Alcohol Abuse Treatment Center – What to Expect
Alcohol Abuse Treatment Center – Find Help to Beat Addiction
Alcohol is one of the most abused substances in the United States; the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health revealed that in that year, over 15 million adults were being affected by alcohol use disorder. When faced with the many negative effects of alcohol abuse, people often realize the need for treatment, but may still be unsure of or even fear rehab. In this article, we will explore what to expect from an alcohol abuse treatment center such as WhiteSands.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment
Today, there are more alcohol treatment programs than ever before, helping to treat people from all walks of life. Some programs are designed to treat addiction as a whole while others are completely focused on alcohol addiction treatment. Furthermore, some rehab centers cater for specific age groups, religious beliefs, and mental health needs.
One can find alcohol addiction treatment that is designed to take a person out of their home environment and into a therapeutic environment where every day is focused on healing from the disease, whereas other programs can help people who have good support at home with responsibilities that they need to attend to. These are inpatient and outpatient treatment programs.
What You can Expect at an Alcohol Abuse Treatment Center
All types of addictions have deep-seeded causes that must be explored at an alcohol abuse treatment center. This is one of the reasons why there is no quick fix for addiction; it is a complex mental disorder and no two addicts have exactly the same needs.
The following explores what one can expect at an alcohol abuse treatment center such as WhiteSands.
Detoxification
Stopping alcohol abuse cold turkey is dangerous. It is one of the few substances that can cause fatal symptoms (delirium tremens) if not treated professionally. Withdrawal symptoms, which occur as a result of alcohol dependence when a person tries to stop, are often severe even when the life-threatening delirium tremens doesn’t occur.
Due to the immediate problems that withdrawal causes, the first thing that one can expect at rehab after an assessment is a medical detoxification. This tends to require that a person spend a week in inpatient rehab in order to get the around-the-clock care needed for alcohol detox. You may receive FDA-approved medications to help manage severe symptoms, along with over-the-counter medication to treat symptoms such as nausea or headaches.
Behavioral Therapy and Medication-Assisted Therapy
A detox program only treats alcohol dependence and not addiction as a mental disorder. Without further treatment, the causes of the person’s addiction are likely to cause them to relapse.
Behavioral therapy is a cornerstone of alcohol addiction treatment and should therefore be a part your treatment plan. The objectives of behavioral therapy are to tackle individual causes of addiction, and provide healthy alternatives for unhealthy and negative emotions and behavior. It can be a long process that takes months to complete, but it prepares the person for a new way of life.
Along with behavioral therapy, some people require a medication-assisted approach to treatment. These programs use prescribed medications that can help to keep a person sober and mentally healthy. For example, a person who is prone to relapse can be given Antabuse to block the effects of alcohol, preventing relapse.
Aftercare and Management
Recovery from alcohol abuse never really ends, but it does become easier to manage your sobriety over the long run. To assist, there are aftercare programs such as sober living homes or follow-up therapy that one can partake in after rehab. There are also support groups that can help a person to maintain their sobriety, such as Alcoholics Anonymous.
If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.
About the Author
Mark is a proud alumni member of WhiteSands Treatment. After living a life of chaos, destruction and constant let downs, Mark was able to make a complete turnaround that sparked a new way of life. He is serious about his recovery along with helping others. At WhiteSands Treatment, we offer support to you in your homes or when you are out living in your daily lives.