About Alcohol Rehab
Alcohol rehab is designed for individuals who abuse alcohol. Most people, even those who drink heavily, understand there is always some level of damage that occurs when an individual drinks too much. Not only will it affect the physical body but also the mind. Individuals who drink too much may suffer from cirrhosis of the liver and be more prone to various types of cancer. They may also have trouble recalling things, experience tremors, shakes and may be easily agitated and nervous. Individuals who find themselves in this state need to enter into some type of alcohol rehab facility as soon as possible. There are many available options across the United States, and the most common forms of alcohol rehab are inpatient and outpatient facilities.
Inpatient Alcohol Rehab
Inpatient alcohol rehab programs allow the individual receiving the treatment to stay at the facility for a specific length of time or until they get clean. They will actually live there. Most of the time, inpatient treatment is very intensive. There will be a lot of structure and what the alcoholic does, who they talk to and communicate with will be monitored. This is to provide a level of protection for the individual from the outside world. Many people who are in constant contact with family members, friends or people they used to drink with may want to leave the facility and eventually relapse. While there may not been limitations concerning communication with the outside world during one’s entire stay at an inpatient rehab facility, there may be initially.
Typically, inpatient alcohol rehab involves lots of counseling. Psychiatrists and psychologists will be working to help individuals figure out why they began drinking and why they continue to abuse alcohol.
These types of facilities may also have medical alcohol detox. It is very difficult for a person to begin and have success with alcohol rehab treatment if they have not first gotten the alcohol out of their system. This is because they will likely be dealing with physical withdrawal symptoms. Many people are strongly tempted to begin drinking again in order to quell the symptoms. Common withdrawal symptoms include shakes, convulsions, blackouts, fever, nausea and vomiting.
Outpatient Alcohol Rehab
Outpatient alcohol rehab is another common type of alcohol rehab. This type of rehab does not require that an individual actually live in the facility. They can simply visit the center during their scheduled treatment. This form is typically less expensive than inpatient treatment because it costs less to take care of individuals who spend less time at the facility and who use fewer resources.
12-Step Programs
A third type of alcohol rehab which is really popular and deserves a mention is the 12-step program. This may be considered an outpatient program but can be offered in any type of facility. Typically, 12-step programs involve meetings where individuals get together, discuss their addictions and encourage each other to stay sober.
Who Needs Alcohol Rehab?
The answer to the question of “Who needs rehab?” will differ based on who you ask. Some people will contend that persons need alcohol rehab if they drink a certain number of ounces of alcohol every day. Other people would suggest that people need help if they drink alone or in the morning. Ultimately, it will depend on the person and whether or not they are using alcohol as a crutch and dependent on alcohol. Below, we will discuss some of the different warning signs that might suggest that a person is in trouble and needs to enter an alcohol rehab program. If someone you know exhibits these signs, it may be time to get them help.
- Drinks more than two to three alcohol beverages a day. It is commonly believed that a person may be an alcoholic or abusing alcohol if they consume more than two to three drinks a day. This may differ based on whether or not that person is male or female and how much they weigh. However, generally this is a pretty universally accepted guideline.
- Drinks to get through the day. People who are so dependent on alcohol and its effects that they drink in order to get through the day have a problem. While alcohol can be enjoyable in limited quantities, if a person needs it all of the time in order to face the world, then they are abusing alcohol and need to get help in learning how to function in life without being drinking heavily. They would make an excellent candidate for alcohol rehab.
- Constant accusations of being an alcoholic by reliable and respected persons. Oftentimes the people around the alcoholic will be able to identify their behavior as troublesome before they are even able to. Many times we as human beings prefer to ignore problems that are going on in our own lives but are more astute about what may be happening in some other person’s life. If a person’s family and/or friends are constantly accusing them of being an alcoholic or suggesting that they have a problem, this may be a pretty good indicator that they do.
- Hides excessive drinking from family and friends. People who feel like they have to hide their alcohol consumption by doing such things as placing their alcohol in secret places, throwing away receipts where they have alcoholic purchases or popping breath mints to cover up excessive drinking should think long and hard about entering rehab.
- Physical withdrawal symptoms when not drinking. People who have physical symptoms when they stop drinking have become dependent on alcohol. If they get the shakes, start to tremble, get nauseous, vomit or go into convulsions when they don’t get alcohol, this is a very serous problem and they need to see a physician very quickly. It is likely that they will need some type of alcohol detox that is overseen by a medical professional.