dependency and alcoholism. The best judge is not a professional but your own experience. If you are suffering serious consequences from your alcohol use that is jeopardizing your health, relationships, work, school, responsibilities, opportunities or the ability to live a happy and functional life, it’s time to ask for help. Alcohol dependency, alcoholism and addiction in general carries the major symptom of denial. When confronted with their alcohol or drug usage, most people in the grip of addiction will deny there is a problem. It usually takes friends and family members to encourage those in the grips of alcohol dependency or alcoholism to get help.

If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol, don’t wait. Talking to a professional can help you make the decision necessary to save your life.

Alcohol abuse may start innocently enough. Letting off steam on the weekends, sporting events where you tie on a few too many, grabbing a buddy to hit the bar scene after a break-up. No one intentionally sets out to engage in alcohol abuse or set the stage for alcoholism, but all too often that’s exactly what happens.

There’s a lot of misconceptions swirling around about the notion of alcohol abuse and alcoholism. While alcohol abuse is often a precursor to alcoholism, this is not always the case. Someone can abuse alcohol and not be an alcoholic. The difference lies in the genetic make-up of each individual. People predisposed to alcoholism have a genetic predisposition that results in processing alcohol differently than others. This makes it difficult for them to stop drinking once they start. This phenomenon is known as craving. Craving for alcohol occurs on a mental and physical level, and can be so intense in alcoholics that everything else goes out the window. Work, school, relationships, responsibilities - all have been known to fall by the wayside in order to satisfy the craving for alcohol.

This is a considerable difference from someone who may begin drinking heavily after the loss of a loved one. Major life trauma or transitions can lead an individual to abuse alcohol in order to cope with grief and stress. While this is not the healthiest behavior, neither does it mean someone is an alcoholic. The best indicator is life management. If someone drinks, even heavily, but maintains significant responsibilities such as family, work, school and health, then counseling may be a more appropriate course of action than alcohol rehab. However, if after a period of time alcohol abuse continues instead of abates, then professional help to determine whether alcohol rehab is necessary should be sought.

Where alcohol abuse generally occurs in response to life situations, alcoholism is a set of behavioral and personality problems that lends itself to drinking regardless of the circumstances. In any event, if you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol abuse or alcoholism it’s a good idea to seek professional help. A counselor, therapist or intake coordinator at an alcohol rehab can help evaluate your alcohol use and determine whether you need the structured environment of alcohol rehab to overcome it.

Most people who enter alcohol and drug rehab need alcohol or drug detox. It’s normal for people to continue drinking or taking drugs up to the day they enter drug or alcohol treatment. This is not only because they enjoy the effect, but also because by the time someone goes into alcohol or drug rehab the withdrawal symptoms are likely to be bad enough to encourage them to keep using.

Alcohol and Drug Detox Options

Some alcohol and drug detox centers offer more options than others. Some will have their own state-licensed facilities while others may contract with private companies or hospitals to provide medical detox.

Medical detox generally uses a mild form of medication to safely ease a person off of alcohol or drugs with as little discomfort as possible. Going through detox from alcohol or benzodiazepines can result in severe withdrawal symptoms, such as hallucinations or life-threatening seizures. It is always advised that someone coming into alcohol and drug rehab with these addictions receive a medical detox. Some alcohol and drug detox centers also offer holistic therapies during this process, such as acupuncture and massage, to stimulate the body to help release toxins and minimize withdrawal symptoms.

It is never recommended that individuals go “cold-turkey” off alcohol or drugs. As mentioned, this could result in life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. Some likely symptoms for withdrawal from alcohol, benzodiazepines and opiate-based drugs (codeine, hydrocodone, morphine, oxycontin, heroin) include headaches, nausea, body-aches, night sweats, night terrors, restlessness, insomnia, hallucinations and in extreme cases, convulsions. Withdrawal from stimulants such as cocaine, crack and methamphetamines generally results in heavy fatigue, depression and in severe cases, suicidal thoughts. A lot of rest is required in the initial days of detox. Medical detox serves as the safest form of withdrawal from drugs and alcohol for most drugs.

Alcohol and Drug Detox for You

Inquire about the best alcohol and drug detox for you prior to deciding on a treatment center. Some facilities may require that you arrive at check-in already detoxed. Others may offer a state-licensed facility on site. Find out what kind of detox options they have and make sure you’re comfortable with it. Remember, alcohol and drug detox is the first step toward a healthy new life in sobriety. Don’t short-change yourself and suffer through the withdrawal process if you don’t have to. It could make all the difference between staying sober and falling back into alcoholism or drug addiction.

Most people have a preconceived idea or a set of expectations for drug rehab. Some of these may be unrealistic, such as expecting that drug rehab is a cure-all and once you leave, you’re cured. Others have low expectations, believing that a drug rehab center is just a step up from a homeless shelter. Whatever your drug rehab expectations, the best way to address them is to call a variety of drug rehabs and talk to intake coordinators.

What Can You Expect from Drug Rehab?

You can expect that a drug rehab can help you. After all, that’s what a drug rehab is for! This is accomplished through providing a few things that you’re not likely to get if you don’t enter drug rehab.

You can expect that drug rehab offers a safe, supportive and sober environment with 24 hour supervision to keep you drug and alcohol-free. In spite of your best intentions, when you are just getting sober and going through the sometimes uncomfortable withdrawal process it can take everything in your power not to reach for drugs or alcohol on your own. A drug rehab environment ensures that you are sober long enough to go through the worst of the withdrawal symptoms and cravings in a safe environment with support around you to help you through it.

You can expect that a drug rehab is staffed with professionals who have training, experience and credentials in treating people who struggle with alcoholism and drug addiction. Many people who work in a drug rehab center have successfully recovered from addiction and earned credentials in counseling, psychology or marriage & family therapy in order to help others do the same. Doctors such as clinical therapists, psychiatrists and medical personnel are often on staff at drug rehab centers, along with holistic practitioners in therapies such as acupuncture, massage, meditation and yoga.

You can expect that a drug rehab center will educate you on the disease of addiction. Educational modules on the effects of drugs and alcohol on the mind and the body are usually presented along with relapse prevention and how triggers, old patterns and behaviors can trip up your recovery.

You can expect that a drug rehab center will introduce you to a support group, whether it’s 12-step based or faith-based. This is a traditional means of support once you leave drug rehab.

What You Cannot Expect from Drug Rehab

You cannot expect a drug rehab to cure you. It’s not like taking a pill for 30 days that makes you immune to drugs and alcohol forever. Some people are ready to get sober and some aren’t. If you are, drug rehab can be an extremely rewarding time for you. If you’re not, drug rehab expectations may fail you. This doesn’t mean that it won’t be successful at some level. Talking to an intake coordinator at a drug rehab center can help answer your questions on whether your drug rehab expectations are realistic and find the one that will be most rewarding for you.