The Process of Addiction Recovery

Sydney Retemyer, RAS II, MSc, Primary Addiction Therapist

Alcohol consumption is usually initiated by recreational or social events, however, not everyone who drinks alcohol develops dependency on this substance. Quite many individuals have found that they somehow must drink larger amounts to enjoy or relax themselves. This article categorizes those individuals who become dependent and that there is a process that can attain recovery from alcohol addiction.

Alcoholism usually correlates with cravings that are intense enough to alter people’s routine. Persons who suffer from this sort of chemical abuse tend to develop a progressive need for larger amounts, which also increases their tolerance levels for alcohol. The difficulty becomes evident as their sense of control for the intake of alcohol diminishes. The saying “one is too many, and a thousand is never enough” describes such patterns. For the alcoholic, the alcohol consumption normally starts with intentions for one or two drinks, yet the powerful desires lead to more drinks than intended.

An effective measure to alcohol recovery can be considered as a three-stage process that cares for persons suffering with alcoholism. These stages can be explained as firstly the Intervention Stage. The intervention stage usually looks at the persons who are concerned about the alcoholic abuser, and they are gathered with a professional or mental health organizer. The clinician usually guides the concerned group in ways that offers the person affected with alcoholism to get help by way of enrolling residential care/rehab center. Mainly this stage intervenes with potential patients to recognizes their negative consequences and how the next level of care can be helpful.

Once that person affected with alcoholism decides to enter treatment the second stage is accomplished, it is during this stage he/she receives detox and medical care within rehab facilities, known as the residential stage. The management of detoxification and medication usually allows the body to rid itself of alcohol and its influence. During the 28-day residential period, the client remains in a safe place that is usually an alcohol-free environment. Within treatment facilities a variety of program settings assist its clients in ways to remain sober through activities such as varying forms of group therapies, coping skills education, individual counseling, relapse prevention skills, and holistic approaches to help individuals.

Following residential, clients who receive a successful discharge are directed to the outpatient stage. Intensive outpatient treatment for alcoholism can be considered as a type of continuum of care whereby after residential care, clients are transferred to outpatient centers for either transitional halfway home living, or daily sessions that can either occur two to three times per week upon their return home. This gradual transition enables ongoing support for individuals that is contingent on their home and social environments being substance-free. Even though this level of treatment-type may be a step down from residential it caters for the recovering alcoholic to receive a longer support that intensely address alcoholism. This level of care usually last from 90 days to 6 months.

Overall, the benefits of a treatment program will help you break the cycle of addiction, to think more clearly and to educate yourself about addiction, to delve into under lying issues and gain insight into the cause of your use and build new habits and practices to establish healthy boundaries.