Alcohol Treatment
The treatment for alcohol or any drug abuse should include isolation from that substance in a controlled environment with close monitoring and examining of any signs of withdrawals or future relapses. Rehab Centers of Florida has specific treatment facilities that concentrate on more than one approach to treat the individual needs of the patient. For example, ways of effectively reducing dependency of the substance depends on the patient’s gender, severity of dependence and motivation to change.
These are just a few examples of variables that go into the treatment planning for each individual patient and their addiction. Addiction cannot just be stopped by taking a “magic pill”, with the correct treatment planning, rehabilitation and support.
You may have questions about what a typical day is like for clients in the alcohol rehab program. The typical course of treatment lasts only 30 days, so the schedule is intensive. Lectures, classes and therapy sessions are held 7 days a week.
Rehab Centers of Florida is a "reality based" program, meaning that our clients have a certain level of autonomy in their days. Clients plan and cook their own meals, do their own laundry and clean their own apartments. We provide a shopping coupon and transport our clients to a local supermarket to purchase food on a weekly basis. We have a licensed nutritionist who assists our clients in creating a healthy and balanced food plan. If a client requires detoxification, we will make the arrangements. For more information, please see our detoxification page.
Our Alcohol Treatment Program
At Rehab Centers of Florida, we focus on three primary treatment objectives:
- Educate our clients about the disease of alcoholism.
- Help our clients discover the reasons WHY they drink too much.
- Teach our clients effective relapse prevention strategies.
Understanding Alcoholism
Knowledge is one of the keys to treating alcoholism. Through films, lectures and literature, we give our clients a thorough education on the facts: how alcohol affects the body, the physical and psychological changes that occur in an alcoholic, how family history (genetics) plays a role, and what effects alcohol has on the brain.
Alcohol Addiction Therapy
Through individual and group therapy sessions, our counselors facilitate a client's investigation into the reasons underlying why they drink. These reasons are unique to the individual, and so is the therapy. Many alcoholics suffer from depression, low self esteem, anxiety or other problems. The goal of therapy is to bring these problems to the surface, where they can be addressed in a therapeutic environment. All of our clients are evaluated by our staff psychiatrist, who may prescribe non-addictive medications to aid in the treatment process.
Alcohol Relapse Prevention
The third facet of treatment is the creation of a plan for living without alcohol. With the help of our therapists, clients devise a comprehensive strategy for how they will deal with the stressors in their lives that may make them want to drink. They make a list of the dangerous places, situations and feelings that could lead to relapse; and make concrete plans to deal with them when they arise. Perhaps most importantly, they decide what changes they need to make in their lives in order to stay sober.
12 Step Program
The 12 step program necessary for a successful addiction recovery has become the most widely used approach for dealing with, not only alcohol or drug abuse, but various other dysfunctional behaviors. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was the original publisher of the Twelve Steps in 1939, which then led to a variety of programs to help people recover from addiction. Each program is composed of a community of people with a common addiction, as well as a want and need for recovery.
The 12 step program provides a path to recover your spiritual awakening and regain sanity. Treatment for a successful recovery involves addiction counseling, commitment and dedication. No one can force someone living with addiction to accept treatment; it’s through their own realization of wanting and needing recovery for it to be achieved.
A major part of the treatment program is the introduction to the recovering community in Alcoholics Anonymous, and our clients attend meetings every evening. Becoming involved with AA, working the 12 steps with a sponsor and developing a support group of other recovering alcoholics are integral parts of the recovery process. There is a large recovering community in our local area, and we do our best to expose our clients to a wide variety of meetings.
Recreation
Having fun is a big part of treatment for alcoholism. Our clients need to see that there are many ways to have a good time without drinking. Because of this, we make ample time in the schedule for recreation. On weekends, clients plan their own recreation activities: choosing to go to the movies, the beach, bowling, etc.
