Alcohol Rehab Centres

Alcohol use disorder, also known as an alcohol addiction, is a disorder which can affect any individual.

Addiction is known as a non-discriminatory disease for this reason, as any individual may begin to struggle with addiction based on their environment and personal factors.

With alcohol use disorder, alcohol begins to alter the way the brain is wired, reshaping the neural connections between areas of the brain most commonly associated with addiction.

This chemical is often associated with addictive behaviours, as it regulates areas in the brain responsible for these behaviours.

For example, in long-term cases of alcohol addiction, individuals may begin to see changes in their motivation, anxiety levels, and mood regulation.

These are all areas associated with serotonin, its production, and its regulation within the brain and body.

Why do People Become Addicted to Substances?

Any individual is subject to struggling with an addiction, but there may also be many reasons why someone may develop an addiction in the first place.

Individuals seeking alcohol rehab centres have a wide range of stories and individual situations, each requiring a different level of care and rehabilitation than any other case.

In many cases, alcohol is turned to as a form of coping.

If an individual is unhappy in their life, for reasons relating to careers, relationships, responsibilities, or world events, then they may begin to consume large amounts of alcohol to temporarily improve their mood.

Over time, this can lead to an addiction.

In addition, many addictions are developed as a result of initial recreational usage which may quickly turn into an addictive habit.

This can be worsened by the presence of peer pressure and other related pressuring factors.

Alcohol Rehab

Alcohol rehab can be undergone as part of a residential alcohol rehab centre, or through outpatient care.

This is the process in which individuals learn to overcome their addiction and work towards the maintenance of long-term abstinence.

The three stages of rehab, as well as the goals of alcohol rehab centres, are covered in greater detail later in this article.

Through rehab, individuals will receive specialised and expert addiction care, utilising a range of therapy sessions, a suitable detox process, and any medical supervision they may require on their journey to recovery.

Based on the individual’s alcohol intake, their history of addiction, and the severity of their symptoms, they will require different levels of care as well as specific medical and personal needs and requirements.

Rehab 4 Alcoholism’s referral programme takes into account all of these factors, coming up with solutions (including those within alcohol rehab centres) that are most suited to each individual, not a ‘one size fits all’ approach.

Alcohol Addiction Can Destroy Your Life

Individuals struggling with an addiction may only begin to seek help once their struggle with alcohol has worsened.

Unfortunately, in many of these cases, this is when the individual has a final realisation that their addiction is affecting other areas of their life.

Only then do people decide it must be treated before any long-term alcohol abuse does permanent damage – either physically or mentally.

Some of these key realisations that lead to entering alcohol rehab are listed below:

Financial strain – the cost of consuming large quantities of alcohol is ever-increasing, and without treating cravings for alcohol and its associated issues, the individual will continue to spend more and more of their funds on acquiring more alcohol. Addiction is also a strain on total disease stats across countries, sometimes making the categorisation of alcohol-related diseases more challenging (1)
Relationship difficulties – those close to the individual i.e., close friends and family, may not approve of the individual’s addiction, having a lack of understanding in some cases. This can cause fallings-out, arguments, and general relationship decay
Suffering work performance – either at work or at school, the effects of an addiction to alcohol are likely to overwhelm the individual, perhaps causing them to spend less time on work, taking less care of their duties, and other factors which lead to a general decrease in work performance

When to get Alcohol Addiction Help

If you believe yourself or someone you know to be struggling with any of the issues mentioned above as a result of an addiction to alcohol, please do not hesitate to get in contact with support as soon as possible.

Determining whether or not someone may be struggling with an addiction or not is challenging. Luckily, there are some tools that can be used to assist in this.

For example, the CAGE questionnaire is one of the most commonly used diagnostic tools in the modern field of addiction (2).

It assesses four areas:

Cutting down – do you wish to cut down on the amount of alcohol you are consuming?
Annoyance – does the criticism of others over your drinking habits annoy you?
Guilty feelings – do you experience feelings of guilt over your alcohol consumption?
Eye openers – do you have a drink first thing in the morning in order to function normally or to recover from a hangover?

Answering yes to two or more of these questions above can indicate an alcohol dependence and further support will be recommended.

What are my options for alcohol rehab?

The challenges of coping with addiction alone are sometimes overwhelming, so beginning to find suitable rehabilitative care and commencing a recovery journey can also be incredibly challenging.

Especially in the case of individuals who may be seeking alcohol rehab centres and further rehabilitative care for the first time, knowing which forms and styles of care may be most effective can be a daunting concept.

However, there are generally two forms of rehabilitative care that individuals can choose from at the beginning of their journey towards rehabilitation.

These two forms are outlined in the following two paragraphs.

1. Outpatient Rehab

Individuals who choose to continue with rehabilitative care received outside of a residential rehab centre are said to be undergoing outpatient treatment.

Activities in outpatient treatments are often the same as those found within a private rehab centre although they may not be as specialised, regular, or flexible as those found within residential treatment centres.

This is because outpatient care is not always as well-funded as the treatments within alcohol rehab treatment centres.

This leads to a lack of tailor-made addiction treatment programmes, irregular or rare therapy sessions, and occasionally a more ‘one size fits all’ approach.

Alcohol treatment centres are not for everyone, meaning that outpatient care is the most suitable and effective form of care for those who may not have the means or the suitability for residential care.

In addition, this form of care is also the most suitable for those who may have a shorter history of addiction or for those who may prefer a more independent approach to care.

2. Inpatient Treatment Centres

On the other hand, individuals may opt to enter private residential alcohol rehab centres – also known as inpatient care.

In general, and for most cases, these centres are known to be the most effective form of rehabilitation for those struggling with an addiction to alcohol or other substances.

This is because of their specialisation, flexibility, and resources available within each centre.

When an individual enters a residential rehab centre, they will be given a tailored and specific addiction treatment programme for their individual addiction and its associated effects.

Having been previously discussed in an initial assessment (and any additional assessment process) the individual will then progress with this course of treatment throughout their stay.

Who Benefits From Alcohol Rehab?

Although it is not set in stone, alcohol rehab centres are generally suggested to individuals who are consuming around 20 or more units of alcohol a day.

In addition, alcohol addiction treatment centres are specialised in supporting individuals who may have already developed serious health risks that may impact their ability to recover.

Examples of these risks include serious mental health issues, body tremors, liver disease, and vital organ complications.

All of these may impact an individual undergoing rehabilitation. This is why, in these cases, alcohol rehab centres are the first place that these individuals are recommended.

With a safe and secure environment, as well as around-the-clock care, these centres are the best place for individuals to be when they are struggling with additional and extraneous issues.

Goals of Rehab

Through Rehab 4 Alcoholism’s referral programme, all suggestions and advice given will be in line with the abstinence approach to addiction recovery.

As an overall aim of residential rehab and additional outpatient treatments, an individual’s rehab journey should focus on withdrawing from the substance and aiming to stop consumption as soon as possible.

This is the most effective approach to an individual’s journey towards rehabilitation as it provides a host of health and social benefits (i.e., improved sleep quality and relationships).

Other approaches such as moderation management and harm reduction have far lower success rates, and abstinence is not generally encouraged through most of these approaches.

Harm reduction, for example, aims to reduce the negative effects of an addiction e.g., effect on family, harmful withdrawal effects etc. without focussing directly on the addiction and its origins – the more beneficial approach to care.

It is generally considered to be a lower impact approach to care than others such as abstinence (3).

The next three paragraphs outline the three key stages of rehab.

1. Detox

The detox phase is the first stage of the rehabilitation process through any programme recommended through Rehab 4 Alcoholism.

Either through a medical detox unit or clinic, through an alcohol home detox, or any other alcohol detox programme, this is the stage in which the individual stops consumption of the substance and begins to experience withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawal symptoms are the by-product of the body removing all the harmful and unneeded chemicals and toxins in the body that are produced as a result of addiction.

Detoxification provides the chance for individuals to clean out their bodies physically as well as prepare mentally for the stages of rehab following this.

2. Therapy

Also known as the bulk of rehabilitation, this is where individuals will undergo most of their treatment programmes, therapies, and other forms of addiction activity as part of their daily routine.

Through structured programmes such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), group talking therapy, and individual counselling, individuals will learn more about their addiction, its origins, and how it is and has affected them over the period of their addiction.

By learning more about their addiction, individuals will be able to come up with better coping mechanisms and tools after rehab, leaving them in the best possible position for leaving care.

This can also be combined with relapse risk prevention as part of a comprehensive treatment.

3. Aftercare

Referring to any rehabilitative support received once the individual is ready to leave the alcohol rehab centre, aftercare is the third stage of rehabilitation.

As a way to facilitate life after rehab, aftercare aims to continue providing support to those who need it.

Most residential centres offering up to a year or more of complimentary aftercare to individuals who undergo a treatment programme within their centres.

Extensive aftercare programmes can also be sought by those undergoing outpatient addiction treatment by contacting the individual’s rehabilitation service provider as well as by contacting Rehab 4 Alcoholism directly.

Common aftercare programmes include regular meetings with an addiction support officer, enrolments into addiction support networks, and further independent learning opportunities.

This includes SMART (Self-Management and Recovery Training) (4).

Aftercare should always be discussed as part of the initial assessment and not after beginning any treatment programmes.

It is important to know exactly what kind of care the individual will be receiving, how, and when.

Advice for Loved Ones

If you know someone who you believe to be struggling with an addiction to alcohol, then there are some things to keep in mind while approaching a conversation with a loved one.

Some of these are listed below:

Listen – this may sound obvious but practising active listening while the individual explains their situation, their symptoms, or their issues is a great way to help the individual feel safer in their admissions and generally support the relationship
Don’t assume anything – just because you have seen the individual consuming large quantities of alcohol or seen the effect that this may be having on their life does not mean that any conclusions can be drawn. By not jumping to conclusions and assumptions, you are showing the individual that you are accepting of their situation and the reason for its development
Be mindful – addiction can affect an individual severely, so being prepared for a deep and honest conversation is the best way to show support in this situation. Patience, understanding, and not putting across any negative judgments are all essential parts as well

How Does Rehab Support the Family of The Alcohol Addict?

Within alcohol rehab centres themselves, there are countless ways in which the friends and family of the individual struggling with addiction can be supported during difficult times.

At Rehab 4 Alcoholism, we understand that addiction directly impacts the individual, but indirectly impacts those around them.

For this reason, family drug support is one of the most common therapies that we provide referrals for.

During these family drug support sessions, individuals will share their experiences of addiction with those around them, helping others to see how the addiction has affected them and how this may be best solved.

When progressed over a long period of time, as well as with the presence of a counsellor for mediation, these sessions can build relationships and boost connections.

This leaves both parties with a sense of understanding of what the other is going through and how they can invite new changes into their lives together.

Alcohol Addiction Treatment Programme

Though not every individual will experience the same alcohol addiction treatment programmes as others, there are some that are more commonly prescribed than others due to their usefulness and uniqueness in the field of addiction treatment.

A few of the most common residential treatment programmes found in alcohol rehab centres are outlined below.

1. Twelve Step Programmes

As one of the most popular and discussed treatment options, twelve-step programmes (TSF) are often thought of purely for religious individuals.

This is not always the case, though TSF does have a strong focus on the belief in a higher being and their ability to assist the individual in the acceptance of their addiction, its effects, and their motivation in their journey towards recovery.

Developed by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), this programme works best in conjunction with these groups as it allows for the sharing of progress as well as shared learning among individuals.

2. Mindfulness/Emotion Regulation

As a more holistic approach to care, individuals across alcohol rehab centres are being increasingly exposed to treatments such as meditation, yoga, and general mindfulness.

These activities are specifically designed to help individuals who may also be struggling with mental health issues.

Working with their individual requirements to develop coping mechanisms, this therapy helps to a come to an inner understanding of addiction, how it has affected the individual, and how they are going to overcome this.

Similar holistic therapies also include such treatments as art, music, adventure, and equine therapy.

3. Dual Diagnosis

Dual diagnosis is one of the most vital approaches to rehabilitation that must be followed in order to have the best chance of success.

This is because dual diagnosis refers to the diagnosis of multiple disorders in one assessment.

For example, an individual may be diagnosed with addiction, but they may also be diagnosed with an additional mental health issue at the same time.

The most common co-occurring mental health disorders include anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.

By treating both the physical and mental aspects of an individual’s health, they will have a far higher chance of success as well as maintaining abstinence in the long-term.

Why Is Residential Alcohol Rehab Seen as the Best Solution?

As well as the many other benefits to private residential rehab centres, there are many more reasons why an individual should strongly consider private rehabilitative care.

Some of these are outlined below:

Expert staff – residential rehab centres hire experts in the field of addiction, meaning that the best of care is always provided to those who need it.
24/7 support – no matter the time of day, the individual is able to access medical, social, and any other form of support they may need.
Preparation for life outside of rehab – as well as an aftercare programme, residential centres prepare individuals for life outside of rehab in the best way possible. Going from residential rehab back to the individual’s life in their local area can be daunting – something that centres understand and strive to support

What Happens After Rehab?

After leaving alcohol rehab centres, as well as undergoing any aftercare programmes that the individual may require, it is expected that individuals will continue to try and uphold what they have learned in rehab.

This includes abstaining from alcohol as well as the continued learning and treatment of any long-term addiction-related issues as well as maintaining motivation to continue rehabilitation long into the future.

Addiction can never be completely cured, but with the right addiction treatment programme, engagement, and motivation, any individual is capable of recovering.

By creating coping mechanisms and tools to deal with their addiction into the long-term, even after leaving rehabilitation, their success is significantly increased.

References

[1] Andlin-Sobocki, P. and Rehm, J., 2005. Cost of addiction in Europe. Eur J Neurol, 12(Suppl 1), pp.28-33.

[2] Bush, B., Shaw, S., Cleary, P., Delbanco, T.L. and Aronson, M.D., 1987. Screening for alcohol abuse using the CAGE questionnaire. The American journal of medicine, 82(2), pp.231-235.

[3] Marlatt, G.A., 1996. Harm reduction: Come as you are. Addictive behaviors, 21(6), pp.779-788.

[4] Beck, A.K., Forbes, E., Baker, A.L., Kelly, P.J., Deane, F.P., Shakeshaft, A., Hunt, D. and Kelly, J.F., 2017. Systematic review of SMART Recovery: Outcomes, process variables, and implications for research. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 31(1), p.1.