Alcoholic Rehab Centers

Because many people often drink wine or beer with a meal, it isn't always easy to tell if you or someone you are close to has a drinking problem and my require an alcoholic rehab center.Some signs that can be helpful to think about for yourself or to seek about someone else are below:

A) Is the drinking done alone? If so, how frequently.

B) Is alcohol your stress reliever after work or after an uncomfortable phone conversation?

C) Are people telling you that you are drinking too much or more than used to drink?

D) Do you find yourself minimizing the amount you drink when others ask you about it?

These are questions to look at and face yourself honestly about and to ask someone if you are close with them and suspect a growing alcohol dependency problem is growing.

Alcoholics Anonymous has a successful track record and is very useful for many people. There is a strong support aspect and spiritual dimension and the 12 step program is used now in many other contexts as well. Depending on one's temperament, will power and degree of severity, an alcohoic rehab center may be more effective for certain people. They can also be attended after a residential treatment program is completed.

Alcoholic rehab centers are safe environments run by professionals where you will face yourself usually in both individual and group therapy. There are different philosophies for different centers so it is good to study each a bit to see how it would work with your own personality. Some are run by former addicts who can personally relate to the struggles. After treatment is over it is good to join a support group like Alcoholics Anonymous in order to keep your committment to stay sober and to be able to process the various temptations that can come up. Family support is terrific but can also be part of the problem and there is much written about the concept of enabling.

One of the most difficult thing for many people is to accept that they need help. It can take a little time for your armor to be broken down at an alcoholic rehab center and for you to be able to open up, but this is expected.

Rehab treatment centers have evolved and I've been to one in South Florida where I was able to teach a yoga class . Healthy forms of relaxation are taught along with ways to face one's problems and deal with them directly. Sometimes very deep insecurities, anxieties, jealousies and other emotions will come up in the sessions and as these get processed one can find out a great deal about oneself and be on the road to recovery. It is good to think of this as a journey and not a punishment as you will get free of old patterns and be much lighter as these habits are dropped. Keeping your eye on the level of freedom that can be achieved is a very good motivator and way to deal with the temptations of an easier form of relief.

Dee Cohen is a licensed social worker and certified yoga teacher in Florida. Visit for more rehab articles and news at: http://www.rehab-advice.com

Can a Cure be Found in Alcohol Rehab?

Since the beginning of time, man has been looking for the secret cure, the magic bullet, the fountain of youth that will solve all of our health problems. The truth of the matter is; There is no cure for some of life?s passages such as aging, diabetic problems or even Alcoholism or Drug Addiction. They can be controlled, even the quality of life may be improved, but they can not be completely eliminated. The clich?s appear hot and heavy with sayings like ?One Day at a Time? and a ?Journey of a Thousand miles begins with just one step? and so it is with Alcohol Rehab and finding your way home.

There are so many claims, so many schemes and so many quick fixes that it becomes almost impossible to find an Alcohol Rehab program that really works. Even the United States Government got into the act and spent hundreds of Millions of Dollars to find the magic cure for Alcohol and Drug abuse. After Seven years, a few hundred million dollars later, the PROJECT MATCH STUDY was deemed a dismal failure. Everybody and I do mean everybody, lined up to discredit, find fault in it and basically deny everything from the legitimacy of the parents of the authors to downright fraud. The truth of the matter was simply they did not like the results. And the results were dismal.

They basically took the five top treatment protocols in existence today;

1) In Patient Residential Treatment,

2) Out Patient Alcohol and Drug Rehab

3) Hospitalization or Medical Model

4) Self Help groups like Alcohol Anonymous and

5) Behavioral Modification.

The results were basically the same for all Five groups and that was 43% stayed sober and clean one year from the date of entering into the program. The problem with this statistic was simple: Almost 6 in 10 would fail and the odds were in your favor that it would not succeed no matter what you did.

A funny thing happen however while everyone and their brother were circling the wagons and preparing to fight off the Calvary; Someone discovered by combining a combination of the protocols, that the success rate got better. At first, it was simply incorporating a 28 day in-residence alcohol rehab center with say follow up with AA meetings. The results jumped rather dramatically. In some cases, it climbed to as high as 73% while other studies showed an increase to higher than 75%. They were on to something. Add a couple of more ingredients such as educational protocol and behavioral modification and the numbers went into the Eighties. A non-profit by the name of Manor House Rehab went so far as to combine all known treatment protocols and used an extensive intake sheet to design an individual treatment and they hit over a 90% success rate for a temporary time frame until the results creeped back to ?normal? at about the 83-85% success rate. Not so bad.

The search for a perfect cure for Alcohol and Drug abuse had finally come to pass and success was at hand but only with a combination or a ?cocktail? of various programs combined to achieve success. It incorporated individual one on one counseling; It utilized group meetings, AA meetings and even a mentor program of one drunk or Addict helping another drunk find his way out of the darkness. They stole a few ideas from AA and included a higher power into their program, they copied Zen and Meditation from the East, basically went out and tried anything and everything that seemed to have a chance at success. The more they tried, the more successful their results were.

The manor house went on to published a pretty good article they entitled the ?cure? and it can be found at =>http://www.manorhouserehab.com/the_cure.htm

It sort of rambles on for about ten pages, but it makes the point quite well that a combination of many factors contribute to the success or failure of an Alcohol Rehab Program. Locating a facility on the beach may not be such a good idea because of triggers and cravings. To drink or do drugs is present simply because a beach party seems to be conducive to getting drunk or high or a contributing factor. The Manor House Rehab idea of an Ideal Alcohol Rehab center basically was on a desert Island, a thousand miles from nowhere without any booze or drugs anywhere to be found. Not a bad philosophy since Rehab is not a vacation, not Club Med, but Rehab and changing some of the habits that lead to getting stoned or drunk is the results intended, not a party. For the sake of full disclosure, I guess I should admit that I contributed heavily to the Manor House article, that I am a member of ?those other guys? with professional membership in NAADAC (National Association of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselors), graduate degree?s and about 25 years experience in grief counseling, addiction counseling and spiritual guidance. I decided not to present a professional paper for publication but to state my personal opinion as opposed to my professional opinion that basically, most Alcohol and Drug Rehab Centers got it all wrong. In a moment of weakness, I had to admit that the Medical Model of Alcohol Rehab pretty much screwed things up for awhile. I am please to announce that many of the better Alcohol Rehab centers are waking up to the combination approach that the Manor House and a few others put together.

If you need further information, take a look at the links page at: http://www.alcoholsupportprogram.com and the important links of some fifty sites that pretty much answer most questions that could be raised.

Bill Alexander is a professional Counselor and pioneered a combination approach to rehabilitation. He has published extensively in the field of Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation and lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Drug Rehab And Alcohol Rehabilitation Programs

There are many rehabilitation programs all over the world. They take into account particular features representing the multitude of personalities of the individuals, the cause of the addiction, as well as the chemical that provoked it. Whatever the professionals may suggest as efficient for a drug rehab, they have all agreed that nothing is more important than the motivation of the person that is going to follow the program. The motivation means an individual will to pass successfully to another stage of your life, a better one.

How do you know that you are a drug addict? If your whole life depends on taking or not taking a particular chemical (either legal or illegal drugs), if you wake up in the morning and the first thing that slips into your mind is to get higher, if your whole life is a mess because of your taking drugs, if people around you told you that you are acting abnormal, if you feel isolated by the others because of your decadent life, then it is high time to change something. This something is to check yourself into rehab to get over your addiction. You may choose to become an inpatient or an outpatient, depending on the degree of your addiction. You might need professionals to look after you not only during the period of treatment but also after the treatment, to ensure a successful rehabilitation.

Drug Rehab Programs

There are more types of rehab programs. To choose the best program rehab for you is crucial because your health, your life and even your death may depend on your choice. Here are some alternatives you should think of: Free standing inpatient drug rehab program ? short term program for less severe addictions; Inpatient drug rehab program ? rehabilitation unit ? for severe mental and physical disabilities; Inpatient drug rehab program ? detoxification unit ? in general this program takes place on an outpatient basis, but sometimes withdrawal from either drugs or alcohol presupposes extreme measures to prevent relapse. It is important to help patients to change their old habits, and this may happen only through a longer-term disruption from the environment where everything remembers them of the urge to return to the substance of their addiction; Long term residential drug rehab program ? is important for those who would relapse easily (youth, chronic addicts, patients with more than one diagnosis etc.).

Detoxification

Detoxification is the first level of a drug rehab. That means to withdraw yourself completely from drug dependency. This level has two stages a physical detox and a psychological detox. The physical detox is achieved by medical specialists who help you to get the substance out of your body, heal the damages the substance has done to you, and attenuate the effects of drug withdrawal over your body. The psychological detox or withdrawal is perhaps even more difficult, takes time, and its failure means certain relapse. You have to achieve counseling meetings which may be organized for individuals, for groups or even for families. We must not forget that most addictions are based on the psychological problems of the individuals: solitude, unhappiness, hopelessness etc. However, sometimes the cause may be of physical origin: unbearable pain, physical disability etc. Unfortunately relapse is still a major problem for rehab programs, as statistics say, that 75-90 percent of drug addicts have relapsed in one year after the treatment was completed.

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Cardiac Rehab

Cardiac Rehab is a treatment program for patients diagnosed with heart disease to recover faster and return to their normal pace of life. It teaches the patient how to live with heart disease, and how to bring about a change in lifestyle and follow the right path to a healthy and strong heart.

Cardiovascular diseases cause 50 % of deaths in the U.S.A. Coronary Heart disease affects 13.5 million Americans. Genetic disposition, sedentary lifestyle, misguided eating habits and lack of exercise are the root causes of this problem. Cardiac Rehab tries not only medical treatment but also a complete overhauling of lifestyle to fight heart disease.

The Cardiac Rehab program aims at improving each patient?s health and long-term prognosis. It may be initiated after a coronary event (heart attack, hospitalization, heart failure) or a heart procedure (angioplasty, stent, surgery). A team of doctors, nurses, counselors and therapists design a suitable Cardiac Rehab program for each patient after detailed testing and examination.

There are usually three to four phases in a Cardiac Rehab program. Phase one begins when the patient is first hospitalized recovering from a heart condition or surgery. It is initiated in the hospital and may continue throughout the stay. Its goal is to deter the negative effects of bed rest, and bring about lifestyle changes that will minimize the chancres of a relapse in the heart condition. For example, at first you have to learn how to take care of yourself (grooming, bath etc), then find out how much exercise you can handle and start a weight training program.

Phase two is a major outpatient program started soon after discharge from the hospital. It lasts typically for 36 visits to the hospital or Rehab center. To start the exercise regimen, the patient must undergo a level treadmill test, so an exercise regimen will be tailored according to his need and condition. The entire program consists of starting on a strict exercise program and participation in group discussions, as well as individual counseling. Phase 2 Cardiac Rehab is reimbursed through Medicare and most other insurance agencies.

The program involves close monitoring of the patient?s initial exercise regimen, directing his return to work and leisure activities, developing a safe home exercise program, and providing counseling to treat any depression or to ease the change to a new lifestyle. Throughout Phase 2, the patient?s heart condition is monitored through Electro Cardiogram tests (ECG) on a weekly basis. High-risk patients are watched even more closely.

On completion of Phase two of the Rehab, the patient and referring doctor receive a report card, showing a comparison of several parameters tested during those 36 visits to the Rehab center. This includes body weight, blood pressure, heart rate, exercise capacity, and cholesterol level, and enables the physician to judge the results of phase 2 and the current health status of the patient.

Phase 3 is a maintenance program. It is started after judging phase two. Phase 2 patients may be referred to Phase 3 for continued supervision. Enrollment in phase 3 may not require a physician?s referral.

Research has proved that Cardiac Rehab has resulted in the following benefits--

reduced risk of heart attack, decreased severity of angina, reduced need for hospitalization, decreased blood pressure, the ability to exercise longer, a lower cholesterol triglyceride level and decreased depression and anxiety.

The goal of Rehab is to return a patient of heart disease to a normal and healthy lifestyle, sticking to lifestyle changes like quitting smoking and alcohol and following strict exercise regimes. This will ultimately determine the success of the Rehab program.

Alcohol Rehab provides detailed information on rehab, alcohol rehab, cardiac rehab, drug rehab and more. Alcohol Rehab is affiliated with Alcohol Rehabilitation Centers.

The Importance of Drug and Alcohol Rehab

If you've ever had someone you love suffer with the problems stemming from alcoholism or drug abuse, you're not alone. In fact, about 43% of all adults have been exposed to a family member with alcoholism, with an additional few million added within the realm of drug addiction.

The statistics are staggering to say the least, both for the users of illegal dugs and alcohol and for those merely associated with them. For example, children (including teens) of alcoholics have a significantly higher illegal substance abuse percentage than those from non-alcoholic families. Reasons vary from added stress and decreased monitoring by parents (and the need for both attention and coping). These teens and pre-teens turn to negative peer groups for support. These groups tend to be more open to drug and alcohol use themselves.

From a violent point of view, alcohol and drug usage are associated with a substantial percentage of violent acts. Alcohol is a factor in 68% of all manslaughters, 62% of assaults, 54% of both murders and attempted murders, 48% of robberies and 44% of burglaries. 4% of all homicides in the U.S. last year were narcotics related.

The affect of alcohol and drug abuse on family violence is another discerning topic, as addicted parents are raising a growing number of children in this country. More than one million children are confirmed victims of child abuse each year, with over half of these cases reporting to state child protective services and agencies that substance abuse was a key factor. Studies suggest that there are more occurrences of abused children among alcoholic parents.

Health risks for those addicted to alcohol or drugs are, of course, substantially higher than those who aren't dependant on such a means. Liver and heart problems are quite common, while damage to other major organs is more than possible. Ulcers and osteoporosis in is more common in women who are dependant on alcohol than those who aren't. An increased risk of different types of cancers, including those to the digestive track and breasts in alcoholics is another. Women who have abused alcohol for many years also have a much higher chance of developing hypertension, anemia, and malnutrition.

If rehab is not something that the addict wants to do for him or herself, they need to be aware of the statistics and get the help they need for the future generations. A lack of self-control by one individual is seen by dozens, and mimicked by those who look up to them. Rehab offers many options and specialized treatment programs to suit the needs of anyone, but these services are unable to help if they aren't contacted.

John Stoops recommends that you visit http://www.soberforever.net for more information on Drug and Alcohol Rehab

Drug Rehab Treatment Centers as an Experience, not a Punishment

Choosing a drug rehab treatment center is a decision that calls for both negative and positive emotions. Nobody wants addiction to overtake their life to the point that rehab is the necessary step. However, the decision to go to one is something to look forward to, as it is the decision to rebuild a healthy life. It is the conscious realization of a problem, and it is the first conscious step towards healing. Understanding what drug addiction entails and how it affects the user is important for healing substance abuse. As well as understanding addiction, knowing what rehabilitation is will help the patient understand what he is going through and the purpose of the treatment. Lastly, the type of rehabilitation program is of vital importance for the patient. Understanding that a rehabilitation program is as personal as the patient's problem will certainly help to ascertain the treatment needed for the specific patient. Rehabilitation must be a positive program motivating the patient by his successes and discouraging him from relapses. To reach the stage of being in a rehab center that positively works to heal addiction, the patient and all concerned must understand three things: what addiction is, what rehabilitation is, and what treatment can and should be like.

Drug addiction is much more complex than merely 'too much drug use'. Drug and substance dependence is beyond the control of the user - he is no longer in control and does not have much choice in the matter of continuing use. In the short term, drug use affects the brain's reward system, flooding the brain with dopamine, otherwise termed 'a high'. While the high is a short term effect, long term effects are to follow, which cause the addiction. When our brain's reward system is working, proteins activate which teach us to pursue the behavior which causes us to feel so good. Naturally, this reaction is in response to food, exercise, and sex. Due to the larger amount of dopamine released due to drugs, the protein reaction is stronger than normal. As a result, drug use is quite addictive, and once the moment is reached that a person cannot control his use of drugs, this is termed addiction, or substance dependence. While willpower is important to controlling anything in one's life, in drug addiction a lack of willpower is not to blame. Willpower is at play at the first stages of drug experimentation, but at a certain point in addiction, it loses its function. Drug addiction is an illness, and rehabilitative treatment is the only means of curing this behavior.

Rehabilitation, then, is the path that leads to an effective treatment of drug use. Research has shown that addiction is treatable. Research has not shown, and will not show, that treatment is easy. Rehabilitation is the recovery of diminished capacities due to injury or illness. The word itself comes from the latin prefix re meaning 'again', and root habilitar meaning 'to inhabit'. Thus 'rehabilitate' literally means to inhabit yourself again - and that is the aim of rehabilitation: to return former capacities to the inflicted person. This is especially true in drug addiction. Freeing oneself from addiction is a type of homecoming to a life of control.

Rehabilitation aims at more than ending drug use. As previously mentioned, rehabilitation cannot be a punishment for drug use. It must be the gradual process of ending dependence while also rehabilitating the patient into society. This is often the most difficult aspect of rehabilitation. It is important that the patient realistically understand that the future will consist of effort to reintegrate and rejoin society. The patient is assisted by counselors throughout the treatment, but the patient himself is the main catalyst in rehabilitation. The family and friends of the patient must also go through aspects of rehabilitation, for life after rehab will not be a continual sunny day. The forecast predicts many rain clouds at first, with occasional storms down the road. The family must know how to be supportive and helpful throughout the stormy weather.

The rehab treatment center can be considered the umbrella in the stormy weathers. It cannot control the weather, but does shield and help the patient and family on their way through the tempest. While there is no one correct rehabilitation treatment, as each treatment must be tailored to the particular needs of the patient, there are means of ensuring that the rehab center chosen is one that will provide a positive environment to optimize the long term results of rehabilitation. The personal treatment for the patient must be continually checked and improved, as different steps throughout the treatment call for different measures, and each patient needs a different length of time for treatment. The personal treatment must also take into account the various problems beyond drugs which the patient faces. Drug addiction is often the result, and not the core of the problem - this core must be dug up through various therapies, counselors, and activities, which all should be readily available through the treatment center. A forced treatment is not necessarily a bad thing - again, depending on the treatment center. With a good treatment center, a person who initially will not admit to his problem or the need for a solution can be fully rehabilitated. Extremely beneficial are experiential therapies, which, through their communion with nature help the patient gradually reintegrate into life, which will eventually ease reintegration into society. A rehab treatment center must be rigid in its aims to help the patient, but cannot be rigid in its process.

Understanding what addiction is and why it happens is vital for the patient and the chosen treatment center. Once this is established, there can be a mutual respect, in lieu of distrust and judgment. The next step is to understand what rehabilitation is. It is a dedication, again, on the part of both the patient and treatment center, to heal a drug problem and, more importantly, rebuild a life - to bring the patient home in the spiritual sense. With these two concepts well understood and looked after, the patient has great chances of succeeding to overcome the addiction. The treatment center that fully understands addiction and rehabilitation will be the center that offers a full and varied program that will be created and recreated for the particular needs of its patient, and that will guide the patient not only through his addiction, but through his reintegration into life and society.

This article was written by Marina Petroni, sponsored by http://www.cirquelodge.com/. Cirque Lodge, located in Sundance, Utah, is a world-class residential drug rehab facility providing a private, effective and serene pathway to sobriety. Reproductions of this article are encouraged but must include a link pointing back to http://www.cirquelodge.com