The Alcoholic Treatment
Center

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The traditional alcoholic recovery programs are usually based on
the 12-step approach modeled after the twelve-step program of
Alcoholics Anonymous. Other alcoholism recovery programs,
however, take place in an alcoholic treatment center and are seen
as providing “alternative” recovery approaches that are not based
on the 12-step methodology.
No matter what the treatment methodology, the alcoholic
treatment center is staffed by professionals who are well-versed in
different treatment alcoholism and alcohol abuse
approaches.
Viable Alternatives to the 12-Step Recovery
Approach
Many of the
non-12-step "alternative" alcohol addiction treatment approaches
take place in a hospital or in an alcoholic treatment center that
provides alcoholism recovery via doctor-prescribed medications in
combination with intensive therapy or counseling.
Moreover, these non-traditional approaches usually deal with
alcohol dependency from both a psychological and physiological
framework.
Some of the more effective programs are more comprehensive than
others and focus on how the client will manage meaningful
relationships after he or she becomes sober.
Furthermore, some of the more successful alcohol recovery
programs have a holistic orientation that focuses on dealing with
and resolving key underlying issues that may have lead to the
person’s dependency in the first place: spirituality issues,
grief, poor financial management skills, loss, pain, poor coping
skills, anger management, career indecision, and poor interpersonal
relationship skills.
| It is important for drinkers to
realize that when they frequently abuse alcohol on a regular basis,
they increase the risk of becoming an
alcoholic. |
The Importance of Outpatient Follow-up
Counseling
When undergoing alcoholic
treatment, it is frequently important to get involved in an
outpatient “follow-up” program that starts as soon as the inpatient
part of the program terminates. Some of the more
successful recovery programs, for instance, provide outpatient
counseling and follow-up for one year after discharge from the
residential program. In other words, the more comprehensive
and more successful alcohol recovery programs are geared for
“long-term” success, rather than the “quick fix.”
The Recovery Environment
The “treatment” environment in which an alcoholic is involved is
an important recovery consideration. Some of the more
successful alcohol addiction recovery programs, for example,
provide a safe, involving, comfortable, stimulating, and positive
environment that leads to efficient, effective, productive, and
long-term treatment success.
While recovery programs can be expensive, the more successful
programs put financial gain aside and actually limit the number of
clients they accept for treatment at any one time. This is
done so that the staff can provide the time, effort, and resources
that quality treatment requires.
| The overriding plan of action
when experiencing a possible alcohol overdose situation is
this: Do not take chances when someone's life is at stake. If
you suspect that a person has alcohol poisoning or is overdosing on
alcohol, get immediate medical assistance, even if the person is
underage. |
Features of a Successful Alcoholic
Treatment Center
The following represents some of the key characteristics of
effective alcohol recovery programs:
- Intensive day and night counseling and therapy programs
- Doctor prescribed medications to help manage and cope with
alcohol withdrawal symptoms
- Private detox services
- Programs with different time periods and length of treatment
options that are tailored around the needs of each specific
client
- Outpatient programs that are individualized to “fit” the
personality, financial capabilities, and the needs of each
client
- Competitive pricing
- Doctor prescribed medications to help clients refrain from
alcohol relapse
- Hospital and non-hospital treatment options
- Hotel or treatment facility suites for out-of town clients
- A caring, professional, and results-oriented staff
- Success rates well beyond the national averages
| Since no level of alcohol
consumption during pregnancy has been proven safe, the March of
Dimes strongly urges pregnant women to refrain from all alcohol,
including beer, wine, wine coolers, and hard liquor during their
entire pregnancy AND also while nursing. |
Alcoholic Treatment Center:
Conclusion
Most of the traditional alcohol addiction recovery programs have
been and still are based on the 12-step recovery approach initiated
by Alcoholics Anonymous. Other, “non-traditional” alcoholism
approaches, however, have emerged that focus less on issues such as
“a higher power,” group dynamics and support, and frequent
meetings, and more on research-based protocols that center on
doctor-prescribed medications and intensive counseling.
Some of the more successful “alternative” alcoholism treatment
programs take place in a hospital setting or in an alcoholic
treatment center. Such treatment facilities are usually
staffed with professional, competent, and compassionate health care
practitioners who help alcoholics recover from their addiction,
learn more effective coping, relationship, and life skills, and who
teach the alcoholic how to reclaim his or her life.
| Researchers have discovered that
alcoholism is caused by two interacting aspects: genetics and
environmental factors such as peer pressure, one's family and
friends, the relative ease of obtaining alcohol, a person's
culture, and where and how a person
lives. |
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| The overwhelming majority of
youth cite their parents as the primary influence in their
decisions about whether they drink alcohol or
not. |
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