Alcohol Rehab Programs
Understanding the Principles behind Successful Alcohol Rehab Programs
Excessive alcohol drinking can deeply affect the behavior of any individual. For some, alcohol drinking is a social norm. You just pop a bottle of champagne to celebrate and to loosen up. For others, however, it's a band-aid solution to problems. When some drink alcohol, they're supposedly "numbed" from emotional pains. Although what many think is a remedy to their problems, is actually a source of greater problems in the long run.
As with other substances, abusive alcohol drinking can cause you to lose your job or damage your relationships with other people. Unfortunately, not everyone welcomes the idea of going into alcohol rehab programs because of the social stigma attached to such treatments. If you think you may be depending too much on alcohol and your excessive drinking is already causing problems with your career or your personal relationships, it may be time for a paradigm shift.
There are good alcohol rehab programs out there.
If you know you have a drinking problem and you know you can't control the amount of alcohol you take in, how can you be sure that you can recover from alcohol addiction on your own? The first step to your recovery is to recognize that you do have a problem. The second is to admit that you cannot overcome the addiction on your own, and there may be an alcohol rehab program available that might just help you out of the rut you've created.
To find the right alcohol rehab program to treat your specific drinking problem, you should look for centers that don't treat the addiction like a "standard" problem. Not all alcoholics are triggered to drink excessively by the same factors, and not all of alcoholics have the same personalities.
Effective alcohol rehab programs take into account things aside from the drinking problem itself. There are some cases when alcohol dependence is caused by a deeper behavioral disorder. If this is the case, the center should have experts who can diagnose the right treatment for the real problem.
Holistic Treatments
When we speak of rehabilitation, some people perceive band-aid solutions that would make a patient seem better for a few months, but regress to their old habits once the triggers have been reset. Successful alcohol rehabs offer more than just band-aid solutions. They understand the time it takes for a person to recover, and that regressions may always happen in the future. This is why they arm patients to fight these regressions.
There are several stressors that can trigger a patient to return to alcoholic behaviors. One is peer pressure, and the other, the sheer abundance of alcohol in public places like grocery stores. Responsible rehab programs take these stressors into account and teach patients strategies to fight off these triggers.
To ensure the effectiveness of the rehabilitation program, most centers encourage the patient's family and close friends to become the individual's "out-patient" support system. Both individual and group counseling is also extended to the patient even after his release from the rehab center.
Choosing a Facility
Questions to Ask When Choosing a Facility for Alcohol Rehab Programs
If this is your first time seeking alcohol rehab programs for yourself or a loved one, it would be helpful to know which questions to ask when searching for possible programs.Recovery Now TV will guide you in making the most appropriate decision based on your individual needs.
When researching alcohol rehab programs, consider the questions below to help guide you to making the most appropriate decision for treatment:
- Will the facility work with your health insurance company? If you have health insurance, please click here or scroll to the bottom of the page to access the complete Insurance Guidance Information page.
- Where is the facility located? Oftentimes facilities will urge you to travel out of your area to receive treatment. Consider the list of pros and cons below for traveling out of the area for treatment.
Treatment out of the area-
- PRO- Getting out of the area for alcohol rehab programs will help an alcoholic or addict to focus on themselves rather than their familiar surroundings.
- PRO- Going out of the area for alcohol rehab programs creates a mindset where a client is taking a journey for their recovery.
- PRO- If the going gets tough in treatment, a distance between the home and the treatment facility might affect a person's decision to not give up and to stay in treatment.
- CON- Going to alcohol rehab programs out of the area puts distance between you and your loved ones. Most treatment programs offer a family component and a long distance could make it difficult for supportive family and friends to participate in the treatment program.
- CON- Going to alcohol rehab programs out of the area might make it difficult to return to the home environment. If you choose to go out of the area for treatment, it is crucial to make sure that the treatment facility has a discharge planning process which includes assistance in finding outpatient and Twelve Step Support systems for when you return home.
- What governing body is the treatment facility licensed through? All alcohol rehab programs providing therapeutic services and treatment planning, must be licensed by a State governing body. If one of the facilities that you are considering is NOT part of the RecoveryNowTV network, then you will need to make sure that the facility is licensed through the state.
- Is the facility accredited? If so, what is the accreditation agency governing the facility? Accreditation is a true sign of a quality and safety assurance plan for a facility. While accreditation is not mandatory for a facility, it does provide a higher level of standards for a facility to adhere to. The two major accrediting bodies are The Joint Commission (JCAHO) and Commission on Accreditation of Rehab Facilities (CARF). Both accrediting organizations ensure that the facility actively participates in rigorous quality and safety improvement protocols.
- What does a typical day entail? Ask the alcohol rehab programs facility to go through the daily schedule and feel free to ask questions of each item on the schedule. This will give you an understanding of all of the services offered. This will allow you to take full advantage of the treatment protocols being offered.
- What is the price of the treatment? Are there additional costs over and above the stated cost? Is there a daily rate? Is there an early termination policy?
- Is there an extended care program? When searching for alcohol rehab programs, if time and your schedule permits, then it is recommended to enter an extended care program or a structured sober living environment. This will ensure that the re-entry back into daily living is a safe transition. Many programs offer a step-down or sober living program which includes mandatory Twelve Step participation, curfews, and drug testing.
- Is there a program in place for relapse? It is important to know if the alcohol rehab programs will support you during a relapse. Many programs have relapse prevention or a refresher course in case of a relapse. Although many people do not want to consider readmitting to a treatment facility, it is important to know that your treatment program will support you if you have a relapse.
