Monday, November 3, 2008

Drug And Alcohol Rehab

Drug And Alcohol Rehab
 by: Brandon S
Although it isn't something most people talk about or even want to think about, drug and alcohol rehab are places that exist because of such an unfortunately high prevalence of a number of different addictions in society. In fact, so many people are having to deal with some sort of drug and alcohol rehab in their personal lives that a new reality show called "Intervention" is being shown to educate people on how difficult living with an addict can be and the way to direct a person toward rehabilitation. Drug and alcohol rehab serves a single purpose for any addicted person and that is to help this person to stop using the drug or drugs that they are dependent on.
There are a variety of ways that drug and alcohol rehab work to help a person stop abusing a controlled substance. One way is commonly referred to as 'cold turkey'. This is where a person experiences the complete and abrupt discontinued of all addictive drugs or anything else on which they have become dependent. This type of drug and alcohol rehab often results in something called withdrawal that is often very unpleasant with side effects including vomiting, hot and cold flashes, hallucinations, paranoia, insomnia and other uncomfortable and sometimes frightening effects. Going cold turkey from barbiturates can be very serious and might lead to seizures that could become deadly. Alcoholics that stop drinking suddenly can cause delirium tremens, which is a type of psychosis.
There are other options available for rehabilitation at drug and alcohol rehab without having to go 'cold turkey'. Some types of addictions have drugs that can be administered by a doctor in a drug and alcohol rehab facility that can lessen the common symptoms of withdrawal that would occur without assistance. Another option at many drug and alcohol rehab facilities is a program designed to help a patient to change his or her behavioral patterns in order to equip them with skills so that they have other actions to turn to when they are tempted to return to drugs or alcohol. Additionally, it is strongly recommended that anyone who is going through drug and alcohol rehab cease all communication and cut ties with anyone who is still using their substance of choice.
There are a number of different dependencies that can be treated at drug and alcohol rehab. Some of these dependencies that are treated include alcoholism, addiction to household products that can be inhaled, street drugs, prescription drugs and any combination of the aforementioned addictions. Sometimes a drug and rehab visit is a court ordered result of an arrest based on charges involving one or more of these different dependencies.
The most common program associated with drug and alcohol rehab is called a Twelve-Step program. The purpose of a Twelve-Step program is to help addicts to find the strength and will power to stop using their substance of choice as well as explore and alter bad habits that are connected to their addictions. The goal of all types of drug and alcohol rehab programs is to eliminate all dependencies and to help every individual begin fresh with a full and rewarding life.

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