DRUG ADDICTION AND ALCOHOLISM IS A PROBLEM ALL ACROSS THE USA
The increase in drug addiction and alcoholism has been a problem all across the world and America for decades now. Alcohol also remains the most commonly abused drug, more than any other one. According to a study published in JAMA Psychiatry alcohol use disorder rose 49% in the first decade of the 2000s and one of every eight American adults now meets the diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorder. Although the journey to drug addiction and alcoholism recovery can be long and difficult, success starts with admitting that there is a problem you can’t handle on your own.
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WHEN DO YOU KNOW YOU NEED HELP FOR DRUG ADDICTION?
Generally, you’ll need to seek help when you begin to display the following characteristics and symptoms:
- Taking more of a drug to get the same effects or relief as before (an indication of increased tolerance)
- Using a substance even when it’s not convenient or desirable
- The drug is causing problems between you and friends, family or law enforcement officials
- Feelings of unease or discomfort (depression, fatigue, confusion, sweating, and headaches) when you haven’t taken the drug for some time
- A large part of your day is spent planning how to get more of the drug or looking forward to the next ingestion
- Loss of interest in former hobbies, friends, activities, and associations
- Stealing or borrowing money to get more of the substance leading to serious financial problems
- Searching other peoples’ belonging and drug cabinets for substances to take
- Reacting violently when you can’t get more of it
Significant negative changes in your appearance such as bloodshot eyes, rapid weight loss or gain, bloody nose, bad breath, frequent body tremors - Going to multiple doctors to get prescriptions for the same drug
Consistently consuming medications with recreational drugs and alcohol despite knowing the side effects - General lack of concern for eating and personal hygiene
DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT
If you are exhibiting any of the characteristics listed above, you need to seek help from a drug rehab center or a drug and alcohol rehab center right away.
The many types of treatment options available include detoxification, inpatient treatment, partial hospitalization programs (PHP), residential treatment, and outpatient treatment. Typically, the drug addiction treatment you will receive will vary depending on the specific drug being abused and the severity of addiction. Today, the most commonly abused drugs in the USA include:
- Alcohol
- Marijuana
- Cocaine
- Heroin
- Tobacco
- Stimulants (Dexedrine, Adderall)
- Valium
- Prescription drugs (especially codeine, Vicodin, Demerol, Oxycontin).
BELOW, WE WILL BE FOCUSING ON ALCOHOL ADDICTION TREATMENT AND REHAB.
ALCOHOL ADDICTION TREATMENT
Alcohol is one of the most readily available, cheap, and easy to obtain drugs in America. As a result, it has become a problem that almost every American household has had to deal with at some point.
The fact is that continuous excessive alcohol consumption is linked to several proven long-term health problems in the human body, especially:
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Anemia
- Stroke
- Cancer
- Cardiomyopathy (weakening of the heart muscle).
However, it doesn’t end there. Substance abuse and the mental effects it has on the user often leads to many social problems. Especially problems like violence, child abuse, stealing and so on. If you are already exhibiting the following behaviors, you are suffering the effects of alcoholism:
- Increased tolerance for alcohol
- Several failed attempts to quit alcohol abuse or maintain a treatment plan
- Inability to keep a job or be productive
- Consuming alcohol despite having health problems with alcohol use disorder
If you’ve found yourself or a loved one at the mercy of alcohol, the next step is to research the available options for getting treated. After that, you will need to choose an alcohol addiction treatment program and decide whether to opt for an inpatient alcohol rehab center, a drug rehab center or other alcohol addiction rehab program.
BELOW IS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS LIFE-SAVING DECISION.
ALCOHOL ABUSE TREATMENT OPTIONS
Along with selecting the kind of treatment, you would need to choose a rehab center. However, choosing an alcohol addiction rehab or drug addiction treatment center may seem overwhelming. You want to consider their success rate and most likely choose one of the best drug rehab centers available.
For instance, imagine you live in Florida, how do you choose one of the Florida rehab centers? Well, here are a few points to consider:
- Are there any reviews from past users?
- Search online using phrases based on your location, e.g., alcohol rehabs Florida. Then call them up and note how they respond to your inquiries
- Confirm if your insurance policy will cover the treatment plan
- Take the time and go on a tour of the facility before making a final decision.
It’s also essential to confirm that they have an after-rehab program and support groups to follow up on your progress afterward. This point is vital to ensure the success of treatment and avoid a relapse later on.
TREATMENT OPTIONS DURING ALCOHOL REHAB
Alcohol rehab may sometimes be the only viable solution for solving alcohol use disorder, especially where the user has failed to quit on their own.
Numerous drug and alcohol rehab centers exist all over the USA, so you are sure to find one that’s suitable. The kind of treatment the personnel will give you depends on your age, how long you’ve been abusing alcohol, and your gender.
The five most common alcohol treatment programs you will likely find are:
- Alcoholism Detox: Alcohol detox is usually the first step in the process to abuse recovery. This stage is important to allow your body to rid itself of the many toxins running through it as a result of alcoholism. The detox is medically supervised to help you cope with the expected withdrawal symptoms.
- Inpatient Treatment: The user would be required to live in a rehab center during the recovery process. It’s also commonly known as a residential treatment.
- Outpatient Treatment: Here, the user is not required to live at the facility. Rather, it allows them the option of living at home during the treatment period. This arrangement works better for those that need to continue their daily work or other activities without too much disruption.
- Intensive Outpatient Treatment: Intensive outpatient program (IOP) is midway between inpatient and outpatient care. The user gets all day attention and treatment during the week.
- Partial Hospitalization Program: PHP is a comprehensive but relatively short-term clinical treatment. It is less intensive than inpatient care but more concentrated than outpatient care. It allows users to get structured treatment without disrupting their entire daily routines.
Medications For Alcoholism Treatment
At some point during the recovery program, medications may be used. Their main function is to help users cope better with alcohol cravings and significantly reduce withdrawal symptoms. In addition, some medications work to create unpleasant effects on the user if they happen to consume alcohol.
THE MOST COMMON OF THESE MEDICINES ARE:
- Acamprosate – This drug works by stabilizing chemical signals in the human brain that would normally be disrupted by alcohol withdrawal. By doing so, it reduces alcohol cravings and the manifestations of withdrawal symptoms.
- Naltrexone – Naltrexone works by blocking the usual “pleasant” effects users would normally get when they consume drugs and alcohol. Therefore, the user has less desire or cravings to keep consuming the drug.
- Disulfiram – produces an acute and undesirable reaction to ethanol. This results in side effects like vomiting, nausea, and headaches if the user consumes alcohol.
FINDING ALCOHOL REHAB CENTERS NEAR ME
One decision that you will have to face at some point is where to have rehab. Most people will opt for an alcohol or drug rehab center near their home or in a generally familiar locality. To get away from any negative influences (like friends that are still using) or escape bad memories, others will want to go as far away from their normal location as possible. In other words, they want a fresh start.
Whatever you decide is fine as long as you get the desired results at the end of your addiction treatment.
A trusted method of finding effective alcohol rehab centers is by asking for referrals from recovered alcoholics or by reading reviews about drug rehab centers online.
However, these days most people would rather search online for such information. In that case, you will find details about the best drug rehab centers in the country with just a few clicks on your computer.
If you are looking for something in your locality, using a “near me” search will quickly pop-up the rehab centers closest to you. Type terms like “drug detox centers near me,” “inpatient alcohol rehab near me,” “alcohol rehab near me” or “drug rehab near me” into the search engine to bring up the information you need.
To be more specific and narrow your search down, you can specify the locality. So if you live in Florida, type phrases like “alcohol rehab Florida,” “drug detox centers Florida,” “best drug rehabs in Florida,” “Florida rehab centers” and so on.
What Kind Of Facilities Can You Expect At Rehab Centers?: You can expect a wide range of facilities and level of comfort depending on your budget. However, usually, there will be some basic level of comfort provided.
The best drug rehab centers will offer comforts like a gym, well-cooked meals, daily housekeeping, and internet facilities.
DECIDING BETWEEN INPATIENT OR OUTPATIENT ALCOHOL REHAB
Deciding to opt for inpatient or outpatient alcohol abuse treatment is an important decision to take before your treatment program can start. The final decision will depend on your availability. You will need to consider whether or not you can drop everything in your work and personal life for the seclusion that inpatient alcohol rehab demands.
Certainly, if you can’t be excused from work and other duties, then outpatient rehab would be your best choice.
INPATIENT ALCOHOL REHAB NEAR ME
Despite the obvious challenge of leaving all your commitments, opting for inpatient rehab may be your best option if your addiction is severe. Although outpatient rehab is effective too, it’s usually better for people with a drinking problem but not yet an addiction.
Inpatient care may give you a better chance for seclusion and focus that you need to set you on the path to lifelong recovery if you are deep in addiction. Such a program will give you all the medical attention and support that’s necessary to recover, especially if you are prone to severe withdrawal symptoms that require medical attention.
To find inpatient drug rehab centers close to you, use terms like “inpatient drug rehab near me,” “inpatient alcohol rehab near me,” or “alcohol rehab centers near me.”
WHAT TO EXPECT DURING ALCOHOL ADDICTION TREATMENT
- Duration: Expect the treatment to last for about 30 days to be fully effective. Though it may extend to 60 or even 90 days in some cases of drug addiction. Generally, the longer you can stay the better so that you can fully adjust and recover in a temptation-free environment.
- Confidentiality: Confidential treatment is a strict requirement at alcohol and drug rehab centers so be assured that your identity will not be revealed.
- Evaluation: You will be interviewed on arrival at the rehab center to determine your medical and psychological condition. The questions you are asked and your truthful answers will help the medical personnel design a recovery program that is most likely to work for you.
- Addiction Treatment: Most centers will immediately start your treatment with a detox plan to rid your body of alcohol. After that, they will move you deeper into treatment using techniques and medications as required. Also, expect to be included in group therapy sessions and lectures at some point.
- Payment: Many insurance plans cover part of the cost of rehab. Confirm whether you are covered beforehand, if not, the rehab center may offer some flexible financing options.
AFTER YOUR REHAB TREATMENT
Remember that your addiction did not start overnight so it will not suddenly end overnight. Instead, recovery will take some time and likely be a lifelong endeavor.
A major mistake people make is signing up for addiction treatment but neglecting after rehab care. Post-treatment care is vital to avoid a relapse into old habits, and rehab centers know that. That’s why the best rehab centers emphasize continuous follow-up after discharge.
If you do not take care to follow through with their post-treatment guidelines and activities, the chances of failure are extremely high.
Some common after rehab activities and resources that will be recommended for you include care groups, online recovery tools, recovery coaching, and online social forums and networks.
What to do to Make Treatment Work for You
No matter what the professionals do for you, your effort to recover is vital for treatment to succeed. Alcohol addiction has profound negative effects on your emotional, physical and mental state. It has been a part of your life for years, and you will need something to fill that void.
Try to find a solid support group as soon as possible after your rehab program ends. For example, other recovered alcohol addicts can be helpful as they can understand and relate to any struggles you may still have. Whatever the case, talk to someone and do not bottle things up.
Ask your friends and family to help you get back on track and if possible, avoid spending extended periods of time alone. Instead, make new healthy friendships and relationships and keep in touch with supportive family members.
All we have discussed above may seem somewhat daunting, and you may feel a bit overwhelmed. However, be assured that there are many people out there ready to help you recover. Just take things one day at a time.
The most important thing is to realize that you need help and get that help quickly. This is a step that could save your life or the lives of others around you.
Resouces:
Alcoholism Treatment Center
Drug Addiction Treatment Center