It’s been a tough day and many people look forward to pouring a drink, settling down in an easy chair and relaxing. Or as one person put it, “I have a meeting with ‘Jack’ after work.” Whatever the ritual, alcohol and relaxation are paired together, as if relaxation were not possible without alcohol. There is that temporary feeling that all is well, as the troubles of the day melt away. However, for those who abuse alcohol or are alcoholics, the flip side of that relaxing moment is anything but pleasant. Take away the alcohol and life becomes rather difficult.

According to Deborah A. Finn, PH.D. and John C. Crabbe, PH.D., alcohol withdrawal syndrome is characterized by hyperactivity of the nervous system.* People use alcohol as a means of relaxation. It is a central nervous system depressant. Finn and Crabbe explain that the hyperactivity is triggered by the brain’s attempt to “function normally despite the inhibitory effect of chronic alcohol consumption.”

Simply stated, the brain thinks there’s something wrong if alcohol is not present. The of the calming effects of the alcohol turn into opposite reactions. The person can become agitated and anxious, and they crave a drink to feel better. In medical terms, the alcohol-induced cycle neuronal inhibition and excitation is taking place. Once depressed, the central nervous system becomes over activated. You’ve heard of seeing “pink elephants” when a person is coming down off of alcohol. This is a visual disturbance, and audio disturbances are also common. The person might develop a headache and feel sick, like an extreme hangover. The severity of these symptoms are dependent on the individual. For those experiencing withdrawal, there is often the craving for a drink to rid themselves of the discomfort. A hangover for most people is just a mild form of alcohol withdrawal. For the chronic drinker, the alcoholic, the symptoms can be much more severe.

Coming off of alcohol can be uncomfortable, as the hallucinations, or delirium tremens usually occur between 48 and 72 hours after taking the last drink. People can become disoriented. Worse yet, some have experienced heart attacks and grand mal seizures, leading to death in a small percentage of people.

Alcohol withdrawal, even for people who are highly motivated, can be a true battle for health and well being. If a withdrawal is not treated, it could lead to more severe withdrawals in the future. Therefore, withdrawal and detoxification should have a medical component, as management of the symptoms is needed. Withdrawal is the major stumbling block in treatment, because the alcoholic’s brain is craving the alcohol to get back to “normal.” It is possible to go through detoxification without the agony of the withdrawal symptoms, as medical treatment is available. Patients can go into treatment without having to suffer the extreme discomfort, or worry about the life-threatening consequences. Medicines to assist in this process have helped restore normal brain function, and allow people to move to the next step in the treatment process. By easing the detoxification and withdrawal process, the chances for success in treatment are greatly enhanced.

We are body, mind and spirit. The medical has made great strides in treating the body and mind, making successful treatment and recovery more probability than possibility. There is always the possibility, however, of relapse. The spirit needs treatment in recovery. The elimination of pain and discomfort is huge in freeing the spirit.

An addictive drug is one that causes uncontrollable and compulsive drug craving, seeking and the use of the drug, even if one is aware of negative effects and social implications. A person starts getting physically dependent on such drugs or alcohol, requiring it to pursue even day-to-day activities.

In absence of availability of the alcohol or drugs, a person feels lost and irritated. The lack starts affecting the normal behavior and such a person just cannot function till he/she is able to take a shot of that particular drug. A person might also turn to crime to lay hands on the banned substance. The figures revealed via extensive research on the cases brought to the various drug and alcohol rehabs or treatment centers give a clear indication how deep the abuse has seeped into society.

An addiction usually starts from a single try, after which, the repeated use ultimately results in being addicted to the substance. An addict requires lot of strength and courage to accept that he/she is addicted. This is usually the first step towards de-addiction. However, addicts require lot of help and support, as well as love and acceptance to kick off the habit.

Treatment centers:

Approaching the drug and alcohol rehabs or treatment centers is the best way to get rid of addiction. There are various Rehabilitation Centers across the globe, which help addicts to give up the craving. An addict might choose the drug and alcohol rehabs or treatment centers either by self-will or forcefully, by the way of family or peer pressure or a court ruling.

The drug and alcohol rehabs or treatment centers help to bring about a change from the negative behavior and addiction, to a normal healthy lifestyle. Going through the procedures within the drug and alcohol rehabs or treatment centers involves a very emotional decision for the addict, as well as the family members and friends. Withdrawals:

A rehab program will require great determination and constraint from the addict to come out of the addiction and stay drug or alcohol free. In many cases, after successfully coming out of addiction, a person succumbs again, after initial restraint ranging from few weeks to a couple of months. This is usually because addictive drugs remain as stresses in the fats of the body and they are released in small quantities into the blood stream if a person goes through stress or anxiety.

In the face of these “small kicks”, the body craves for more drugs or alcohol leading a person back into addiction. Every person that walks into a rehab center is a different individual, with different physical and psychological factors leading the condition and different reasons to use drugs or alcohol. Different people will have different addictions and hence, they cannot be treated in a same manner. It is the responsibility of the drug and alcohol rehabs or treatment centers to provide all possible support and motivation to an addict as well as provide all help and treatment, to lead a normal and healthy life.

It is very rare that you will find an addicted individual asking for help in finding a drug rehab facility. That is the reason for an alcohol and drug intervention. Whether a family is ready to confront their loved one with an effective solution to their addiction or not, just by researching this on the internet shows you are ready to make this move. A successful drug and alcohol rehabilitation program is the most important thing for people who have a loved one addicted to drugs or alcohol.

Drug and alcohol interventions are very effective if done the proper way. Having the family willing to do this is the most important and always the first step. Once the family realizes this problem can not go on the intervention company is the next step. The intervention coordinator will then go over what steps need to be taken to have the most effective intervention as possible. Once everyone is on the same page the interventionist will fly out to meet with the family. The meeting before the actual intervention is usually called “family day.” Usually the day before the actual intervention, family day, is vital to having an intervention go smoothly. Of course we are talking about a person who has been lying, cheating and possibly even stealing so smoothly in regards to what a drug and alcohol intervention is dealing with.

During family day, the intervention specialist will educate everyone involved about enabling, tough love, addiction, drug rehab programs, and most important getting the family strong enough to sit down and with so much intention and love, get the addicted individual to finally accept help. I understand how bleak the outlook is but 90 percent of the person of the people struggling with alcohol or drugs will accept the help and chooses to go into a residential drug rehab. The best situation of course is a person to enter into long term drug rehab but the first step is just getting him or her to go.

One of the most common reasons a person is scared of going is experiencing the physical withdraw from drugs like heroin, prescription drugs like painkillers, and alcohol. One of the things that an interventionist can help with is finding not only a proper treatment center but also a medical detox to keep a person from having to go through extreme pain and discomfort. A quality medical detox will offer a comfortable living environment and about 1-2 weeks of treatment to taper a person down so they can safely enter into a alcohol and drug rehab center. As a matter of fact some treatment centers will require to be medically detoxed before enrollment into their facility. Many of the private drug rehabs have a detox on site and can offer medical treatment and also rehabilitation as well as an aftercare program.

Realize that overcoming an addiction to drugs or alcohol is not an easy task. If it was our country would not have over 22 million addicted individuals. What we need to do is recognize the problem than come together as a team and do whatever it takes to save this person that we love and care about so much. There are only three things that will happen to a person who is addicted to drugs and alcohol. They will die, go to jail, or go to rehab and get help. That’s it and the last is the best option for anyone.

To find out more call 1-800-391-4893 or go to http://www.alcohol-drug-treatment.com

Alcohol rehabilitation treatment providers are nearly universally wedded to the outdated 12-Step model that only works for approximately ten percent of the men they were designed for, much less for women. Women, and their usually differing needs, motivations, and solutions, are merely lumped into this one-size-kinda/sorta-fits-all category with predictably poor results.

Many women find it impossible to access help that addresses their particular circumstances, life stages, degrees of alcohol involvement, and other relevant factors. This isn’t surprising, because there are very few programs available that offer these services. Since women generally are more comfortable talking about problems rather than actively making the changes necessary to solve them, we tend to shy away from newer models of treatment that ask more of us. This is unfortunate. The older, 12-step model of treatment, that is readily found in group meetings, undermines our strengths and plays into the “victim” mentality that society imposes on women who drink too much, rather than addressing individual women and their unique situations.

Are their better options available? Of course there are, though they’re harder to find. Real change involves more than conferring a label like “alcoholic” and prescribing a series of rituals. Rooting out a problem, or eliminating its negative consequences, means assessing a woman’s strengths, interests, and needs. It also means changing her day-to-day life in ways that are fulfilling and motivating. It’s really about changing oneself so that specific problems no longer have fertile ground to grow in.

Alcohol abuse or dependence isn’t something that occurs in isolation. Getting over it can’t be addressed as either a single problem unrelated to the rest of one’s life, or an activity that can be altered without other changes also occurring. Such life-altering steps need and deserve good support.

Good support in this case is actually a little different than what we, as women, tend to migrate towards. Research in women’s development finds that under stress we tend to regress towards group conformity rather than move forward towards individually based solutions. What this means is that we are more comfortable choosing a socially acceptable solution rather than one that might really works for us. However, alcohol abuse is highly individual, therefore long-term solutions need to be equally unique.

Remember, alcohol misuse, ranging from abuse to dependence to addiction, is not an equal opportunity, nor necessarily, progressive condition. Effectively intervening and relieving a specific woman’s symptoms means accurately assessing strengths, interests, circumstances, and preferences. Only then can an action plan be devised that addresses all of the components that have led to the current problems – a plan that is based on her wishes and needs, not onebased on an imposed, and largely inapplicable, model.

Professional help can make the process much more effective and efficient. Look for programs that take into account individual goals and needs, not those of the program or counselor merely looking to acquire another long-term client. Intensive short-term assessment and planning followed by implementation and follow-up should lead to substantial permanent change in less than a year.

Often when I teach alcohol awareness classes clients ask, “How do you know you have a drinking problem?” This article will address some key indicators that your social drinking habit has turned into a problem-drinking pattern.

Let’s begin by stating that no person has one drink and is immediately it is a problem. Heavy drinking and alcoholism are developed over long periods of time. Of course the period of time will differ from person to person.

Your Genes Can Play A Role

And as is the case with many health issues, genetics play an important role. If one or more of your parents or other immediate family members is an alcoholic you too may have a genetic predisposition toward alcoholism. However, just because your parents may be alcoholics, there is no reason you too have to suffer from this illness.

Choosing not to drink is personal. It is a choice in which your genes have no say. Choosing not to consume too much is also personal. You have the power and the control over your actions. Even if you do not believe you have a problem, I ask you to re-evaluate your drinking at the end of this article.

Are You a Heavy Drinker?

Heavy drinking is a pattern of alcohol consumption found in almost all alcoholics. Heavy drinking is defined as having 5 or more alcoholic beverages on the same occasion five or more times in the past month.

As a recovering alcoholic, I can tell you that nearly every time I partook in the consumption of alcohol, I had five or more drinks – usually many more.

Recent statistics have shown that approximately 17 million people in the United States are classified as heavy drinkers. That is almost 7% of the entire population 12 and older. If you only look at those of legal drinking age, 21, almost 12% are considered to fall into the pattern of heavy drinking.

If you are a heavy drinker, it is quite likely you have a drinking problem and should seek help from a group like Alcoholics Anonymous, or if you prefer, try taking an online alcohol awareness course.

Are You Ashamed or Embarrassed by Your Drinking?

Despite public perception, most alcoholics feel a strong sense of shame or guilt about their heavy drinking and alcoholic tendencies. Even when they are in the earliest stages of alcoholism, while they still deny to themselves that they are addicted to alcohol, drinkers feel guilty.

They also tend to embarrass themselves in front of their friends, their family and their work colleagues, because of their actions after drinking too much. Perhaps it is getting a DUI, or just making a total fool of themselves due to their inebriated state.

Again, if you feel ashamed or embarrassed by the amount you drink or how often you drink, it is important you evaluate whether or not you have a drinking problem. The odds are, you do.

What Have You Got to Hide?

Many alcoholics are what we call “closet alcoholics.” This group tends to hide their drinking from as many people as possible. They may only go to bars far away from their homes and work. Or they may prefer to drink only in the privacy of their own home.

Some alcoholics go much farther to hide their addiction to alcohol. Alcoholics have been known to keep a bottle hidden in their office drawer for a quick shot in their coffee. Some hide a bottle in their car or closet. A surprising number of problem alcoholics go so far as to fill water or 7 Up bottles with vodka.

Seriously, if you are a “closet alcoholic” and exhibit any of the symptoms listed above, I urge you to seek help right away.

In closing, I encourage each of you to quit drinking for 30 days. See if you feel better. Be aware of your moods, good and bad (there may be some doozies at the beginning if you are a heavy drinker).

Despite its legal status, it is important to be aware that alcohol is a drug and its use must be controlled. If you or anyone you know may be suffering from alcohol dependence, please have them seek help immediately. There are online options to take voluntary and involuntary courses on alcohol rehabilitation.

Addiction to drugs or alcohol has ruined the lives of countless people and their families worldwide. Many addicts either don’t believe or refuse to believe that they have a problem. It is common that many drug addicts and alcoholics hit “rock bottom” for their eyes to finally be opened. It is then that they slowly begin to put the pieces of their lives back together. They can be counted among the lucky ones. If you or someone you love is being crushed under the weight of addiction, get help now! Don’t wait until everything, including relationships, is lost forever.

The first step to getting your (or a loved one’s) life back is to determine whether a problem really exists. The answer to this might seem obvious to those on the “outside” but when it’s you dealing with addiction, the answers may not be so clear. Here are some useful questions that can determine whether or not a problem exists with drugs or alcohol:

Are you unhappy with the way your life is going? Do you feel you might have a problem with drugs or alcohol? Are you preoccupied with thoughts of using drugs or drinking alcohol? Can you stop drinking after one glass? Do you use drugs continuously? Is drinking affecting your reputation? Is drug use or drinking causing problems with your job? Have your relationships been negatively affected? Is drug use or drinking causing you financial difficulties? Do you hide drugs or alcohol from friends or family? Do you lie about your drug use or drinking? There are many more assessment questions that can be asked but, if you answered yes to these questions, a problem exists which should be addressed immediately.

The next step is getting help. Finding the right rehabilitation facility is extremely important. For example, it is best to find a facility located away from the people, situations and locations which can distract focus from the recovery process. Also, it can be dangerous to remain nearby because people and destructive patterns of behavior can trigger a relapse. Examine the philosophy of the rehabilitation center carefully. Do they offer an all-encompassing approach to rehabilitation which supplies the necessary mental tools to strengthen the recovery process? Or is it merely a detoxification and withdrawal management program? Find a center that has been successful in achieving long term results. People come from different backgrounds, perspectives and challenges. Effective treatment will occur when a treatment plan is customized to the addict seeking help.

Finally, many successful rehab centers offer a combination of holistic and naturopathic practices combined with traditional medicine. The idea behind this is that a holistic approach is employed to support and strengthen physical, mental and spiritual health while the naturopathic approach is employed to bring about positive changes in diet, nutrition, homeopathy, physical manipulation, stress management and exercise. This allows the body to begin to heal itself from within. A quality rehabilitation center will offer a proven success rate, affordable treatments, a quality guarantee and have many positive client testimonials. Don’t be afraid to ask to review these things!

Getting help is not easy but the rewards cannot be expressed with words. Achieving a joyful, addiction free life is not impossible. Don’t try to do it alone because you are not alone. First, take an alcohol or drug abuse assessment test, like the on the River Source Washington Drug Rehab site. Do some research. Call a rehab center. Evaluate how helpful the staff is. Ask about their treatment programs and how successful they are. Remember to pick one outside of your home state. You can reclaim your life!

Christian Alcohol treatments are specifically designed for men and women who find comfort in the Word and believe in the ideals proclaimed in the Bible. These centers try to help Christians and their families face the harsh effects of alcoholism and step onto the long path of recovery and reconciliation. Often quotes and excerpts from the Bible are used while conducting the programs. Along with spiritual healing, these centers offer traditional treatment procedures such as relapse prevention, face to face counseling and alcohol abuse education. Information on good nutrition and other psychological values are also imparted. The life skills units help the applicants to focus on God and Christian program curricula.

The Christ-centered rehabilitation programs focus on the healing powers of Jesus Christ. They attempt to show the person a life subsequent to the one shattered by alcoholism. The program comprises of Bible study, spiritual workshops, outside recovery meetings and individualized alcoholism treatment plans. Apart from this, individual alcohol counseling and relapse prevention counseling are also offered.

There is a huge demand for Christian alcohol treatment centers as they focus on the teachings of Jesus Christ. Christian drug rehabilitation proves to be highly effective because the alcoholic is able to feel a higher power and the whole community, helping him to overcome the destructive addiction. He is able to envision a life, beyond the mess he is in. Christian alcohol treatment centers guide their clients through a cleansing process of the mind and body.

This treatment offers medical attention if necessary and remedial sessions, both one-on-one and in groups. The alcoholics come to terms with the fact that despite all their efforts, they need the support of their family and friends and prayers to help them in their plight. These centers tend to focus on the power of healing instead of medication.

Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in Maryland

Alcohol abuse and drug addiction is a problem for millions of Americans. Whether it is inherited or society related, drug addiction and alcohol addiction cause tremendous damage to those people that come in contact with the drug addict or alcoholic. Fortunately, there are alcohol rehab programs and drug rehab centers across the country that assists addicts, alcoholics and their families with the process of alcoholism treatment and drug addiction treatment.

Different Alcohol Rehab Approaches in Maryland

Different alcohol rehabs and drug rehab programs take different approaches, but the philosophy is usually the same – if you are suffering from alcohol abuse and can not manage to control your drinking, you are probably alcoholic. Most quality alcohol rehab programs in Maryland use medications to help the alcoholic and addict manage their alcohol withdrawal or drug withdrawal. Alcohol detox generally takes between five and seven days, depending on how much alcohol you were drinking, how frequent and a variety of other factors. Alcohol detox should take place in a medically monitored alcohol detox unit, within the alcohol rehab program.

Alcohol Rehab and the Family

It goes without saying that the family of an alcoholic in Maryland suffers right along with the alcoholic. As such, the alcohol rehab program you choose, should have a comprehensive family recovery program. This does not mean that a family member speaks with a alcohol rehab therapist once a week and meets with the alcohol rehab counselor upon discharge from the alcohol rehab. A family program should be at least a four day treatment experience at the alcohol rehab program for the family and alcoholic.

If you are looking for a quality alcohol rehab program, you can call the national alcohol rehab helpline at 1-800-511-9225 or go to their website at www.recoveryconnection.org.

Alcohol is often mentioned in one breath with drugs, especially when the subject is abuse or addiction. More often, alcohol is referred to as a separate substance and in fact, its abuse is often discussed separately from that of drugs. But can alcohol be considered a drug?

Drug defined

If a textbook definition is used, a drug may be defined as a substance that has an effect on living cells and their function and is also used for medical purposes for the diagnosis, prevention and cure of disorders and diseases. As such, alcohol may not be considered as a drug since it is not used directly to effect a cure. However, it is also a substance that can have similar effects to drugs to disinfect, act as an analgesic, a tranquilizer or rarely, a stimulant.

The link between alcohol and drugs

Alcohol is said to possibly be a contributor to health as some are some drugs, but alcohol, like some drugs can be addictive. When used in moderate amounts, alcohol has been said to improve cardiovascular health. However, health experts discourage non-drinkers to start drinking alcohol for the sole reason of benefiting the heart. They recommend that other methods such as exercising and eating a good diet, should be considered as the first line of defense.

As an addictive substance, alcohol can be as bad as drugs. Alcohol abuse and addiction, often referred in general terms as alcoholism, is a common problem in many communities, able to cut across economic and social barriers. It also produces a physical dependence and when it does, it becomes a chronic disease. The use of too much alcohol, like drugs, can also increase tolerance and produce withdrawal symptoms.

Like drugs, alcoholism can lead to family, health and social problems. It’s not uncommon for alcoholics to destroy family and social relationships, lose their jobs or turn to illegal activities in order to support their habit. It also causes health problems that are potentially life threatening, such as liver cirrhosis and cancer.

The danger of alcohol

Alcohol affects different people in different ways, and for some that may be trouble. Some individuals, for example, are more prone to suffer from the effects of alcohol compared to others who drink the same amount. However, the danger of using alcohol cannot be emphasized enough. The devastating effect of alcoholism on families and society is well documented and recognized.

Alcohol use is also often discouraged in pregnant women, older people, individuals who have heart diseases and hypertension and those who are taking certain medications. Alcohol, like drugs, not only produces physical dependence, it also promotes neurochemical conditioning, where an individual develops a tolerance to the substance, encouraging him to use alcohol in increasing amounts. Alcohol can also change an individual’s perception in its true benefits, allowing a person to think that alcohol is needed in order for them to function socially and emotionally.

Getting help for alcohol addiction or abuse

Once the problem with alcohol addiction or abuse is acknowledged and accepted, the road to recovery may begin. There are plenty of local and national treatment centers and resources that may be tapped for help, either as a source of information or as a means for rehabilitation.

There are several approaches to the treatment of alcoholism, depending on how it is viewed. However, most treatments tend to focus on encouraging people to stop alcohol intake. It is often supplemented by social networking and group supports, along with life training, to effectively help alcoholics from using alcohol again.

Since alcohol, like drugs, often involves a combination of factors that lead to misuse and addiction, these factors are often considered first before a course of treatment is prescribed. It is often more effective in helping in alcohol treatment and in preventing future relapses.

Just what is addiction, you asked? Addiction is a physiological dependence on something, and is both physical and psychological in nature. When a person is addicted they literally need to feed that addiction constantly. Addiction is a traitor it sneaks up on you. People who are addicted often do not recognize that they have a problem, they think that the problem is with everyone. Addiction is different from abuse, a person can abuse drugs and not be addicted. The two most vital factors in determining addiction are tolerance and physical dependency. Addiction is very destructive, and most of the time people who are suffering from it end up hurting themselves and their love ones. It is hard to overcome but once the person began to see addiction as a problem in their life they can immediately seek alcoholism treatment or addiction treatment.

Teens partying late at night and imbibing drugs and alcohol for added fun, often dominated the silver screen. Quite a pretty picture isn’t it? Oftentimes teens see it as an epitome. Although Hollywood does its part to show a different side of alcohol and drug addiction with movies like “Trainspotting” and “Girl Interrupted”, the character still ended up being glamorous and ideal in nature and often overshadows the dark side of addiction. It is important to look at this depiction with a cynic eye. Movies are after all for entertainment purposes only, and there is nothing remotely entertaining about the reality of alcohol abuse and drug addiction. Addiction can be hell on earth and life in an Alcohol rehab and Drug Rehab can be a nightmare.

Illegal drugs and alcohol are addicting. Records show that the younger you are when you experiment with illegal drugs or alcohol you are more prone to become an addict in the future. Addiction often runs in families; you do not choose addiction, addiction chooses you. Experimenting with drugs and alcohol is a gamble, and the stake is your life, your personality, and your future.

Individuals often hide their drinking or deny that the fact that they have a problem. Signs of a possible alcoholism include having friends or relatives express concern, being irritated when people comment on their drinking, feeling guilty about their excessive alcohol consumption and thinking that they should moderate it but finds themselves unable to do so, or needs a morning drink to steady their nerves or relieve a hangover.

On the other hand, drug dependence often begins with the misuse of legal drugs like prescription drugs and inhalants. Inhalants are legal substances that becomes illegal when use in a manner that causes a person to get high. These also include aerosol cleaners, gasoline, cleaning fluids, butane, and acetone. These things are legal to sell or buy however, they are not controlled substances and they are relatively cheap when compared with drugs.

People with addiction work hard to resolve them, and with the support of family members and friends they are able to recover on their own. However in most cases, people they usually cannot stop drinking or using drugs by willpower alone. A lot of them require outside help, mostly from Alcohol Rehab or Drug Rehab. Alcoholism treatment and addiction treatment may need medically supervised detoxification to avoid possible life-threatening withdrawal symptoms such as seizures and convulsion. Once they are stabilized, they need help resolving psychological issues associated with their problem drinking.