A joint study conducted by Addiction Today, the National Addiction Centre and eATA revealed a few interesting facts about drug and alcohol rehab and the role that it plays in recovery. The aim was to make information about rehabilitation more accessible to addicts and alcoholics, so that they could make better informed decisions about seeking treatment.
This research resulted in a definitive list of 20 facts that everyone should know about seeking treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. Some of these facts are relatively obvious; others may catch readers by surprise. In either event, all are worth taking a moment to consider.
This is the first in a series of four installments. It covers the first five research facts that everyone should know about alcohol and drug rehabilitation:
1. Rehab Works
The most important thing that a person needs to know about drug and alcohol rehabilitation treatment is that it works. Clients who seek out rehab services have a significantly greater chance of overcoming their addiction. This in turn boosts their ability to perform in social situations, hold down a job and get on with life.
According to the study, rehab is roughly as effective as a range of other medical treatments. Results were compared with those for asthma, hypertension, diabetes and other chronic illnesses. However, it is worth mentioning that not all alcohol rehab treatments are equal. Certain programs were much more effective than others.
This is a straightforward and simple finding, but it is important information for anyone who is having trouble making up their mind about enrolling in rehab. Seeking help with an addiction is humbling, and knowing that the process will not be in vain is important. And considering the fact that barely more than 1 percent of addicts seek rehabilitation, alcohol rehab stands to do the world a great deal of good.
2. Easy Access to Rehab Prompts Higher Success Rates
It is important that drug and alcohol rehabilitation treatment is readily available to alcoholics. When seeking treatment is complicated or logistically difficult, addicts and alcoholics are much less likely to follow through with their initial intentions to clean up.
The same applies to timeliness of treatment. When an alcoholic undergoes an assessment and is recommended to enroll in rehab, it is important that they move in that direction as quickly as possible. The longer the delay, the less likely they are to end up in rehab. This is where concerned family members and friends can make a difference by providing motivation.
3. Rehabilitation Works Despite Low Motivation
For those who are convinced that an alcoholic has to want to get better in order for treatment to be effective, there is cause to reconsider. The study found that the client’s attitude going into treatment had little bearing on the program’s effectiveness. In short, a proven alcohol rehabilitation program works regardless of whether the client initially wants it to (or thinks that it will).
This is another vote of confidence for the role that concerned friends and family can serve in helping an alcoholic take a step in the right direction. Pressure from work, home or even the law can get a person into treatment, where motivation to change can be fostered and enhanced.
4. Relapse Does Not Mean Ultimate Failure
For recovering alcoholics who have experienced one or more episodes of relapse, there is hope for the next round of treatment. Someone who has submitted to one or more alcohol rehabilitation and continued to relapse could be forgiven for thinking that rehab is not going to help them. However, the evidence indicates otherwise.
Most recovering alcoholics relapse at some point. This is a fact that has to be acknowledged and moved on from. Research suggests that a string of unsuccessful treatments can suddenly come to an end. Apparently, even a period of rehab that finds a person returning to old habits may still be setting a person up for future success.
5. Controlled Drinking and All-Out Abstinence Both Have Their Place
Sometimes, an all-or-nothing attitude gets in the way of successful treatment. Certain programs may stress the importance of complete abstinence from drinking. While this is certainly advisable for most alcoholics, there are shades of gray that have to be acknowledged.
Some clients seeking rehab may be concerned about the path that their lives are taking. Their drinking habits may exhibit warning signs without becoming too severe. In this case, cutting back may be appropriate, and all-out abstinence unnecessary. Beyond this, those struggling with severe alcoholism may be more receptive to cutting back their intake rather than altogether cutting it out. In this case, drinking less is better than no change at all.
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Facts about Drug & Alcohol Rehab – Part 2
The previous article outlined the role that alcohol rehabilitation and loved ones can play in an alcoholic’s life. It pointed out that accessibility of treatment programs make a difference. A string of failed rehab visits can still contribute to ultimate success. And total abstinence may not be necessary in every case.
This installment looks deeper into the beliefs and thought patterns of alcoholics according to research published by Addiction Today, the National Addiction Centre and eATA. For alcohol treatment to be effective, it has to be flexible. Programs that cater to specific belief patterns and personality traits enjoy much higher rates of success. When looking for an alcohol rehab program, it is important to look for those that customize treatment to meet each client’s needs and situations.
The second set of five facts about alcohol and drug rehab look specifically at how a client’s belief systems, attitudes and understanding of relapse play into long-term recovery:
6. Client’s Beliefs Have to Be Considered
One of the most encouraging findings about alcohol rehabilitation is that a range of approaches will work. With this in mind, it is important that the client and addiction counselor work together to create an effective treatment regimen.
Evidence suggests that recovery programs are more effective when the client’s beliefs and worldview are taken into account. If a client adheres to a particular religion, then it is completely appropriate to tailor a rehabilitation program that takes these religious tenets into account. Opposite this, a program that contradicts a client’s beliefs or worldview is less likely to succeed.
7. Customized Rehab Is More Effective
No two clients are the same, and an alcohol rehab program that fails to realize this is doomed from the outset. There are many variables to consider in treating alcoholism. The use of medication, length of treatment, therapeutic approach and setting should all be taken into account.
One client may flourish in a rehab setting that is close to home, where friends and family can visit. Others may see better results if they withdraw and spend time working through their drinking problem in a more private setting. Pushing for a one-size-fits-all approach is ill-advised, and the rehab programs that recognize this enjoy higher rates of success.
8. Motivation and Belief in Oneself Matter
Motivation matters when it comes to treating alcoholism. The previous article pointed out that initial motivation does not correlate to successful recovery. However, any alcohol rehab program that aims for success has to engender motivation as part of the process.
Luckily, motivation is something that can be inspired in the course of treatment. A client has to believe in their own ability to change, and the desire to achieve recovery is essential to ending an addiction. Rehabilitation programs can enhance a client’s motivation and self-efficacy, and those that do so are significantly more effective.
9. Obstacles to Recovery Have to Be Considered
Some of the biggest obstacles to long-term recovery are the attitudes and beliefs that alcoholics develop over time. In many cases, the client may not even be aware of their own destructive beliefs. Addiction counselors are trained to identify these attitudes and address them in a constructive, non-aggressive way.
There are a few common but destructive beliefs that most alcoholics and drug addicts live by. One is that drinking or using are necessary in order to cope with daily life. When stress piles up or tragedy strikes, some alcoholics truly believe that drinking is the only way they can get by. Similarly, some addicts believe that having a good time is impossible unless they are intoxicated. For the clean and sober, it is easy to see the fallacy of these beliefs. However, alcoholics often need guidance in understanding the fundamental problems with these views.
10. Preventing Relapse is Essential
Dealing with relapse is precarious. Research indicates that backsliding can be a natural part of long-term recovery, and that it does not equate to utter failure. However, clients who accept this too readily may be more prone to letting a momentary backslide turn into full-blown relapse.
The goal of any comprehensive alcohol rehabilitation program is encouraging clients to prepare for the possibility of relapse without resigning themselves to its inevitability. Successful programs set time aside to strategize. The client and counselor can talk about potential relapse scenarios and how to deal with them. Along the way, it is important to underline that preparing for the potential to backslide does not mean that relapse prevention is not possible.