Alcohol Rehabilitation Options

Watching alcohol addicted pop stars such as Brittany Spears, Lindsay Lohan, and others you may be led to believe that recovering from alcohol addiction is a quick fix-just a weekend stay at rehab and you're good to go, only to fall back off the wagon, again, as we've seen too often with too many of the young Hollywood celebrities. However, recovering from alcohol addiction is a lifetime process and not achieved by any "magic" bullet or brief stint in rehab.

What is Alcohol Addiction?

Some describe alcohol addiction as the obsession of consuming alcoholic beverages to the degree that behavior interrupts the alcoholic's normal life. Despite health problems and negative social consequences, alcoholics continue to abuse alcohol. Others consider it a medical condition. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism contend that it's a disease, noting that the alcohol cravings of an alcoholic are as strong as the need for food or water, compelling the alcoholic to continue drinking although he (or she) is aware of the grave consequences, including family, health, and/or legal problems. As a disease, it's a chronic condition, a lifetime problem as opposed to something that's cured, without fear of returning.

Impact of Alcoholic Abuse

Physical impact----Just as sedatives, barbiturates, and anesthetics, drinking excessive alcoholic beverages (such as beer, wine and hard liquor) slows down the central nervous system, making a person uninhibited, slowing down brain activity. Other effects include slurred speech, as well as cloudy thinking, dulled hearing, and faulty vision (the degree of severity related to amount of alcohol consumed.)

Social impact on the alcoholic----Besides damaging the alcoholic's body, excessive drinking also hurts him socially, as he's more inclined to bursts of emotions, saying and doing things he probably wouldn't do if he weren't intoxicated. Severe social consequences can include being arrested and incarcerated, resulting in losing his job, respect, and friends.

Social impact on others----Alcoholism addiction doesn't just affect the alcoholic, but everyone around him. His family, as well as friends, neighbors, employers, co-workers, and all with whom he interacts are affected by his drinking. What's more, alcoholism is tied to many social problems, such as crime, domestic violence, and teen pregnancy.

Alcohol Treatment

There are several methods of treatment, depending on your definition of alcohol addiction. Those who believe it's a matter of personal choice, approach it differently than those who hold it's a disease.

National and local resources-The National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Routing Service offers a toll-free number (1-800-662-HELP) where alcoholics and their families can find helpful resources of information. Here you can speak directly with a representative, as well as receive literature on alcohol, as well as other drugs.

Alcohol Rehabilitation Facilities

Alcohol rehabilitation facilities are found in every area of the country. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has a map on their website where you can find a facility in every state. Most treatment programs run for about a month to 90 days, with follow-up where patients agree to attend on-going Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step groups, as well as other outpatient treatment to help keep their sobriety.

Faith-based Alcohol Rehabilitation Facilities

Many Christians contend that the only way to get recovery is through faith-based programs. In most of the Christian rehabilitation facilities, residents stay longer than three months, some up to a year or more.

For example, south Florida has several Christian alcohol rehabilitation programs, such as Dunklin Memorable Camp (www.dunklin.org) in Okeechobee, Florida. On the Dunklin website, you can also find facilities for women, both in Florida as well as in New Hampshire.

DC (Disciples of Christ) Ranch, also located in Okeechobee, Florida uses Christian principles in their program. Just as Dunklin Memorable Camp, DC Ranch is a program where alcoholics stay for about a year, earning financial support for their recovery by working on a ranch, as they recover. After graduation, DC Ranch helps them find jobs and reenter society. The Peppers even help the young men work for their GED diplomas. Run by Mike and Pam Pepper, DC Ranch ministers to young men in their late teens and early twenties, who come there on their own free will, and are free to leave if they choose to quit the program. Call (863) 467-2635 for details.

Teen Challenge

A national faith-based program, Teen Challenge (www.teenchallengeusa.com) has programs in every state. In fact, Teen Challenge even welcomes inmates with alcohol and drug charges, after they've served their sentences. What's more, Teen Challenge isn't just for teenagers, but also includes young adults.

Help for Families of Alcoholics

Finally, friends and family members close to alcoholics need help as well, not just for their own sanity, but also for the recovery of the alcoholic. Support group such as Al-Anon/Alateen (for spouses and teenage children of alcoholics), as well as the National Association for Children of Alcoholics have been helping families of alcoholics for years. Unfortunately, many alcoholics have to hit bottom before they realize they have a problem. By enabling them, friends and loved ones only prolong the addiction. Therefore, the best way to help an alcoholic recover is to take care of one's self, letting him go. In other words, "let go and let God", as the philosophy or Alcoholics Anonymous tells those worried about friends and family members who struggle with alcohol addiction.