When you are ready to kick your substance abuse problem, it is time to seriously conside a professional drug treatment facility.

Self help does not work. Professional drug abuse treatment is the only real key to recovery. Here, we will explore how drug rehab facilities can help and learn about the types of rehab centers that are available.

Why Should You Choose A Drug Treatment Center?

The reason for an inpatient drug abuse treatment facility is to provide a safe environement to confront and overcome the addiction.

Depending on where you live, the stated of goal of drug treatment may vary considerably. Here is an example: In the United States, the primary goal of drug abuse treatment is to have the addict completely cease using the substnace; however, in other countries, the goal is to minimize drug use to a safe and manageable level.

Even though there has been a lot of debate about which method is best, no definitive conclusions have been reached. We do know that there are problems with trying to stop an addict ever taking the drug again though as this can be extremely difficult.

What Should You Look For In A Drug Rehab Facility?

One of the major problems with treating drug addiction is that there are so many variables. The course of treatment varies based upon the type of drug abuse encountered as well as the personality and combativeness of the addict caused by the severity of the addiction.

So, this is yet another reason to understand the importance of drug abuse treatment facilities. Professional intervention is required to sort through all of the factors necessary to craft a custom drug treatment plan.

Different drug treatment facilities focvus on treating specific types of addiction while others take a more general approach. Different drug rehab facilities have different approaches to treating drug addiction. For instance, an example might be a secular (non-faith based) drug rehab facility with an aim to provide treatment to those who are not Christians. Again, drug abuse treatment is very personal and the addict needs to select a drug rehab facility that is consistent with his or her personal values.

Addiction Treatment Requires Professional Intervention

Treating a drug addict is definitely not an easy job which is why drug treatment centers are so important. The reality is that drug treatment centers are vital to combat the growing epidemic of drug abuse. Addiction can be managed or cured in most cases so long as the patient is willing to accept help.

Dante was a fifteen year old high school sophomore who was exhibiting numerous alcohol-related problems at school. For that reason, the principal told him that he had to see Miss Johnson, the school therapist, before he would be allowed to come back to class.

Later that afternoon when Dante went home after school, he had to explain his school suspension to his Mom and Dad. His Mother and Father were “relatively conventional” and informed Dante that getting discharged from school was not a workable educational plan of action. They told Dante that failing to graduate from high school would probably be like a lead weight around his ankles that could quite possibly impair his educational attainment for the remainder of his life. Not only this, but Dante’s parents were very let down that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his buddies in the second.

His parents explained to Dante that even though he may be young, he has to comprehend fairly swiftly that drinking is the path to failure, financial problems, ill health, and pain.

It was obvious that his parents were absolutely in concurrence with Dante’s principal and told Dante that he had better make plans to see Miss Johnson, the school psychologist. After his dialogue with his Mom and Dad, Dante at last agreed to see Miss Johnson the next school day. So Dante called the school and made an appointment to see Miss Johnson the next day during his first period class.

The Counselor Asks Dante if He Understands Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Activities Signaled Such Alarm By the School Administrators

When Dante got to his scheduled appointment with Miss Johnson, she immediately reviewed all of the alcohol-related difficulties Dante had gotten into and asked him if he comprehended why his recent alcohol-related actions caused quite a bit of anxiety by the school administrators.

Quite honestly, Dante was not sure why the principal told him he had to see a school therapist. As he expressed to Miss Johnson, why should he see a professional therapist about his drinking behavior? In view of the fact that almost all of his buddies drink as much if not more than he does, basically, drinking is no big thing. Stated differently, if almost everybody is drinking, why is this such a major concern?

Miss Johnson asked Dante when he started to drink alcoholic beverages. He said that some of his older friends introduced him to drinking wine coolers when he was twelve or thirteen years old and getting ready to enter junior high school.

Miss Johnson told Dante that while his peers may indeed drink more than he does and that they may be an unhealthy influence on him, the facts are that he is the one who is getting removed from school due to alcohol-related absenteeism, fighting, and delinquency, not his peers. Moreover, Miss Johnson also stressed the fact that Dante, and not his pals, is the one who is failing and who is missing at least one day of school per week due to his alcohol related difficulties. Finally, Miss Johnson stressed the fact that due to his drinking behavior, Dante is getting into a destructive cycle of alcohol abuse that can in the long run wreck his dreams, hopes, and aspirations.

In a word, Dante’s involvement with teenage alcohol abuse was beginning to short-circuit his ability to act like an accountable young man. As stated by Miss Johnson, “Just because most of your buddies drink wine coolers, hard liquor, wine, or beer does not mean that it is the right thing to do for you.”

Dante Learns That Eventually He Must Claim Responsibility For Himself In Order to Keep Away From Destructive, Unhealthy, Dangerous, and Damaging Circumstances In the Future

Miss Johnson informed Dante that one’s friends can certainly influence an individual in a negative way, but that the individual himself or herself has to in due course be accountable for himself or herself in order to steer clear of destructive, damaging, dangerous, and unhealthy consequences in the future.

Fortunately, Miss Johnson was very organized for her scheduled meeting with Dante. She showed him reports and research studies she had underlined that outlined various drinking facts and statistics that targeted most people in general. Then she showed Dante quite a bit of figures and reports that applied chiefly to teens.

For example, Miss Johnson explained the difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency and informed Dante that individuals who continue to drink in a hazardous manner frequently become alcohol dependent.

Miss Johnson also went over the concept of binge drinking that she defined as follows: drinking five or more drinks in one sitting for males and consuming four or more drinks in one sitting for females.

The Counselor Lists A Number Alcohol Addiction and Alcohol Abuse Facts and Statistics

Then Miss Johnson verbalized various alcohol facts and the following eight alcohol abuse statistics:

1. The 25.9% of adolescent drinkers in the U.S. who are alcohol abusers and alcohol dependent drink 47.3% of the alcohol that is ingested by all teenage drinkers.

2. Fifty percent of U.S. homicides are related to alcohol.

3. In 2002, U.S. alcoholism statistics and facts demonstrated that 2.6 million binge drinkers were between the ages of 12 and 17.

4. It is projected that more than 3 million adolescents in the U.S. between the ages of 14 to 17 are problem drinkers.

5. In the U.S., more than forty percent of those who start drinking at the age 14 or younger become addicted to alcohol.

6. Very few of the more than 18 million U.S. alcohol abusers receive the alcohol treatment they require.

7. Adolescent drinking costs Americans nearly $53 billion per year. If this cost were shared equally by each congressional district, the amount would total more than $120 million per district.

8. Alcohol-related difficulties are unevenly found among both juvenile and adult criminal offenders.

Dante Gets A Meaningful Jolt of Reality About the Long Term and the Short Term Consequences of Teenage Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

After Miss Johnson presented the aforementioned alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse facts and statistics, it was apparent that what Miss Johnson made known to Dante was a real jolt to him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only took the time to articulate the short term and the long term outcomes of alcoholism and alcohol abuse, but she also made the effort to demonstrate what she was saying with alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency statistics and facts that related to everyone, and principally to young people.

Without a doubt, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante at once realized why he should not be engaging in hazardous and abusive drinking with or without his classmates any longer. Dante thanked Miss Johnson for her concern and for the information she discussed.

Miss Johnson then asked Dante how he felt about getting a physical exam and an alcohol appraisal for the alcohol treatment he would probably need. Dante thought about this for a minute and then agreed to get a complete physical and to go through an extensive evaluation of his drinking behavior so that he could start an alcohol treatment program promptly. After meeting with Miss Johnson, not only did he think that he had established an enhanced relationship with her, but it was also apparent that Dante’s self esteem and personal happiness had been boosted as he began to address his excessive and abusive drinking.

One of the alcohol abuse facts that somehow escapes several individual’s consciousness is that hazardous drinking repeatedly adversely affects relationships. Stated more explicitly, to a fairly great extent, careless and irresponsible drinking is to relationships what drug abuse is to a person’s health or what faulty brakes are to the safety of the driver of a vehicle. In all of these instances, the outcome is commonly a calamity.

When the connection between hazardous and abusive drinking and relationships is investigated more carefully, nevertheless, you will find some logical reasons why abusive and hazardous drinking and relationships don’t go together in a beneficial or healthy manner.

Abusive and Irresponsible Drinking Diminishes a Person’s Inhibitions

First, careless and excessive drinking lessens a person’s inhibitions. This many times means that an individual who has been drinking has less control over what he or she does and says. The outcome is that individuals in a relationship who have been drinking are much more likely to engage in insensitive and cross verbal abuse and/or physical abuse that may possibly not have taken place if neither individual was drinking.

Irresponsible and Excessive Drinking Adversely Influences a Person’s Reasoning, Problem Solving, and Decision-Making Skills and Abilities

Second, unhealthy and abusive drinking negatively has an effect on an individual’s decision-making, problem solving, and reasoning skills. Indeed, if a person uses incoherent decision-making, reasoning, and problem solving skills and abilities, this regularly negatively influences the options someone makes as well as her or his actions. Such a circumstance, it is stressed, is a disaster waiting to happen when relationships are concerned because of the number of decisions and troubles that need to be tackled on a recurring basis.

Abusive and Irresponsible Drinking Regularly Influences the Drinker’s Finances in an Adverse Way

Third, hazardous and abusive drinking generally impacts the drinker’s finances in a very harmful manner. At the end of the day, whether a person buys his or her alcohol at a pub, liquor store, sports event, restaurant, or drinks at home, irresponsible drinking isn’t cheap. And if cash is spent on drinking rather than on credit card bills, the mortgage, utilities, the rent, food, car or truck payments, and so on, essential issues in a relationship are possibly right around the corner.

Abusive Drinking Usually Reveals Itself at a Person’s Place of Employment

Fourth, irresponsible and excessive drinking frequently manifests itself at the workplace. To the extent that this happens, a person’s ability to make a living is critically placed in a dangerous situation and this, in turn, negatively has an effect on a person’s relationships.

Irresponsible Drinking Typically Contributes to Troubles With the Law

Finally, careless and irresponsible drinking frequently contributes to difficulties with the law. Undeniably one or more DWIs, for example, can’t do anything but negatively affect a relationship from an emotional and from a financial viewpoint.

You Need Inspiration and Motivation to Get Alcohol Rehabilitation So You Can Stop Your Heavy and Irresponsible Drinking And Discover More Self Esteem and Happiness

So what is the message to be taken away from this discussion? First, if you want to have solid, loving relationships in your life, stay away from careless and irresponsible drinking. Second, if you are a drinker and you are in a relationship, if you want to keep this relationship or perhaps make it stronger, then make sure you always drink responsibly or not at all. And third, if you have alcohol problems that are negatively affecting your relationship, please seek more alcohol information and consider getting alcohol rehab.

Conclusion

To bring this discussion to a conclusion, it can be seen that excessive and irresponsible drinking negatively has an effect on a person’s relationships because it lowers an individual’s inhibitions and contributes to spiteful and nasty interchanges and/or violence.

It can also be seen that careless and abusive drinking negatively impacts an individual’s reasoning, problem solving, and decision-making skills and abilities, thus leading to unsuitable options and actions.

In a very related way, abusive drinking frequently adversely impacts the drinker’s finances, consequently affecting the money management skills of the individuals who are actively involved in the relationship. Moreover, irresponsible and unhealthy drinking frequently adversely affects a relationship mainly because of alcohol-related work difficulties.

And finally, careless and abusive drinking habitually contributes to alcohol associated problems with the law such as DWIs, jail time, and fines and penalties. Apparently, such legal predicaments negatively affect most loving relationships.

Barry used to brag to his drinking pals how he could remain employed at a demanding and fulltime job and get smashed virtually every night. Sadly, after involving himself in this unhealthy lifestyle for about five years, he began to display different alcohol related problems.

Barry Begins to Display Several Alcohol Related Difficulties

For example, he had a very hard time getting up for work because he felt so worn-out when he awoke. Furthermore, just about every morning Barry had a dreadful hangover. Without a doubt, the mixture of his hangovers and his lack of get-up-and-go did not make it easy for him to get up and feel like he wanted to go to work. To make matters worse, around a week ago he got his third driving under the influence arrest in the past six months.

To further complicate things, at his place of employment his last two performance evaluations were not up to his usual high standards. And lastly, his relationship with his girlfriend had gotten worse due to his depression, angry outbursts, financial difficulties, and his lack of patience.

Although Barry was only twenty seven years old, he simply began looking like he was in his mid thirties. Unfortunately, this is what excessive and careless drinking can do to an individual. And from a realistic perspective he realized that he was suffering from the negative outcomes of alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency and that he was too young to fritter away his life to careless and excessive drinking. So at first he tried to drink in moderation. Sadly, he soon realized that he lost all control after ingesting his first drink. Stated somewhat more forcefully, after his first drink he invariably proceeded to get smashed. Since this was an event that was repeated again and again, this greatly worried him. In fact, he began to wonder if he was displaying some of the signs of alcoholism and alcohol abuse.

Barry Decides Schedule an Appointment to See His Family Doctor

After talking about his excessive alcohol drinking and his excessive and hazardous drinking with his girlfriend, he finally made up his mind to make an appointment to see his physician. When Barry saw his doctor, he genuinely confirmed that he has been drinking in a hazardous manner, that he may be exhibiting alcoholic signs, and that he wants to abstain from drinking. He said that drinking responsibly and in moderation doesn’t work well for him and, as a consequence, he wants to learn how he can develop an alcohol-free lifestyle.

Barry also told his healthcare professional about his depression and how this mental health problem was negatively influencing his relationship with his lady friend. His physician referred Barry to Doctor Rako, a drug and alcohol addiction specialist, who influenced Barry to enter into a drug and alcohol treatment clinic as an in-patient for alcohol detoxification and alcohol rehabilitation. The good news is that Barry would also be able to get medical treatment for his depression at this treatment clinic.

Refraining From Drinking Was the Best Decision Barry Had Ever Made

After four months of comprehensive rehabilitation, Barry left the residential treatment facility and continued his recovery via outpatient therapy and via going to local Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Encouraged to change his life in a healthier way, Barry bought some vitamins at a health store and a cookbook. He then joined a fitness center and started working out two or three times per week. Within nine months Barry was a new man. He was in shape, he was eating nutritious meals, he now looked younger than he was, he wasn’t depressed anymore, and most significant of all, he remained sober for numerous months. He also didn’t resort to angry outbursts, he became more patient, and he became a more compassionate person in his relationship with his girlfriend. Stated briefly, abstaining from drinking was the best decision Barry had ever made.

Wendy was the mother of five children. Wendy had been feeling quite nervous lately and started to “medicate” herself by having several cocktails every evening after she put her children to bed. After nearly six weeks of this drinking routine, she finally grasped the fact that instead of helping her ”take it easy” and deal with her problems, drinking made her feel less tranquil when she awakened. This, in turn, made her feel increasingly more anxious all through the day.

After thinking about her predicament for two or three weeks, Wendy made up her mind to discuss her drinking situation with her best friend. In actual fact, just about thirty minutes into their discussion, Wendy’s friend, Shania, told her that she knew about an extremely professional and highly qualified doctor at the local alcohol and drug treatment center. After talking to her friend, Wendy immediately got encouraged to call the rehabilitation facility and schedule an appointment.

Eight days later she finally got to meet the physician her friend had been talking about. After their brief introduction, Wendy explained to the doctor that ever since her ex-husband and she got divorced, she has been having an extremely difficult time financially, emotionally, and spiritually.

At times, she felt that she was totally over the divorce. Recently, to the contrary, she has been feeling very depressed about the fact that she and her former husband couldn’t stay married and “make it”. When asked by the physician how long her ex-husband and she dated before they got married, Wendy told the physician that Robert, her ex-husband, and she went out for four years and then lived together for three-and-a-half years before they got married.

As Wendy was talking to the psychiatrist, she underscored the point that she honestly believed that she and Robert waited long enough to know each other well enough before they got married. After the children started to arrive, on the other hand, everything appeared to get worse. To make matters worse, both Robert and she started to drink, and their irresponsible and excessive drinking negatively affected their relationship, their finances, and their love for one another.

When things went from bad to worse, Robert hired an attorney and filed for a divorce. Although things were visibly not going well and although she was regularly depressed, Wendy told the physician that she didn’t want to bring an end to their relationship. Once she received the divorce papers, however, she knew that their relationship was over.

The physician told Wendy that the tension, anxiety, and stress that she has been experiencing regarding her irresponsible and hazardous drinking are some of the better known alcohol abuse effects and that the best solution for this situation is rehabilitation for one’s alcohol abuse. In fact, getting alcohol abuse treatment is essential because long-term drinking can get the individual into even more serious alcohol and alcoholism difficulties.

After several therapy sessions with her physician, Wendy was little by little able to comprehend the fact that the real root of her anxiety and her depression was that she had not worked through her spiteful feelings she has for her ex-husband who had divorced her five years ago. With these insights and with the drugs her doctor prescribed, she eventually abstained from drinking, she started to feel significantly less depressed, and she started making more time for social events with her friends and family. A few months after receiving counseling from her psychiatrist, she even started to date once again.

It was plain to see that Wendy had come a long way. In point of fact, just about eight months after she terminated her treatment, Wendy had finally laid the depressing thoughts of Robert, her former husband, to rest, she was beginning to feel more self worth, and she was learning how to feel happier and more successful in her life.

Barry used to brag to his drinking pals how he could remain employed at a demanding and fulltime job and get smashed virtually every night. Sadly, after involving himself in this unhealthy lifestyle for about five years, he began to display different alcohol related problems.

Barry Begins to Display Several Alcohol Related Difficulties

For example, he had a very hard time getting up for work because he felt so worn-out when he awoke. Furthermore, just about every morning Barry had a dreadful hangover. Without a doubt, the mixture of his hangovers and his lack of get-up-and-go did not make it easy for him to get up and feel like he wanted to go to work. To make matters worse, around a week ago he got his third driving under the influence arrest in the past six months.

To further complicate things, at his place of employment his last two performance evaluations were not up to his usual high standards. And lastly, his relationship with his girlfriend had gotten worse due to his depression, angry outbursts, financial difficulties, and his lack of patience.

Although Barry was only twenty seven years old, he simply began looking like he was in his mid thirties. Unfortunately, this is what excessive and careless drinking can do to an individual. And from a realistic perspective he realized that he was suffering from the negative outcomes of alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency and that he was too young to fritter away his life to careless and excessive drinking. So at first he tried to drink in moderation. Sadly, he soon realized that he lost all control after ingesting his first drink. Stated somewhat more forcefully, after his first drink he invariably proceeded to get smashed. Since this was an event that was repeated again and again, this greatly worried him. In fact, he began to wonder if he was displaying some of the signs of alcoholism and alcohol abuse.

Barry Decides Schedule an Appointment to See His Family Doctor

After talking about his excessive alcohol drinking and his excessive and hazardous drinking with his girlfriend, he finally made up his mind to make an appointment to see his physician. When Barry saw his doctor, he genuinely confirmed that he has been drinking in a hazardous manner, that he may be exhibiting alcoholic signs, and that he wants to abstain from drinking. He said that drinking responsibly and in moderation doesn’t work well for him and, as a consequence, he wants to learn how he can develop an alcohol-free lifestyle.

Barry also told his healthcare professional about his depression and how this mental health problem was negatively influencing his relationship with his lady friend. His physician referred Barry to Doctor Rako, a drug and alcohol addiction specialist, who influenced Barry to enter into a drug and alcohol treatment clinic as an in-patient for alcohol detoxification and alcohol rehabilitation. The good news is that Barry would also be able to get medical treatment for his depression at this treatment clinic.

Refraining From Drinking Was the Best Decision Barry Had Ever Made

After four months of comprehensive rehabilitation, Barry left the residential treatment facility and continued his recovery via outpatient therapy and via going to local Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Encouraged to change his life in a healthier way, Barry bought some vitamins at a health store and a cookbook. He then joined a fitness center and started working out two or three times per week. Within nine months Barry was a new man. He was in shape, he was eating nutritious meals, he now looked younger than he was, he wasn’t depressed anymore, and most significant of all, he remained sober for numerous months. He also didn’t resort to angry outbursts, he became more patient, and he became a more compassionate person in his relationship with his girlfriend. Stated briefly, abstaining from drinking was the best decision Barry had ever made.

On an annual basis, how many alcoholics fail to get the professional alcohol treatment they require? How many people die each year from a condition that is 100% preventable, such as alcohol poisoning? How many individuals are the victims of alcohol related crime or violence each and every year? How many individuals get injured or lose their lives in alcohol related traffic accidents every year? How many people face serious consequences in their lives because they received a “drunk driving” conviction? How many junior high, high school, and college students lose their lives every year due to an alcohol overdose? How many children are born each year with fetal alcohol syndrome? How many people’s lives are cut short due to hazardous and irresponsible drinking? How many individuals lose their lives every year because of drinking problems?

Why Would Anyone Want to Drink in an Abusive and Irresponsible Manner?

So what’s the point in asking these questions? Basically to highlight the destructive and devastating nature of unhealthy drinking. Indeed, and based on the above questions, I wonder why anyone would choose to drink in an excessive and irresponsible manner.

Stated differently, with the host of employment issues, financial problems, legal proceedings, relationship difficulties, and health dilemmas that are correlated with alcoholism and chronic alcohol abuse, why would any person with common sense want to drink in an excessive and hazardous manner? In fact when some of the above topics are looked at more closely, careless and hazardous drinking makes even less sense and becomes more illogical.

Wouldn’t you think that chronic alcohol abusers would be able to see some of the alcohol symptoms that they manifest? In a similar way doesn’t it seem reasonable to think that many more families would involve themselves in an alcohol intervention for the person in the household who is an alcoholic or an alcohol abuser? Not only this but wouldn’t you think that individuals who drink excessively would try to learn more about their drinking behavior by reading about various alcohol related statistics?

After reviewing the medical research literature, the point is so critical that it needs to be said again: With all of the damaging and debilitating outcomes that are directly or indirectly correlated with repetitive and continuous alcohol abuse and alcoholism, why would any individual want to engage in abusive and unhealthy drinking?

What Can be Done About the Extensive Nature of Alcohol Dependency and Alcohol Abuse in the U.S.?

So what can be done about the extensive nature of alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse in the U.S.?

1. Our students need more relevant and more meaningful preventative and educational approaches and methods so that more students at all grade levels, including those at college, are “reached.
2. In a similar manner, our students need to learn how to become problem solvers in life rather than getting easily drawn to the “instant gratification” and the “quick fix” of a drug or alcohol abuse “buzz” or “high”.
3. People who are alcohol abusers or alcohol dependent need to look look at themselves honestly and ask why they are not getting the professional alcohol rehab they need.
4. Society needs to get the message to more people about the damaging and unhealthy outcomes of abusive and hazardous drinking.

There’s Room For Optimism if Those Who Engage in Careless and Abusive Drinking Can Become Motivated to Get the Alcohol Rehab They Require

There’s a lot of room for optimism and hope if individuals can start drinking responsibly and those who engage in abusive and excessive drinkingcan become motivated to get the alcohol rehab they require. Indeed, why put your loved ones through pain, turmoil, and suffering because of your repeated and continuous drinking when you have the power to control your life by drinking responsibly or even quitting drinking if you can’t control your drinking behavior?

For the past eighteen years Jenny has been a nurse at a county hospital. Furthermore she has also been teaching Sunday school at the local Presbyterian Church. Although she lived in a medium size country community where it seemed like every person knew everyone’s business, very little was known about Jenny. Without a doubt virtually everyone knew that she had worked several years as a registered nurse and that she taught Sunday school for as long as she was a resident of their small town. Besides that, however, it almost seemed as if Jenny was simply a visitor in their community.

You can envisage the fervor that took place when it was revealed that one Sunday morning Jenny had passed out due to intoxication. In fact, the article in the local daily paper stated that Jenny not only passed out, but that she also received a DUI because her blood alcohol content was substantially more than the legal limit. This is certainly one of the alcohol effects on the body that no Sunday school teacher wants to have broadcasted to the entire community. But this is precisely what occurred, much to the chagrin of Jenny.

Jenny Gets Quite Embarrassed About Her Arrest For Driving While Intoxicated

Needless to say, Jenny was extremely dismayed about her DWI. Not only should she have known better about driving while inebriated because of her nursing profession, but she also should have held herself accountable to a more lofty benchmark because of the basic fact that she taught Sunday school.

After her arrest, Jenny thought about moving out of town so that she would not have to feel distraught about her arrest and also so she wouldn’t have to give details about her actions for the millionth time to the other members of her community. After speaking with her pastor, then again, she decided that she would get alcohol treatment at a local rehab center. She did this for two specific reasons. First, it was relatively easy for her to drive to a local rehabilitation hospital. And second, she genuinely wanted the word to get out among all the people in town that she was truly dealing with her careless and abusive drinking.

Jenny Goes Through Alcohol Detox and Gets a Thorough Exam

After Jenny went through alcohol detoxification, she got extensively examined by a healthcare practitioner at the drug and alcohol treatment facility. She then underwent various lab procedures where it was established that she was not an alcoholic but instead was engaging in excessive and abusive drinking. In a word Jenny was engaging in long term alcohol abuse.

Jenny was given the choice of getting alcohol treatment as an in-patient or getting alcohol counseling as an outpatient. Jenny, nonetheless, believed that she could still work as a registered nurse and retain her Sunday school teaching job if she were to be admitted as an out-patient and this is specifically what she did.

According to her rehab action plan, Jenny went to three counseling sessions every two weeks, she learned quite a lot about alcohol info, she worked on her homework “projects,” and she learned how to do things in life that did not involve alcohol.

After fourteen weeks, Jenny realized that her unhealthy and excessive drinking was under control and so she got discharged from the drug and alcohol rehabilitation hospital under the stipulation that she would return for follow up counseling once per month for the next nine months. Jenny agreed and followed through on her “pledge.”

Jenny Finally Determines to Refrain From Any and All Drinking Situations and Finds Out That Her Self Confidence Increases

After she completed her rehabilitation Jenny reasoned that she would be able to drink more responsibly and in moderation. After reflecting on things more thoroughly, nonetheless, she figured out that she would totally remove herself from any and all drinking situations.

When Jenny arrived at this conclusion, she found out that her self-worth increased the more she took control over her life. And as her positive attitude about herself grew more pronounced, it seemed like she became more extroverted and started going to more town functions such as flower festivals, local high school football and basketball games, music festivals, Christmas tree lighting ceremonies, strawberry festivals, rib roasts, and carnivals.

Jenny Faces Her Abusive Drinking, Comes to a Decision To Do Something Productive About It, and Reaffirms Her Faith

As the time passed, the people in the community manifested more affection for Jenny because she was interacting with them more frequently and also because she addressed her hazardous drinking and did something constructive about it. It may have been her imagination, but it also seemed as if her Sunday school pupils displayed more affection and respect for her.

Jenny is a living example of someone who faced a major issue and who did something productive about it. She is also a person who discovered that her religious faith is not only something that is intrinsic, but that it is also something that affects the way in which an individual interrelates with other individuals.

Larry was a seventeen year old high school junior who was manifesting several alcohol-related problems at school. For that reason, the principal informed him that he had to see Miss Johns, the school counselor, before he would be permitted to return to class.

Later that afternoon when Larry went home after school, he had to go over his school suspension with his parents. His parents were “fairly conventional” and informed Larry that dropping out of school was not a doable educational plan of action. They explained to Larry that failing to graduate from high school would more likely than not be like a lead weight around his legs that may hurt his educational attainment for the rest of his adult life. Furthermore, Larry’s Mom and Dad were quite displeased that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his pals in the second.

His parents explained to Larry that even though he may be young, he needs to comprehend fairly rapidly that drinking is the route to failure, pain, financial problems, and ill health.

It was plain to see that his Mom and Dad were absolutely in concurrence with Larry’s principal and explained to Larry that he had to see Miss Johns, the school psychologist. After his talk with his Mom and Dad, Larry at long last agreed to see Miss Johns the next school day. So Larry phoned the school and made an appointment to see Miss Johns the next morning before school.

The Therapist Asks Larry if He Understands Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Activities Caused Quite a Bit of Apprehension By the School Administrators

When Larry went to see Miss Johns, she instantly analyzed all of the alcohol-related problems Larry had gotten into and asked him if he knew why his recent alcohol-related activities were such a cause for concern.

Quite honestly, Larry was unsure why the principal informed him that he had to see a school counselor. As he stated to Miss Johns, why should he see a professional counselor about his drinking circumstances? In view of the fact that virtually all of his peers drink the same amount that he does, in essence, drinking shouldn’t be such a big issue. Stated another way, if almost everybody is drinking, why is this such a major concern?

Miss Johns asked Larry when he started to drink alcoholic beverages. He said that some of his older pals introduced him to drinking hard liquor when he was twelve or thirteen years old and in the seventh grade.

Miss Johns told Larry that while his classmates may in fact drink more than he does and that they may be a negative influence on him, the facts are that he is the one who is getting discharged from school due to alcohol-related absenteeism, fighting, and delinquency, not his friends. What is more, Miss Johns also underlined the fact that Larry, and not his peers, is the one who is failing and who is missing almost two days of class per week because of his alcohol related problems. Finally, Miss Johns stressed the fact that due to his drinking circumstances, Larry is getting into a negative cycle of alcohol abuse that can finally wreck his hopes, dreams and aspirations.

In a word, Larry’s involvement with adolescent alcohol abuse was beginning to impede his ability to conduct himself like a responsible young man. As stated by Miss Johns, “Just because most of your friends drink wine coolers, wine, hard liquor, or beer does not mean that it is the best thing in the world for you.”

Larry Learns That Ultimately He Must Take Responsibility For Himself In Order to Steer Clear of Dangerous, Destructive, Damaging, and Unhealthy Consequences Down the Road

Miss Johns explained to Larry that one’s friends can undeniably influence an individual in a negative way, but that the person herself or himself has to in due course take responsibility for herself or himself in order to stay away from unhealthy, dangerous, damaging, and destructive consequences in the foreseeable future.

Fortunately, Miss Johns was extremely well equipped for her scheduled meeting with Larry. She showed him research studies and reports she had underlined that listed different drinking facts and statistics that targeted most people in general. Then she showed Larry quite a bit of data that applied especially to teens.

For instance, Miss Johns emphasized the difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction and explained to Larry that individuals who continue to drink in a hazardous manner continually become alcoholic.

Miss Johns also discussed the concept of binge drinking that she defined as follows: ingesting four or more drinks in one sitting for females and drinking four or more drinks in one sitting for females.

The Therapist Presents Several Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Dependency Facts and Statistics

Then Miss Johns presented the following eight alcoholism facts and alcohol abuse statistics:

1. Alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse cost the U.S. an estimated $220 billion in 2005. This dollar amount was more than the cost associated with cancer ($196 billion) or with obesity ($133 billion.

2. More than one-half of U.S. adults have a close relative or family member that has or has had alcoholism.

3. More than 75% of female victims of nonfatal, domestic violence stated that their assailant had been using drugs or drinking.

4. In the U.S. on an annual basis, more than one third of pedestrians killed by cars were legally intoxicated.

5. One national research study discovered that students are less likely to drink alcohol if they are socially accepted by individuals at school and believe that teachers treat students in a fair manner.

6. Research indicates that youth who use alcohol may remember 10 percent less of what they have learned than teens who don’t drink.

7. Around ten to twenty percent of the individuals who drink heavily ultimately develop cirrhosis of the liver (i.e., a scarring of the liver that can be fatal).

8. Up to forty percent of the U.S. industrial fatalities and 47 percent of industrial injuries are related to alcohol abuse or alcoholism.

Larry Receives An Important Wake Up Call About the Short Term and the Long Term Consequences of Youth Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Dependency

After Miss Johns listed the aforementioned alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse facts and statistics, it was plain to see that what Miss Johns revealed to Larry was a real jolt to him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only took the time to explain the short term and the long term consequences of alcoholism and alcohol abuse, but she also made the effort to substantiate what she was saying with alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse statistics and facts that related to everyone, and especially to teenagers.

Without a doubt, it was almost as if a light went on and Larry at once comprehended why he should not be engaging in hazardous and abusive drinking with or without his peers any longer. Larry thanked Miss Johns for her concern and for the material she presented.

Miss Johns then asked Larry how he felt about getting a physical exam and an alcohol assessment for the alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency treatment he would probably need.

Larry thought about this for a minute and then agreed to get an extensive physical examination and to go through a thorough assessment of his drinking circumstances so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcoholism treatment program immediately.

It is remarkable to point out something that family members who have been negatively affected by the alcoholism of another family member apparently do not know. It seems that by shielding the alcohol dependent person with lies and deceitfulness to those outside the family, these well-intentioned family members have in effect created a situation that makes it easier for the alcohol addicted person to continue and press forward with his or her injurious, devastating daily life.

Clearly, instead of helping the alcohol dependent individual and themselves, these family members have in reality become enablers who have mistakenly helped negatively affect the alcohol addicted individual’s drinking problems even more. It appears that this is not a great help to problem drinkers.

Relapses Can and Do Transpire

Another key alcohol dependency issue involves alcohol relapses. Relapses take place when an alcohol dependent person has effectively gone through alcohol addiction therapy and then resorts to drinking a number of weeks or months later. At first thought, this predicament seems contradictory to logical thinking and looks so unrealistic that it forces an individual to question why anyone who has lived through the misery of alcoholism can return to drinking a short while after successful alcohol treatment and in turn after attaining recovery. There are, for sure, many likely reasons for this.

It should be mentioned, nevertheless that alcohol addiction research that has focused on the enduring consequences of alcohol dependency has revealed that long after the alcohol addicted individual has discontinued his or her drinking, critical changes in the way in which the alcohol addicted person’s brain operates are still present. As a result, all a recovering alcohol dependent individual has to do to involve himself or herself in actions that correspond with the alterations that have come about in the brain is to engage in drinking once again.

A Requirement for A Fundamental Lifestyle Transformation

There are additional reasons why many recovering alcohol dependent persons return to drinking a few weeks or a few months after reaching sobriety. In accordance to the alcohol addiction research literature, to make an effective recovery, the alcoholic needs new ways of responding and thinking in order to deal more effectively with demanding alcohol-related circumstances that will take place.

Issues such as returning to the same alcohol addictive environment or to the same geographic location; interacting once again with friends from the days when the alcohol addicted individual was drinking abusively; or familiar songs, smells, or activities—all of these circumstances can elicit memories that can trigger psychological stress or push hot buttons that influence the recovering alcohol addicted person to engage in abusive drinking once again. Sadly, all of these situations may not only counteract enduring alcohol recovery for the alcoholic but they can also result in relapse and as a result counteract one’s alcohol recovery.

Summary

In an attempt to “protect” the family alcohol addicted individual, family members can in fact cause inadvertent damage by enabling the unsafe drinking behavior of the alcohol dependent person.

The drug abuse research literature highlights the fact that most individuals who effectively complete alcohol rehabilitation go through at least one relapse. Alcohol addicted individuals and their family members need to know this so that they do not get defeated or overwhelmed when a relapse manifests itself.

Luckily, taking part in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and follow-up therapy and education have resulted in more successful, enduring alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction therapeutic results, have helped decrease alcohol relapses, and have helped recovering alcoholics reach ongoing sobriety.