Understand Alcohol Rehab & How It Can Help You

Drug and alcohol addiction - also known as substance use disorder (SUD) - is a brain disease which directly and indirectly affects the lives of millions of people worldwide. 

Regardless of your age, ethnicity, gender, or wealth, addiction can profoundly damage your life.

Even if you aren’t an addicted person, you can suffer the consequences of drug and alcohol addiction. 

Witnessing the effects of a substance addiction take hold of your loved one can evoke intense emotions and distress.

In order to overcome addiction as safely and effectively as possible, the addicted person will seek the support of a drug and alcohol rehab.

 Here’s everything that you need to know about drug and alcohol rehabilitation and how it can help you restore a healthy lifestyle.

What Is Alcohol Rehab?

The term rehab stands for rehabilitation, which means to restore something to optimal health. In the case of addiction, a rehab refers to the place or facility where addicted people go to recover from their condition.

Inpatient vs. Outpatient Treatment

There are different ways a patient can undergo a drug and alcohol rehab programme. Patients can be admitted into a rehab either as an inpatient or an outpatient. 

Here are the key differences between the two:

• Inpatient rehab: At an inpatient rehab, a patient will stay at the rehab facility for around 4 weeks - or longer - depending on the unique demands of their recovery, allowing them to focus entirely on recovery. Patients will undergo a range of therapies, counselling, and a medicated detox if necessary while under intense supervision of medical professionals in a safe and comfortable environment. Inpatient rehab is available to all levels of addiction severity, but is especially important for patients suffering from intense levels of addiction.

• Outpatient rehab: As an outpatient, patients will undergo a less intensive form of program. The outpatient program typically requires patients to attend a few hours of therapy and counselling each week for a few months. Outpatients can return home each night, and sessions are scheduled to accommodate working hours, which also means that outpatients can work throughout their recovery. Outpatient programmes are more flexible, but leave more room for error. Because of this, outpatient rehab is only advisable for those suffering from a mild dependence.

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How Alcohol Rehab Works

Here’s what you can expect from a typical drug and alcohol rehab programme:

1. Medical Detox 

If a patient is suffering from severe withdrawal symptoms, they may need to undergo a medical detox before proceeding with therapy and counselling. 

During this stage, patients will receive prescribed medication from an addiction physician. 

They will stay in a safe and comfortable environment under medical supervision until they have overcome their withdrawal symptoms, which typically takes a few days to a week. 

If the patient is suffering from severe dependence, they may need to stay longer.

2. Counseling and Therapy 

When the patient is feeling better physically and psychologically, they will attend a range of therapy and counselling sessions. 

While the forms of therapy sessions may vary from one program to the next, you can expect the following treatment methods: 

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is one of the most prominent forms of therapy not only in addiction treatment but mental health treatment. CBT is a personalised form of talking therapy designed to help patients understand their behaviour and thoughts, including self-destructive tendencies and where they come from.

• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy: Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based psychotherapy designed to treat patients who experience intense emotions such as anger, anxiety, depression, and more.

  
  

3. Group Support and Aftercare

In addition to individual talking therapies such as CBT and DBT, patients will have the chance to attend group therapies such as family therapy and support sessionsL

• Family Therapy: Family Therapy plays an important role in establishing long-term recovery. The patient can benefit by improving lines of communication, transparency, and relationships with family members. Additionally, family members will learn valuable techniques towards creating a hospitable environment and supporting their loved one. Ultimately, the goal is to create a strong support network and healthier relationships.

• Support Sessions: The opportunity to share your experience and listen to other patients allows you to resonate with each other and form a strong support network. Not only will you gain insight into other patient’s recovery journeys, you’ll benefit from emotional catharsis and also positive social reinforcement which can sustain your sobriety and recovery.

  
  

Benefits of Alcohol Rehab

The benefits of undergoing a recovery programme at a drug and alcohol rehab centre isn’t limited to addiction recovery. 

These recovery methods can improve your life on many different levels:

1. Physical Health Improvements

The physical health improvements gained from entering a drug and alcohol rehab can help reinforce not only recovery but a healthier lifestyle. 

During rehab, patients can undergo Holistic Therapy which includes a range of physical activities such as yoga, hiking, acupuncture, massages, tai chi, and more. 

Not only does this improve your physical health, it also improves your mental health. 

Exercise can allow patients to develop healthier coping mechanisms which stimulate dopamine and serotonin production naturally. 

Additionally, many of the psychological symptoms of addiction and other life problems can manifest physically, and acupuncture and massages can reduce levels of stress - physically and psychologically. 

Other methods of holistic therapy in addiction recovery, such as meditation and mindfulness, can also significantly improve both physical and mental health.

2. Mental and Emotional Support

Individual and group therapy provides an extensive range of mental and emotional support. 

Group Therapy, Family Therapy, and individual therapies such as CBT and DBT allow patients to externalise and communicate their thoughts with licensed therapists and also patients suffering from addiction. 

Patients can gain honest insight from patients on a similar path to recovery, and also expert and qualified guidance from licensed professionals.

3. Long-Term Sobriety Strategies

The treatment methods implemented at an addiction treatment centre won’t achieve recovery overnight, but they’re designed to establish long-term sobriety. 

Patients will learn how to spot and manage relapse triggers, and they will develop healthy coping mechanisms which they can use outside of rehab.

Who Should Consider Alcohol Rehab?

You should consider entering a drug or alcohol rehab if you are suffering from dependence. 

However, it can be difficult to truly understand if you’re dependent or addicted to substances. 

When this is the case, you can use various forms of alcoholism or addiction screening tools to understand the severity of your dependence:

• AUDIT: AUDIT, or the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test, is a 10-question alcohol harm screening tool developed by the World Health Organization. Patients have multiple-choice answers and receive a score at the end of the test which categorizes the severity of their dependence.

• CAGE: The CAGE questionnaire is a 4-question screening tool which patients simply answer affirmatively or negatively.

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Signs You May Need Help

If you’re asking yourself the question as to whether you need help, it’s likely that you’re suffering from some form of alcohol dependence. 

Even if you’re suffering from a mild form of dependence, you should still seek support, because the sooner that you confront your addiction, the easier it will be.

Choosing the Right Rehab Program

It can be difficult knowing how to choose the right rehab program. 

The best course of action would be to reach out to a rehab referral service which operates in your region and explain to them your unique requirements, preferences, and budget.

Questions to Ask Providers

When you speak to rehab referral services or a rehab facility, consider asking them the following questions:

• How much does rehab treatment cost? 

• Can I undergo outpatient treatment? 

• Can I undergo inpatient treatment? 

• What can I expect from the treatment programme?

  
  

Factors to Consider

When choosing to enter a drug and alcohol rehab, the biggest factors to consider are:

• Cost: The cost of a drug and alcohol rehab can range dramatically depending on the quality of services. Public services will offer free treatment, but patient demand may be extremely high. Private inpatient rehab centres can cost thousands per week of treatment, with treatment lasting around 4 weeks. This price typically includes accommodation, meals, therapy, excursions, and more.

• Location: Do you want to be located as close to home as possible, or would you benefit from starting recovery from a new environment?

• Specialisation: Does the rehab facility specialise in any form of treatment? For example, does it cater to any form of substance addiction? Or, do you have a unique condition or preference which requires additional care? 

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Taking the First Step Toward Recovery

Admitting that you have a problem is the first step towards recovery and can initiate a powerful journey towards sobriety. 

Taking an alcohol screening tool can help you understand the severity of your condition and reaffirm your decision to seek addiction treatment. 

When you reach out to a rehab referral service, you’ll come into contact with a trained admissions officer whose job is to answer any queries you have about addiction recovery.