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.