Alcohol Substance Abuse
How to Effectively Recover from Alcohol Substance Abuse
Is alcohol substance abuse really a problem? When do you know if it's just a simple case of drunkenness or a chronic problem which could destroy your life? Unfortunately, many people don't notice that they're already an alcoholic before it's too late. If you suspect that you have a drinking problem, hopefully you realize your addiction before you destroy your career, or worse, destroy your relationships with other people. If you suspect that you're suffering from substance abuse, check out the signs listed below.
You're treating alcohol as "fizz" or soda.
Sometimes, alcohol substance abuse isn't even triggered by personal problems and the wish to escape by drinking alcohol. Sometimes, alcoholism roots from plain and simple social drinking. Once you enjoy drinking alcoholic beverages too much and start consuming them no matter the time of day, you may be guilty of alcohol substance abuse.
Some people have a "night cap" or a light drink to cool down in the afternoons, but this is considered abusive if done on a daily basis and if it affects your behavior. Alcohol levels don't just make you feel more relaxed. Prolonged consumption of alcoholic drinks can lead to changes in your brain's structure, leading to long term behavioral abnormalities. The mildest form of these abnormalities is memory loss. At the very worst, you may become aggressive and even violent.
Night caps can be harmless until you find yourself inebriated all of the time and still crave for alcohol, even if you're hung over. You may not notice that you're suffering from the effects of alcohol substance abuse, but others will point it out to you. Unfortunately many alcoholics are also in denial, and they don't ask for help until their drinking problem has already caused problems for them.
You're treating alcohol as a ticket to escape.
People open a bottle of wine or champagne when celebrating. This is considered average social drinking. It's moderate, or controlled, and isn't the same as alcohol abuse. However, when you feel down and grow addicted to the seeming "high" or forgetfulness which getting drunk provokes, you're very prone to alcohol addiction.
Many individuals, especially teenagers, resort to drinking alcoholic beverages to "forget" problems. Adults do it too, especially when they're trying to forget about the stress of financial or family problems. Unfortunately, while the drinks may make you feel light headed, it's least likely to solve your problems for you.
Most people even worsen their problems by getting drunk, and getting drunk all the time will certainly not make things any easier for you. Some individuals get into accidents (and serious lawsuits) because they drive under the influence of alcohol. Some end up losing their jobs or getting kicked out of school because they drink before engaging in related activities. If you suspect someone of alcohol substance abuse, he or she might be so addicted to alcohol that she or he spikes everything, from coffee to juices, for no special reason.
What to do if you're an alcoholic.
If you're an alcoholic and you've just received your wake-up call (hopefully not from a very serious problem), you should contact an alcoholic help center listed on this website. You should get help as soon as you can before your drinking habits cause any more damage to your life and to the lives of the people around you. If your addiction to alcohol isn't severe, at the very least you'll be asked to attend group counseling sessions.
If your addiction is severe, you may require detox and in-patient programs at a rehab center you can trust. There's nothing to be afraid of when it comes to rehab centers. The in-patient programs are designed to help you get past your alcohol addiction, and help you cope with the real world without resorting to drinking.
Choosing a Facility
Questions to Ask When Choosing an Alcohol Substance Abuse Program Facility
If this is your first time seeking an alcohol substance abuse program 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 substance abuse 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 substance abuse program will help an alcoholic or addict to focus on themselves rather than their familiar surroundings.
- PRO- Going out of the area for alcohol substance abuse program 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 an alcohol substance abuse program 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 an alcohol substance abuse program 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 substance abuse program 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 Alcohol substance abuse program 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 substance abuse program facility 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 an alcohol substance abuse program, if time and your schedule permits, then it is recommended that one 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 substance abuse program 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.
