Choosing to undergo residential rehab treatment for alcoholism or drug addiction is a life-changing decision.  The next step is finding a residential rehab facility.  Family members or friends are often the ones who select a residential rehab facility for a loved one who is suffering from addiction.  In order to get the most effective treatment possible, it's important to find a residential program that is the best fit for the individual who will be undergoing treatment.

Residential rehab treatment requires a full-time commitment.  Participants live at the treatment facility (hence the name 'residential') for a period that may vary from several weeks to several months.   Being comfortable in the surroundings is an important part of addiction recovery.

These are some of the things to look for when deciding on a residential rehab facility:

How is detoxification handled?

Detoxification, which is the process of physical withdrawal that occurs when an addict abstains from drugs or alcohol, may take place in the residential rehab facility or in a nearby medical facility.  Make sure you are comfortable with how detoxification is handled before choosing a treatment program.

Where is the residential rehab facility located?

Some people travel out of state for rehab treatment, while others stay closer to home.  Research residential rehab facilities in your area and decide if it makes more sense to relocate for rehab.  The main reasons for relocation are usually a lack of facilities near the patient's home or the need to remove the patient from a negative environment.

Are there lifestyle or disability issues that will affect treatment?

It is important that a rehab patient feels comfortable in his or her surroundings.  There are religious residential rehab programs as well as programs with a gay or lesbian focus.  If the patient has co-occurring disorders, such as clinical depression as well as substance abuse, a facility that treats both disorders should be chosen.

What is the patient's legal status?

People who are entering residential rehab under court order may be limited in their choice of facilities.  The patient's legal status should be disclosed to residential rehab administrators before treatment begins.  Some treatment programs will not accept clients who are under court order, while others specialize in treating these individuals.

Making a Final Decision

The best way to make a final decision about residential rehab is to visit each facility that you are considering.  This will allow you to tour the facility and interview counselors and administrators in person. Find out about post-detoxification counseling and the program's success rate.  Check the patient-to-counselor ratio and ask about counselor credentials.  It's also a good time to discuss the final cost of treatment, your level of insurance coverage and a schedule for payment.

Alcohol recovery is a life-long journey.  It begins when a drinker admits that he or she has a problem with alcohol and needs help.   Many people decide to stop drinking after an intervention by family and friends, or they may have experienced a traumatic event like a DUI arrest or an alcohol-related blackout.  Whatever the cause, a desire to become free from alcohol dependence is the beginning of the path to alcohol recovery.

Like diabetes and other chronic medical conditions, there is no cure for alcoholism.  Instead, it must be managed throughout a recovering alcoholic's lifetime.  The first step in alcohol recovery is detoxification, which is the term used to describe the psychological and physical withdrawal symptoms that can occur when a drinker abstains from alcohol.  For heavy drinkers, detox may be very difficult or even life-threatening and should only be attempted under a doctor's supervision.  The detox process can take up to two weeks, but it is only the beginning of alcohol recovery.

The next step on the path to alcohol recovery is treatment through an outpatient program or residential rehab.  To be effective, an alcohol treatment program must help the drinker break the cycle of alcohol dependence.  Successful treatment programs address the body, mind and spirit of the alcoholic in order to heal the physical and psychological craving for alcohol.  There is no quick fix for alcohol dependence, and most alcohol recovery programs last for at least 30 days.

Effective alcohol treatment programs use both individual counseling and group therapy to explore the causes of the drinker's unhealthy behavior and to break down feelings of isolation that alcohol dependence can bring.  The treatment program should help the drinker identify the triggers and stressors that lead to drinking.  It must also address other emotional and mental health conditions that have contributed to alcohol dependency, including depression, anxiety or trauma.  Following alcohol recovery treatment, the recovering alcoholic should be equipped with the necessary skills to avoid relapse.

The final step in alcohol recovery is aftercare, which is the term used for counseling that continues after recovery treatment is completed.  Aftercare helps ease the transition to a sober lifestyle.  It is also important for the family of a recovering alcoholic to receive aftercare counseling so they can help their loved one adjust to life after alcohol.

Undergoing alcohol recovery treatment helps those who are dependent on alcohol to recover their health and heal damaged relationships.  It provides hope and a new direction, allowing them to continue on the path of an alcohol-free life.

Friends and relatives of a person who is abusing or addicted to drugs often wonder if a drug intervention is in order.  The purpose of a drug intervention, which is a meeting between a drug abuser and people that the drug abuser can trust, is to confront a drug abuser about his or her behavior.  When is it time for a drug intervention?  The best time is when drug abuse is having a negative impact on the health and well-being of the abuser and on people who depend on and care about the abuser.

Waiting too long to plan a drug intervention can have catastrophic results.  Left untreated, drug abuse can become addiction and addiction can lead to overdose.  It may seem judgmental to step forward and confront a drug abuser or addict, but statistics show that most drug abusers and addicts will not seek treatment on their own.  Substance abuse puts an individual into a state of denial that blinds them to the crisis they are creating for themselves and their loved ones.

It's important to consult a drug intervention professional before initiating an intervention.  A professional interventionist can evaluate the situation and determine whether an intervention is in order.  Drug intervention is a serious process that should be initiated only under professional supervision.  When attempted without an interventionist, there is a risk of alienating the drug abuser and completely breaking down the lines of communication.

A professional drug interventionist will help determine who should be involved in the intervention – it may an entire group of family members and friends or just one or two.  Once it has been determined who will participate in the drug intervention, the interventionist can counsel everyone in preparation for the event.  Besides serving as the event organizer, the interventionist is an unbiased observer who can help everyone stay calm and focused.  Based on past experience with other drug interventions, the interventionist will know how to handle each individual drug abuse situation.

The DEA classifies crystal meth as a Schedule II controlled substance, which puts it at the same risk level as morphine and cocaine.  This means that crystal meth has a high potential for abuse leading to severe physical and psychological dependence.  Long-time crystal meth users suffer damage to all of the major systems of the body, as well as undergoing psychological changes that may include delusions, paranoia, violence and psychosis.  Due to the severity of these effects, a comprehensive crystal meth rehab program must address both the physical and psychological effects of crystal meth addiction.

The first step in crystal meth rehab is detox, which begins with total abstinence from crystal meth as well as from alcohol and other illicit drugs.   Rest and relaxation in an inpatient crystal meth rehab facility will help ease the transition from detox to therapy and recovery.  The detox experience can be intense, encompassing depression, insomnia and hallucinations.  Crystal meth changes how the brain experiences pleasure by releasing the chemical dopamine into the brain and damaging the dopamine receptors.  Other drugs also release dopamine, but methamphetamine does such at a much higher rate – up to four times higher than other stimulants like cocaine.  The damage to dopamine receptors can be reversed, but it takes time for the brain to heal itself.  Until the receptors regrow, the recovering addict will have difficulty experiencing pleasure without the drug.  To decrease depression and avoid the chance of relapse early in the crystal meth rehab process, an anti-depressant is often prescribed.

Once detox has been completed, the next step in crystal meth rehab involves treatment of the psychological effects of addiction.  The recovering crystal meth addict must cope with cravings for the drug.  Unhealthy behaviors must be eradicated and the personal problems that led to addiction should be dealt with.  In a successful crystal meth treatment program, the recovering addict is assisted in moving beyond the issues associated with crystal meth addiction and beginning a new life free of drugs and alcohol.

A drug intervention is never easy, but with the help of a professional interventionist and some careful planning, it can be one of the most important events in the life of a drug addict.  If not conducted correctly, an intervention can alienate the addict and may cause them to drop out of contact.  To avoid some common pitfalls here are some useful drug intervention tips to review if you are considering a drug intervention.

First and foremost, contact a professional interventionist.

A professional interventionist should be contacted to organize and guide the entire process.  The interventionist will evaluate the extent of the addict's problem and determine who should be present for the drug intervention.

Seek a safe place for intervention.

A drug intervention should be held in a safe, neutral environment.  It may be a familiar home or a public place, but it should be private.  Choosing a familiar location will help make everyone feel comfortable and protected during the intervention event.

Stay calm during the intervention.

Emotions can run high during a drug intervention.  The addict will deny there is a problem and try to make those who are intervening feel guilty.  Both the addict and those involved in the intervention are likely to express anger and resentment.  Be prepared for emotional outbursts and try to stay as calm as possible.

Follow through after the intervention is complete.

When a drug intervention is successful and the addict agrees to enter treatment, it is critically important that treatment begin immediately.  The interventionist will probably recommend that the addict go directly from the intervention meeting to a rehab facility.  Once treatment is started, family and friends should provide emotional support.  If the intervention is not completely successful and the addict does not agree to treatment, then consequences which were discussed in the intervention need to be carried out.

If an intervention fails, do not give up.

It is not uncommon for an initial drug intervention to be met with resistance on the part of the addict.  Denial runs deep among individuals who are addicted to drugs.  It may take repeated interventions to break through and change the addict's mind about treatment.

The drug intervention process has been proven to succeed because it confronts a drug addict with the impact of his or her behavior while at the same time showing that people care and want to see the addict get treatment.  A drug intervention is a life-affirming first step on the road to recovery and rebirth.  If you have a friend or loved one who has surrendered to addiction, drug intervention may be the only solution.

Drug addiction is a secret that many families find too painful to discuss.  There is also a strong sense of shame, especially for parents of young adults who have become addicted to deadly drugs like crystal meth and who refuse to seek treatment.  Journalist David Sheff put aside this shame in 2008 and wrote a memoir called Beautiful Boy about his son Nic.  Sheff, who Time Magazine listed as one of the most influential people of 2009, described how he and his family struggled with Nic's addiction and eventually convinced him to enter crystal meth rehab.

Sheff went public with his family's story in order to help other people who need crystal meth rehab.  "I realized the power of telling a story like this because if opens the doors to other people," said Sheff in an interview with Oprah Winfrey.  "It gives people permission to discuss it."

Nic's problems may have been triggered by his parents' divorce while he was still in elementary school.  His father thought he was a happy child, but by the time he was in middle school he had started drinking and was smoking marijuana every day.  As a teenager he used LSD, ecstasy and cocaine before trying crystal meth at age 18.  Like so many people who eventually need crystal meth rehab, Nic became addicted the first time he tried it.  A feeling of euphoria that lasted for hours was followed by a painful crash as the effects wore off.  After that, he used meth daily to avoid the pain of crashing.

Although Nic's parents knew he was in trouble, they were in denial about the extent of his crystal meth addiction and his need for rehab.  Before long Nic left home and began living as a meth addict on the streets, supporting his habit by dealing drugs and stealing.  According to Nic's father, "Methamphetamine stole his soul.  Our lives descended…into what can only be described as hell."

Nic agreed to enter crystal meth rehab only after experiencing meth-induced psychosis and being hospitalized for an overdose.  He has found that recovery is an ongoing process and that relapse is part of the journey to sobriety.  Now in his late twenties, he is more aware of the effect of his addiction on his parents and siblings and he has returned to rehab each time he relapsed.  Nic Sheff has also authored a book about his addiction entitled Tweak: Growing up on Methamphetamines.  Both David Sheff and his son Nic hope their story will other families who are on the journey to crystal meth rehab.

Crystal meth is one of the most addictive drugs sold on the street.  Because of the powerful euphoric high that the drug produces, many people become addicted the first time they try it.  Users of crystal meth often say that the drug boosts their self-confidence and makes them feel more attractive and desirable.  The reality is that without crystal meth treatment, users of the drug suffer a quick deterioration in appearance.  More than any other illicit drug, crystal meth addiction can be seen in the faces of those who use it.

Methamphetamine causes shrinkage of the blood vessels, reducing the flow of blood to all parts of the body.  After heavy crystal meth use, the vessels can be destroyed and tissue damaged.  Without crystal meth treatment, the body loses much of its ability to repair itself.  Slow-healing acne and sores appear on the skin.  The condition of the skin is worsened in many addicts by obsessive picking caused by a common delusion that there are bugs under the skin.

Crystal meth users quickly develop a condition known as "meth mouth" which is characterized by broken, stained and rotting teeth.  It has been proven that because crystal meth is smoked it destroys the teeth more quickly that other types of meth and that damage can occur in as little as three months of use.  There are several theories about the causes of meth mouth.  Some drug experts believe that the chemicals found in crystal meth erode the protective enamel coating from the teeth and that a combination of poor diet, bad hygiene and tooth-grinding leads to broken and rotted teeth.  It is also known that crystal meth inhibits the body's production of saliva, leading to further tooth decay.

Crystal meth is a stimulant the gives users a feeling of energy and suppresses the appetite.  Initially this may seem like a good way to lose weight, but without crystal meth treatment an addict will soon appear aged and gaunt.  Addicts feel more confident and desirable as a side effect of the drug, but ironically the drug is actually destroying their looks.  Before and after photos of crystal meth addicts show shocking changes in a matter of months.  Although many users experience an increased sex drive after smoking the drug, without crystal meth treatment their ability to perform and their desirability are severely impaired.

When alcoholism is left untreated, all of the major organs and systems of the body can eventually be affected.  The American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association and the World Health Organization define alcoholism as a disease.  This is because it has identifiable signs and symptoms that have a biological basis.  Without alcoholism rehab treatment, the disease will follow a predictable course and have a predictable outcome.  Alcoholism is recognized as the third leading cause of death in the U.S.  Because many alcohol-related deaths go undetected, the rate could actually be even higher.

The early physical changes from alcoholism are in a drinker's appearance.  The hands may shake if too much time passes between drinks.  Because alcohol disturbs REM sleep, the drinker may become nervous and irritable.  The skin may take on a jaundiced appearance, indicating the early stages of liver damage.  Poor circulation caused by alcoholism can cause the tips of the fingers to swell and the nose to increase in size and become red.

Over time, alcohol damages the brain.  It impairs short-term memory and may lead to blackouts and seizures.  Sleep disruption can lead to long-term insomnia and nightmares.  Delirium tremens symptoms which occur during alcohol withdrawal include extreme agitation, convulsions, seizures, delusions and hallucinations.

As alcoholism progresses, the gastrointestinal tract can be impacted.  Poor digestion, nausea, vomiting and recurrent diarrhea are signs of alcohol's affect on the stomach and intestinal tract.  Drinkers who avoid alcoholism rehab treatment may experience chronic abdominal pain and after a decade or more of heavy drinking may develop pancreatitis.  Bleeding ulcers and cirrhosis of the liver also occur in chronic drinkers who avoid alcoholism rehab.

The cardiovascular system can be damaged by chronic alcohol abuse.  In the early stages, heart palpitations are common.  Anemia and slow blood clotting are additional symptoms of how alcoholism can damage the cardiovascular system.  About 3% of alcoholics who resist alcoholism rehab develop heart disease and experience congestive heart failure.

The earliest symptoms of alcoholism are behavioral rather than physical.  Because alcoholism is a progressive disease, behavioral problems are eventually eclipsed by physical maladies.  If alcoholism is diagnosed and alcoholism rehab treatment is sought in the early stages, most of the serious medical problems described here can be avoided.