ADDICTION TO CRACK IN MY 50'S

Addiction to Crack in My 50s

Here I was a man of 55 in a sumptuous 4 bedroom/ 3 bathroom colonial on a San Diego cul de sac, and I was at the bottom. I didn’t know who to turn to as my wife of 28 years was away on a business trip with my 24-year-old daughter, Paula. My son, Kevin, was 21-years-old and away at Stanford University. I attempted to call him, but he changed his telephone number for the 4^th time this year. Anyway, I was lying on the floor with my heart practically beating out of my chest and sweat covered me like morning dew over a bed of grass. I attempted to go cold turkey but now as I reached for the telephone in my great room, I realized crack finally got the best of me after my addiction to the drug for nineteen years.

Many of us have heard of crack, but do we really know what it is? Crack is cocaine boiled with soda bicarbonate to trigger the base of cocaine. Cocaine is a distillate crystalline of leaves of coca, dissolved or snorted for injection. Crack is an anesthetic and stimulant of the central nervous system. Crack cocaine is approximately 75% of pure cocaine. Imagine a pound of cocaine is the result of 250 pounds of leaves of coca. According to Sigmund Freud’s paper “On Coca”, it is mentioned: “Cocaine brings about a lasting euphoria and exhilaration that in no way is different from the euphoria that’s normal in a healthy person…You perceive a self-control increase and possess more capacity and vitality for work…In other words you are basically normal, and it is soon difficult to believe you are under the influence of a drug…The result is enjoyed without unpleasant effects that normally follow exhilaration from the use of alcohol.” After a friend of Freud’s became psychotic due to an abuse to cocaine for morphine cravings, Freud was severely criticized for the value of cocaine publication, thus contributing to the popularity as medication for prescription. Today, cocaine has limited medical use.

In my early twenties, I was caught up in the drugs of the 1970s. I was addicted to heroin, marijuana, cocaine and alcohol. I became a complete mess as I was kicked out of college and had to move back home to Pensacola, Florida. After having to endure 3 months of constant reprimanding from my alcoholic father for living at home at 22 without a college degree or a job, I decided to move in with a friend. I wasn’t there long as my friend left town to pursue a music career with his rock band, so I went from place to place before I eventually lived on the streets. Although I didn’t have money for a decent meal, I was always able to find a way to get a hold of drugs. The first time I quit drugs and alcohol was when I finally got a job as a laborer through an employment agency in Ft. Lauderdale. That’s where I went to visit a church that advertised free lunches every other Sunday after morning service. At the church, that’s when I first laid eyes on the love of my life, Margot. In 1979, we married at her church in Ft. Lauderdale.

Five years later, Margot was a stay-at-home mother of our 1-year-old beautiful girl, Paula, and I was a supervisor of twenty-seven employees at AT&T in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. I worked my through going to college in the evenings and finally earned my Bachelors degree in business administration. I was promoted to district manager in 1986, and the following year I transferred to San Diego, California with my wife and two children. On the surface, life couldn’t be more beautiful for a kid that grew up in a trailer park with an alcoholic father and a mother that was a former showgirl turned absentee mother. However, my addiction to drugs and alcohol resurfaced once we moved to San Diego. I resumed my diet of drugs with cocaine and it wasn’t long before a co-worker introduced me to the pleasure in crack. Although I was well-respected at the office, I still felt the pressure of always being on top of my game. I was able to hide the addiction from my wife and children, but as time went on, I found it increasingly difficult to live a normal life without suffering from dizziness, headaches, nausea, erectile dysfunction (it nearly spoiled my marriage), mood swings and fatigue. Naturally, all of this affected my performance on the job and I lost my job as vice president of marketing at AT&T. Fortunately, my wife was doing well as a real estate broker, so I didn’t have to rush out and look for another job. However, I’ve been able to make extra money with several investments on the Internet.

After the telephone call to my physician from the floor of my great room, he diagnosed an irregular heartbeat due to my long-term use of crack. He suggested that I enter a drug treatment center in Malibu for three months. At first when I entered the drug treatment center, I had a bad attitude due to the fact most of the other patients were under 40. My attitude was imperious and arrogant, but deeply, I was embarrassed, insecure and frightened. During the detoxification process, I found a procedure that was worse than when I first dried out in 1977. This time I felt like this was going to be a point of no return. At the drug treatment center, I endured one-on-one analysis, group counseling, diet and fitness, and other programs of education and recreation. I purposely didn’t keep in contact with my wife and children during my stay at the drug treatment center. However, my wife and daughter never gave up on me and they made every attempt to visit. Today, I’ve been sober for three months and I’m now living a productive life as a drug and alcohol counselor at the drug treatment center. My wife and two children now have their old man back, and I thank God that he spared my life to enjoy the rest of the few years I have on earth.

My Story K. F., Chicago, IL

K. F., Chicago, IL

Being from a small town and moving to the big city is enough stress. I was a social drinker until I moved into the city. I had a tough time adjusting. I moved because of the job opportunities that were available in the city. I was to start my new job the following week after I settled into my apartment. The only thing that I was concerned about was the drug test. I never had to take a drug test before. The only people that I new that had to take a drug test where truck drivers and people who worked at the post office. I new that I would pass because I never took drugs. In fact, where I’m from, we don’t have a drug problem like they do in the city.

Anyway, the day before I was to start, I received a phone call from human resources. I was told that I didn’t have to bother showing up on Monday for the job orientation because I failed the drug test. I never new that if you drank alcohol that you could fail a drug test. I told human resources that I’m not a alcoholic, I only drank once in a while. Before moving to the city I had a few beers for celebration. I didn’t see anything wrong with it but I guess the company did.

I had a hard time finding an office job because the ones that I applied to required a drug test. Weeks passed and I had to settle for a non-office related job in order to pay the bills. That’s when I became depressed and began to drink more often. In the past, I drank occasionally. Since I moved into the city, I began to drink daily. I spent most of my money drinking and barely had enough money for rent. That’s when I decided to do something about my life. I didn’t want to move back to the country and have my family and friends see me the way I was, always drunk. I needed to clean up my act and then move back.

I went to the library and did research on the Internet for help. I found many organizations that helped people with drug and alcohol addictions. I found web sites such as abuse.org.il, abusesubstance.net and addictionrecovery.cc , just to name a few.

Then I found an ad post on a very popular classified advertising forum that caught my eye. It was a rehabilitation place that offered free programs and it offered room and board. It wasn’t what you called a traditional drug rehabilitation center. It was an alternative drug treatment center owned by a Vietnam vet and his wife who was a former nurse. This was a big mistake. My advice to anyone is to stick with reputable rehabilitation programs. There are many out there.

This so-called rehab program was located in the city outskirts in a 13-room mansion. There were 6 people living there already who where participating in the alternative rehab program administered by the couple. The wife walked around all day dressed in a long black dressed with her silver-gray hair tied up in a bun. The husband also wore all black. One night, I woke up from my sleep because I heard screaming coming from downstairs.

When I came out the room, the other patients where gathered around the balcony leaning against the railing over looking the downstairs living room parlor. When I asked what on earth was going on, one of the guys had said that they were exorcising one of the patients. WHAT? I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. The wife yelled out, “Ya’ll go on back to bed.” Then the husband said, “No, let them stay. Let them watch.”

I couldn’t believe it. “Drink no more! Drink no more! You demonoid!” yelled the man who was in charged of the exorcise. The person that they had pinned down to the floor was a middle-aged woman with long stringy red hair. She kept kicking and moving around on the floor with an angry expression on her pimply face with white foam coming out of her mouth. The wife was collecting the disgusting foam into a empty mayonnaise jar.

“What is your name?” The man asked the woman. Then she started speaking what sounded like French and her eyes where rolling in the back of her head. The others were standing around being entertained. Then the woman kicked the husband in the face and he fell back. The wife tried grabbing her but the woman got loose and ran and hid into the coat closet.

Then the wife practically out of breath asked if someone could bring her a clean white sheet. One of the guys standing around ran into his room and pulled his sheet from his bed and threw it down. The husband got up from the floor nursing his bloody nose with his handkerchief, opened the door and grabbed the woman by the neck in a head lock and dragged her out of the closet. The wife then wrapped the woman up in a sheet like a mummy. At that point, I had seen enough. That’s when I decided to pack up my things and leave. I walked all the way to the nearest convenience store and called a taxi to take me to the nearest hotel.

The next day, I went to the library and looked up rehabilitation centers, (reputable ones. I found addictiontreatmentcenter.biz and addiction.org.il to be very helpful.

I then found a drug treatment center that was only about 15 minutes north of the city. They had a good reputation with a good treatment program. Since I have joined the new treatment center, I have been clean for 2 years. I moved back to my small town and got a job at one of our local alcoholic’s anonymous programs as a counselor. Since I left that forsaken half-way house, I heard that it burned down and the couple along with their patients where killed in the fire. There are many programs out there claiming to help people who suffer from drug addiction. The key to a successful recovery from drugs is finding a reputable drug treatment program.

Tom G., Long Island, NY Rehab Story

-Tom G., Long Island, NY

Going to rehab was a great challenge for me. At first, I didn’t consider myself an alcoholic or drug user because, to me, I was able to hold my liquor, so-to-speak. To me, a drunk was someone that smelled like stale beans that you see wobbling around a train station platform begging everyone for a quarter. I was most certainly not a bum…I had a good job, a nice car and I lived in the suburbs.

“Hey, you have a quarter so I can get me a sandwich?” one train station drunk often begged me. “Get a life.” I would always say. I would often wonder how in the world a person can drink their lives away and walk around begging people for money so that they can get drugs and alcohol. GET A JOB, I told one drunk.

I worked very long hours in tech support at a bank. I had deadline after deadline. I had to constantly prove myself at work because if I didn’t, I would get laid off and replaced by a new hire, like many of my co-workers. So, I needed something to keep me awake and a couple of shots of caffeine in my coffee weren’t working anymore. I needed something that would keep me awake like a machine.

When caffeine didn’t work, I tried No-Dose from the local pharmacy. When that wore off, I needed something stronger so I started mixing alcohol in my Latte. When I mixed caffeine and alcohol, it kept me buzzed for hours. Some days I didn’t even go to sleep. I would work straight from 9:00 am to 8:00 am the next day. People in my department would leave work at 5:00 pm and come in at 8:00 am the following day and I would still be there behind my desk on my laptop working to meet deadlines. It worked out pretty well for me the first month or two until the alcohol began to take a great toll on my work performance.

One day, I was so tired, it was only 1:00 pm in the afternoon…I mean, I was exhausted. I kept falling asleep on the job. Some how, I don’t know how but I managed to place a glitch in our company’s computer system which caused some of the customers accounts to zero out. Customers were calling up and complaining that their money was missing, they all had zero balances. The department was on me like white on rice because of the mistake, I was lucky that I wasn’t fired on the spot. It took about 2-3 days to fix the problem.

My alcoholism didn’t only affect me at work. One day, on my way home from work, I fell asleep on the train and I wounded up in the train yard. It was the last stop and I didn’t get off because I was zonked out. I called out for help but the train was vacant. The doors wouldn’t open, I was stuck. Finally, I found an exit. I climbed out of an emergency window. I walked on the track heading back towards the train station and had to purchase another ticket to head back to my regular stop.

I kept missing the train because I couldn’t keep my eyes open to save my life. Finally, when I got home I got my second wind. I guess my double dose of caffeine and extra shots of alcohol kicked in. I decided to treat myself from a hard day of work at the local bar. When I got home I crashed and I didn’t wake up until 4:00 pm the next day. Two days later, my worst nightmare came true; I was fired from my job due to my poor attendance and work performance. I was replaced by a new hire. That’s when I came to the conclusion that I needed help. I had officially hit rock bottom. I was unemployed and a drunk.

I began to do research on drug and alcohol treatment centers on the Internet. I found a few helpful web sites such as drug-rehab-program.us, abusesubstancetreatment.biz and abusedrug.org.

I learned that my alcoholism basically took over my life; I couldn’t stop drinking if I wanted to. I brewed so much coffee that my room-mate thought I was opening a coffee shop. I would then mix anything with it, bourbon, rum and whiskey.

My room-mate told me that I looked like death and I needed help. He gave me a number to a rehabilitation facility out east on Long Island. He told me that his brother had a problem with alcohol and he has been drug-free for about 5 years after completing his drug treatment program. I decided to call the next day.

At drug rehab, I was sort of standoffish. I know it may sound rude but I felt sort of superior to many of the people who were patients there. Daily we would sit in a group and talk and participate in activities administered by one of the drug treatment counselors.

These people were druggies and drunks and I wasn’t. My alcoholism was due to my commitment at work; many of these people were dysfunctional and couldn’t hold down a job if their life depended on it. These were the ones who stood on the corner at 7:25 am begging men and women dressed in business suits for their hard-earned money so that they can invest in their daily fix, drugs and alcohol. At least I was able to afford my daily fix, besides; I didn’t drink alcohol straight from a bottle like many of these jokers. I had class and mixed it with my coffee. When I went to happy hour with the guys I drank in a glass…a glass means class.

It really bothered me that the counselors considered us all equals. I asked if I could have separate sessions from the others because I had absolutely nothing in common with them. Being with them and even seeing them walking down the hallway of the drug rehabilitation center was a constant reminder that I was in the midst of losers. I began to think that I was a loser. How in the world did I end up in a drug treatment program, I often wondered.

Then finally one day I discovered that I wasn’t a loser, those people in the drug treatment program weren’t losers. We were all winners because we decided to do something about it. We basically all had the same common goal…to live an alcohol and drug-free life.

My advice to anyone who is seeking help and you’re not sure where to find out information about drug and alcoholism treatment, there are many websites where you can find information such as: rehabilitationservices.us or drug-treatmentcenter.org. I have been drug-free for 3 ½ years now and becoming drug-free makes me feel as though I can accomplish anything in life, it’s the best decision that I’ve ever made.

http://mystory.blogspot.com

Bill’s Struggle With Life #3

Substance addiction treatment helps people to rid themselves of their substance abuse habit and get integrated back into society and leading independent lives. The substance addiction treatment is a long-term process that requires frequent and multiple episodes of physical and psychological detoxification and rehabilitation and no single treatment is appropriate. From the substance addicts’ perspective, the treatment needs to be readily available and the treatment and services plan has to assess often to be accordingly modified to meet the person’s changing needs.

For effective treatment the substance addict must remain fully committed to the entire treatment plan. As there is a tendency for addicts to leave treatment prematurely, de-addiction and rehabilitation programs must include means to keep the patient engaged, involved and in treatment. Counseling as well as behavioral therapies is crucial components of all effective and successful treatments. The first stage of substance addiction treatment is the medical management of the withdrawal symptoms.

Residential substance treatment programs can be very effective in cases of very severe substance abuse problems. These programs may involve living as apart of therapeutic communities for periods up-to 6 to 12 months. Nevertheless a strong motivation to quit the habit is a great facilitator but sanctions or coaxing by close and family members or even justice system can increase substantially both the entry to treatment and the retention of the individual.

According to an estimate the cost of illicit substance usage to society is close to $181 billion (2002). When substance abuse is combined with alcohol and tobacco, they exceed $500 billion, which includes cost of healthcare, criminal justice and lost productivity.

There is an increasing use prescription drugs among teens, the most common prescription drugs are Oxycontin and Vicodin. Prescription drug addiction is the intentional abuse of prescription drugs and these are most commonly made available through family and friends. There is a high prevalence of prescription drug abuse among teens. This increasing usage of prescription drugs is with a misplaced belief that these drugs provide a medically safe high as compared to street drugs.

The intentional abuse of prescription drugs to get a high, include the use of pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants and sedatives.

There are 3 major classes of prescription drugs:
1. Opioids such as codeine, oxy-codone, and morphine;
2. Central nervous system (CNS) depressants such as barbiturates and benzodiazepines;
3. Stimulants such as dextro-amphetamine and methylphenidate.

It is further observed that girls are more likely to intentionally using prescription drugs (abuse) rather than boys to get high. Adolescents are more likely to abuse prescription drugs than young adults. Close to 16% of teenagers (age 12 to 17 year olds) are abusing prescription drugs as compared to about 12.7% of young adults (age 18 to 25 years).

Research shows that around 57% of teens that abused prescription drugs say that they got these drugs from relatives or friends for free. Most alarmingly (62% or 14.6 million) adolescents say that they were able to get these drugs easily from their parents’ medicine cabinets.

Prescription drugs are second most abused drugs among teenagers (prescription drugs are the most abused drugs among 12-13 year olds) after marijuana and are a growing phenomenon. In 2004 there were close to 29% of teens that were dependent on tranquilizers, sedatives, amphetamines and other stimulants. Research shows that earlier the incidents of prescription drug abuse the more probability of it becoming a chronic drug abuse problem at a later age.

Substance abuse if left untreated adds up to significant costs to families and society. This includes costs related to violence and property crimes, prison expenses, court and criminal costs, emergency room visits, healthcare utilization, child abuse and neglect, lost child support, foster care and welfare costs, reduced productivity, and unemployment.

The key principles for substance abuse treatment are as follows:
1. A treatment regime must be customized for every individual.
2. The treatment must be available readily and as per an individuals’ condition.
3. An effective treatment regime covers the physical, psychological and emotional needs of the substance addict.
4. There must be a constant assessment of an individual’ treatment needs depending upon his response to the treatment.
5. It is most critical that the individual undergoes the complete treatment without periods of absence.
6. Counseling and behavioral therapies is key to successful treatment regimes.
7. It is not necessary that the treatment is voluntary in nature to be successful.
8. Treatment regimes must have assessment for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases so as to provide adequate counseling such that patients change or modify their behaviors which place them at a high risk of infection.

I had written a battle plan for after my rehabilitation from alcohol and substance abuse years ago.

· I begin my return to life with a clear mind and body.
· I intend to maintain myself only in present time. I will not be using illegal substances and daydreaming about my past.
· I will no longer associate myself with breaking laws and will adhere to good conduct, raising my ethics and maintaining my honor.
· I will not suppress people by controlling their advancement. Whenever I feel suppressed and ill, I will address the problem by confronting it and change it trying something different or disconnect from it entirely.
· I will examine all situations in my life and determine the condition and apply corrective formula charting the change in direction. I will apply this to all my dynamics and keep a daily list of what to do next.
· I will continue my progress on keeping and improving my health and physical appearance.
· I will treat people with friendliness, respect, kindness and empathy.
· I will conduct my business and relationships with fairness and will seek a fair exchange as my minimum standard. I will give exchange in abundance whenever it is pleasing and productive.
· I will set attainable goals, find the good in everything and produce a product that is exchangeable.
· I will concentrate all efforts around economizing and eliminating waste of my time and money.

Bill’s Struggle With Life #2

The first step towards alcohol detoxification was for me to realize that I had an alcohol addiction problem. The next most important step for me was to realize that professional help is required to quit the habit. Research has shown me that alcohol detoxification rehabilitation regimes (residential) of at least 3 months tenure have the most promising success rates. I didn’t how I was going to do it, but I was determined to achieve sobriety.

Alcohol detoxification like any other substance detoxification is a multi-stage, long-term process. While the physical detoxification is only the first step, it is essential but not sufficient. A successful recovery and independence is from alcohol usage is a long and slow process that requires the services of substance de-addiction professionals. For making a successful recovery, the alcohol addict needs to deal with situations and problems such as encountering acquaintances, which had been their partners in alcohol abuse and the environment, objects, and memories that trigger the craving for alcohol.

Success of any alcohol detoxification program is dependent upon the social support in terms of friends and family that can support the individual who is facing an alcohol addiction problem. Alcohol (beer, wine, and hard liquor) is the most commonly used and widely abused psychoactive substance. Heavy drinkers consume half of all the alcohol consumed in United States, and these are estimated to be close to 6.5 to 10% of the total population.

Alcohol consumption quickly depresses an individual’s inhibitions and judgment. Extreme mood swings – from euphoria to self-pity are typical intoxication characteristics associated with alcohol abuse. Close to 14 million people in the United States are know to be addicted to the use of alcohol (alcoholics). More men are alcohol dependent than women and young adults (ages 18 – 29) are more prone to show dependency on alcohol. Alcohol abuse leads to a number of health issues, ranging from brain damage, cancer, heart disease, to cirrhosis of the liver.

The major obstacles to addiction recovery can be classified as:

1. Ignorance

2. Shame

3. Dishonesty

4. Personal Exceptionalism

One of the first obstacles to addiction recovery is the substance addicts’ belief and practice of ignorance of the addiction problem and the need to a structured method and process towards recovery. The most effective way to counter this obstacle is to expose the substance addict to accurate medical information on the nature of addiction and the response by substance addicts.

The closely linked obstacles of ‘shame’ and ‘dishonesty’ are more difficult to understand and surmount. Nevertheless surmounting these two obstacles is essential as they determine level to which an addict would understand and realize his or her real condition and the need to seek professional help to come out of the addiction habit.

Shame and dishonesty are central to the psychological make up of a substance addict and are fueled by the substance addicts’ ignorance to the manner in which these affect his or her decision making towards seeking professional help. Finally recourse to ‘personal exceptionalism’ make the substance addict overcome his or her moral considerations, values and beliefs and makes it easier for him or her to continue his behavior and dependency on substances.

But the substance addicts’ recourse to ‘personal exceptionalism’ may lead to intense shame and humiliation, and make it difficult for him or her to accept external help for his problems.

In the state of ‘personal exceptionalism’ the substance addict is compelled to fulfill his or her grandiose and unrealistic expectation. A failure to live up to these expectations fills him or her with feelings of shame and humiliation.

As the substance addict is unable to surmount these obstacles and more precisely is caught in a vicious circle of ‘personal exceptionalism’ this results in a state of interpersonal alienation and a cessation of emotional growth. Substance rehab centers offer an opportunity to substance addicts to detoxify physically and also detoxify mentally and emotionally. Substance addiction is as much an emotional and mental issue as it is a physical issue. Thus in addition to trained medical help (in terms of physicians and nurses) substance rehab centers provide educational and social support mechanisms.

The objective of the substance rehab centers is to make the individual independent and productive to the society but at the same not feeling like a misfit. Substance rehab centers offer different rehabilitation programs, type of staff and supporting services. It is observed that making education an internal part of the rehabilitation program is integral for the success of programs, which are targeted towards teens. Comprehensive substance abuse treatment offered by rehab centers includes, treatment plan, pharmacotherapy, and behavioral therapy and counseling, clinical and case management, substance use monitoring, self-help and peer group support. In addition substance rehab centers provide vocational services, childcare services, family services, legal services, mental health services and educational services. But it is a know fact that the most important and difficult decision for the substance addict is to first realize that he/she has a substance abuse problem and secondly to decide that he or she needs to check into a substance rehab center.

A substance addict going along with the treatment and staying with the therapy is a direct indicator of the success of the rehabilitation program and the substance rehab centers are key factors in creating such an atmosphere and offering services that will enable the substance addict in treatment and therapy. The substance rehab center aims to not only make the substance addict quit the habit but also be independent of the taking decisions while being productive to the society. Creation of peer-groups and enabling of social networks are the key services that a substance rehab center must provide.

One of the key factors towards successful substance rehabilitation is to get the individual motivated to change his or her substance using behavior in addition to the extent of support that the family and friends can provide. Thus counseling is an integral part of all substance rehabilitation services where successful counselors establish and reinforce a positive, therapeutic and social relationship with the individual. I certainly benefited from it and now I can proudly say I’ve been clean and sober for over twenty years.

Bill’s Struggle With Life #1

Bill’s Struggle With Life #1

“My name is Bill…and I am an alcoholic.”

For me, alcohol rehabilitation was a slow, long and a deliberate process, targeted at the alcohol addict within me and with an objective to make me quit the habit and become (truly) independent again. Alcohol rehabilitation programs and services need to be customized for each individual, and need to be constantly assessed and appropriately modified to meet the changing needs of the alcohol addict.

In addition to the physical rehabilitation and detoxification, there is a need for counseling and psychotherapy including medical services to continually change medication to suite my needs. The most ideal treatment regime combines therapies and other services. These are treatment plans, pharmacotherapy, and behavioral therapy and counseling, clinical and case management, substance use monitoring, self-help and peer group support. In addition alcohol rehab centers provide vocational services, childcare services, family services, legal services, mental health services and educational services.

The effectiveness of rehabilitation regimes is dependent upon the understanding of the patient’s issues and problems, and the treatment components and requisite services that are used to address the patient issues and finally the degree of the patient involvement in the treatment process.

In the year 2004, nearly 2.5 million Americans over the age of 12 needed some form of treatment and rehabilitation services for substance (alcohol) abuse, but of these only 3.8 million people received it. An alcohol rehabilitation center provides services that determine whether a patient would stay in treatment and if issues beyond the physical detoxification such as social and psychological issues are addressed adequately or not. The outcome of the rehabilitation services program is to not only make the alcohol addict quit the habit but also be independent in taking decisions and finally be productive to the society.

For me, that had an alcohol abuse habit, the alcohol rehabilitation residential program provided the support and means to enable me to come out of the habit. In cases where individuals have been out of the job market for alcohol abuse related issues, these rehabilitation programs also provide skill development for these individuals to acquire jobs again. But most importantly the alcohol rehabilitation programs provide emotional support to enable individuals to stop using alcohols, be independent and take the right decisions.

An integral part of such programs is to provide educational support as it is observed that most of the young individuals who have an alcohol habit, have dropped out of school and don't have the necessary skills and education to get into the job market.

An ideal alcohol rehabilitation and treatment center offers a variety options that are suited to an individual needs, such as inpatient, residential, outpatient, (short-stay, -stay options). An on site 24 hr medical (physician and nurses) support is essential to ensure a safe withdrawal process. They also ensure the medical progress of the individual and make necessary adjustments.

The length of stay in an alcohol rehabilitation center and the choice of inpatient and residential etc. program depend on the severity and stage of the alcohol usage. Local, state and federal governments fund majority of alcohol rehabilitation as alcohol addiction and abuse is a social issue. Treatment for alcohol abuse and addiction is delivered in many different settings, using a variety of behavioral and pharmacological approaches

In the United States itself there are close to 11,000 specialized alcohol treatment facilities that provide rehabilitation, counseling, behavioral therapy, medication, case management, and related services that provide support to individuals with various alcohol abuse habits.

Alcohol rehabilitation programs play an important part in re-establishing an individuals’ faith in them and enable the individual to be a productive part of society. Alcohol addiction refers to the repeated intake of alcohols resulting in tolerance or need for more amounts of the alcohol to achieve the same effect or high, followed by a withdrawal, which refers to physical effects when the use of alcohol declines or stops. Alcohol addiction could be caused by alcohol, cannabis, amphetamines, and cocaine to name a few.

The addiction rehab center must provide a complete detoxification solution.

The goal of detoxification is to get the body rid of the toxins that have accumulated as a result of alcohol usage. As a result of this the body shows withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol withdrawal is defined as "the act or process of ceasing to use an addictive alcohol."

Detoxification programs need to go beyond just physical detoxification and focus more on counseling and psychological causes of the person’s alcohol addiction issue.

Alcohol detoxification may be viewed as three distinct phases:

1. Medical Detoxification: A trained medical professional (physician or nurse) needs to supervise and oversee the withdrawal symptoms in terms of safety and minimum complications.

2. Physical Detoxification: At this stage the body needs to develop physical strength and here the role of a nutritionist is essential.

3. Emotional Detoxification: The rebuilding of emotional health through counseling sessions, social networking and skill rebuilding is essential. This ensures that the individual is able to become an integral part of the society and not feel isolated.

Alcohol rehabilitation is a multi-stage and a long terms process with an objective to change the addicts view about him or her self in terms of building my self-esteem and confidence.

Most alcohol rehab centers are not for profit organizations committed to the social cause of providing support to individuals who are grappling with an alcohol abuse problem and make them independent and socially productive. Alcohol rehab centers are government run (federal and or state). The alcohol rehab center aims to not only make the alcoholic quit the habit, but also be independent of making decisions while being productive to society.

I didn’t know how long it would take me to get used to the idea that I was no longer in my comfort zone with rehabilitation services. I always thought of myself as master of my own domain. However, that thought couldn’t be further away from the truth. I was addicted to alcohol and substances for over twenty years. Fortunately, rehabilitation was helpful in turning me into a better husband, better father and a better man.