FEATURED
Sticky
Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol addiction is a slow and silent killer, and takes the lives of countless of Americans every year. While alcohol consumption in small quantities isn’t considered to be harmful, it is the abuse of alcohol, over long periods of time that can be destructive, even deadly. This is because alcohol can damage the liver, heart, brain, and central nervous system. Over time alcohol can result in cirrhosis of the liver, liver failure, heart attacks, strokes and brain damage. Alcohol addiction can also be damaging to personal and family relationships, productivity at work, and can cause reckless, irrational behavior.
What is Alcohol Addiction?
Alcohol addiction is defined as a compulsive need for alcohol and its intoxicating effects. Alcohol addiction is present when an individual craves alcohol to the point where nothing else will satisfy them. Another sign of alcoholism is when the individual cannot control or limit their own drinking, and often binge drink to the point of vomiting or a blackout. Those addicted to alcohol may also experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms if they haven’t had a drink in a few days. These can include the shakes, irritability, nausea, sweating, anxiety, and vomiting. For those suffering from an alcohol addiction, one of the best things you can do is to admit yourself in some type of alcohol rehabilitation center.
Alcohol Treatment Centers in Illinois
Illinois currently has some of the best alcohol treatment clinics in the country. These alcohol treatment facilities have helped thousands of Illinois residents break their addiction to alcohol once and for all, by offering a comprehensive treatment strategy that addresses the very core of the problem. While alcohol treatment groups can be excellent places to learn about addiction and better ways of developing strategies to fight this problem, they often fail to get to the real issue of why you started drinking in the first place. Alcohol treatment clinics take a more comprehensive approach by using a combination of doctors, medications, counseling, and intensive therapy to get to the physical and psychological roots of the addiction.
Does Alcohol Treatment Work?
Alcohol treatment works by taking a multi-faceted approach towards alcohol rehabilitation. These include physical and psychological counseling, group therapy, addiction education, as well as a successful strategy of how to cope without alcohol in the future. Most alcohol rehabilitation programs contain three primary stages, detoxification, therapy and counseling, and aftercare.
The first stage, detoxification, is the process of aiding the body to rid itself of any alcohol that may be in the system. This may include a variety of detox medications to help aid in the alcohol withdrawal symptoms the patient may be having. After detoxification is complete, the patient will begin a series of intensive one-on-one counseling sessions, as well group therapy, behavioral therapy, lectures, discussion groups, physical exercise, as well as many other rehabilitation related services. Here they will learn the skills they need to help them stay off alcohol and avoid the situations that can lead to alcohol abuse.
Once the individual has completed their therapy they have the option of going into a sober living, or halfway home environment where residents are monitored with curfews and random drug testing to ensure they are keeping sober. They must also get a job, pay rent, and maintain an alcohol and drug free environment. These sober living homes often create an ideal environment for recovering alcoholics to support each other in their sobriety, as well as seamlessly integrate back into society.
