Originally posted on https://thecorecenters.com/alcohol-and-drug-rehabilitation/

 

Drug or alcohol rehabilitation is often referred to simply as rehab. Rehab is the process of treatment for addiction to a psychoactive substance such as alcohol, prescription drugs, or street drugs through medical or psychiatric treatments or both.

If you or someone you love is facing daily life with a substance use disorder (SUD) finding a rehab that meets your needs is the first step for a better life. And no matter how bad things are now, a better life, one with happiness and peace of mind, is possible.

Take the first step and change your story today. Your past doesn’t need to define you any longer.

Substance use disorders or addiction to drugs or alcohol impacts millions of people in the United States every year. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health in 2015 21.7 million Americans needed treatment for a substance use problem.  Whether you or someone you love is suffering from this disease you aren’t alone. There is help and there is hope.

Understanding Substance Use Disorders

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) substance use disorders are chronic, long-term illnesses like asthma, hypertension, or diabetes. It can—and does—impact people from every gender, race, age, income level, educational background, area of employment, and family background.

There are certain factors that contribute to whether or not someone develops a SUD but it can happen to anyone.

Factors impacting addiction:

• Genetics or family history of addiction
• Environment growing up
• Psychological issues
• Stress

Many people drink alcohol or experiment with drugs and don’t become addicted. However, many do become addicted and once past a certain point in their alcohol or drug use are no longer able to control this and it becomes a dependence.

Researchers have found that for certain people after a certain point in their drinking or drug use there are changes in the brain. These changes make the person dependent and can last even after stopping drinking or drugs.

This is just one reason why finding a rehab with the right treatment programs is an essential first step on the road to recovery. And recovery is possible. Thousands recover from drug and alcohol addiction.  They change their story one step at a time—you can too.

Signs of a Substance Use Disorder

For some people, it’s hard to recognize they have a problem with drugs or alcohol. Many are in denial about it. Very often it’s the family members and close friends of the person with an addiction who can see the signs.

If you think that you or someone you love may have an issue here are some telltale symptoms of addiction:

• Continuing use of alcohol or drugs despite negative consequences (loss of a job, loss of relationships, legal issues, health problems, etc.)
• Developing a tolerance (more of the substance is needed and taken to reach that ‘high’)
• Craving the substance when they aren’t actively using it and becoming irritable during these times.
• Losing control (an inability to stop, drinking or taking more than planned, using or drinking when they said they wouldn’t or didn’t’ want to, unable to reduce amounts used, etc.)
• Experiencing physical withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking or taking the substance.

There are millions of people who face addiction every day. In fact, according to the National Institutes on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) about 16 million people in the United States have a problem with alcohol. Many of these people can and do recover. You can too.

According to the 2016 report but the United State’s Surgeon General, “Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health,” 21 million Americans have a substance use disorder and every 19 minutes someone in America dies from an opioid or heroin overdose.

Don’t become one of these statistics. Take the first step today.

Rehab for Alcohol or Drugs

Going to rehab for drugs or alcohol can be scary. When you are used to living with alcohol and/or drugs every day the thought of a day, even a few hours without that substance can make you fearful and anxious.

But living with addiction can be scary too.

When you take the first step, you’ll discover a life free from many fears and anxieties waiting for you.

There are different types of rehabs all of which offer different types of treatment programs. It’s most common for the professionals in treatment centers to be licensed or certified substance abuse counselors. According to SAMHSA, about half of these professionals are in recovery too.

When you go to rehab, the first step should be an evaluation. This will assess several things in order for the treatment team to know what type of treatment you or your loved one needs as well as create an effective treatment plan specifically designed for your recovery.

At The Core Centers in Florida, the small, intimate setting enables not only a personalized plan for each client to be developed but also the one on one attention needed to fully support you in each phase of treatment.

You can expect an assessment to cover the following:

• Type of substance(s) used, how much, for how long, last time used
• Current medications
• Medical history
• Mental health issues
• Family history of addiction
• Family and social issues or needs
• Legal problems
• Current living situation
• Previous treatments

There may be more topics discussed such as employment, education, and financial issues. This is dependent on each person and each rehab’s specific assessment process.

After a thorough assessment is made, a course of treatment will be suggested. Sometimes input from family members is requested to provide further insight. At this time, medically assisted detox and treatment may be suggested. This is often suggested for people with a dependency on alcohol or opioids as withdrawal can not only be so difficult it contributes to relapse but also it can be life-threatening.

Types of Rehab Programs

There are different types of rehabs. Following your assessment, a course of treatment including the suggested type of rehab will be discussed. The most common types of rehab are inpatient and outpatient. Within these, there are different programs to meet each person’s unique treatment needs. From intensive outpatient treatment and partial hospitalization programs to inpatient treatment offering dual diagnosis care and life skills programs a good rehab facility will be able to not only get you safely through detox but also prepare you for life in long-lasting recovery.

No matter what your (or your loved one’s) current situation, no matter how far down you have become, no matter how dependent on drugs or alcohol there is help and there is hope. You can find freedom from addiction and discover a life of happiness and peace of mind.

Take the first step today.