The social model of alcohol and drug recovery in California has evolved through several generations to what we know as today’s model. Social model programs emphasize the process of learning through ‘‘doing’’ and ‘‘experiencing’’ and providing positive role models. Social model programs are cost effective and outcome effective because of their ability to build strong and lasting social support systems.

The roots of modern social model are in the mutual self-help concepts of Alcoholics Anonymous. Individuals
struggling with early sobriety often were temporarily homeless and in need of social support systems. members of Alcoholics Anonymous would often house newer members and act as guides by sharing their own experiences. Since Alcoholics Anonymous, according to its “Traditions,” could not be involved in support systems, it became a movement of its own. When public support began to flow into these recovery homes, they became more formalized with program standards and facility licensing.

An example of social model includes Recovery Homes, which are community-based, peer-group oriented, residential facilities that provide food, shelter, and recovery services in a supportive, non-drinking, drug-free environment. Services provided include individual and group recovery planning, alcohol and  drug recovery education, group support, recreational activities, assistance in obtaining health, social, vocational and other community services.

Typically, the home is cheerful, warm and accepting, and provides an environment in which the recovering alcoholic or addict has the opportunity to make a positive change in lifestyle with an alcohol- and drug-free environment and positive role models.

The major goal of a recovery home is to provide an environment in which men and women recovering from alcoholism and drug addiction will experience a sober, functioning lifestyle, and return to the community as a responsible drug-free individual.

A nonresidential Social Model Program is a community-based program that provides a sober supportive environment, offers services to persons with alcohol- or drug-related problems, and educates the surrounding
community concerning such problems in order to reduce alcohol- or drug-related problems including alcoholism or drug addiction.

It is a most terrible fact that alcohol or other drug addiction can even affect not only addicts themselves but also their family or loved ones. Thus, alcohol rehabilitation programs become ever more important. Whether you’re calling an alcohol rehab line on behalf of someone close to you, or you’re making the important step yourself, you’ll always be able to find a person or organization that’s willing to help you through your ordeal.Whether you’re seeking in-house treatment or you’d prefer to be treated at home, most alcohol rehabilitation clinics and groups will encourage the use of particular alcohol rehabilitation programmes. The most popular rehabilitation programmes in use include the twelve step program, therapeutic community alcohol rehabilitation, religious based alcohol rehabilitation and medical model alcohol rehabilitation. However, in the UK, the most common form of alcohol rehabilitation is the twelve step program.

Originally developed by Alcoholics Anonymous in the USA,

The twelve step alcohol rehabilitation program requires the addict to make a series of developments, the first of which is admitting to a powerlessness over alcohol and coming to believe in a Higher Power - whether that Higher Power is one’s own God or another power of one’s own understanding. While the twelve step program has come under some criticism, it still remains one of the most popular and effective methods of alcohol rehabilitation; providing an excellent way for people from a range of faiths, as well as atheists and agnostics, to overcome the problem of alcohol addiction.

Importantly, all alcohol rehabilitation centers and programmes share certain key features - in both a psychological and education sense. Rehabilitation clinics treat drug and alcohol addiction as an illness, helping patients overcome this illness and return to a healthy life. In general, alcohol rehabilitation programmes will last from one month to nine months. While some people will prefer to have community (home) treatment, research has shown that residential alcohol treatments present a higher probability of a successful outcome than the former. However, residential alcohol rehabilitation clinics also tend to treat patients with a more severe pattern of addiction.

As a result, many people in need of alcohol rehabilitation will choose private residential alcohol treatments over community treatment. Residential alcohol treatment is also beneficial because it allows the patient to choose a location in which they’d like to treat their alcoholism. For example, few of the alcohol rehabilitation services available on the internet, which also provide private residential alcohol treatment in locations across South Africa and UK.