Alcohol Drug Treatment Centers

Alcoholism is, unfortunately, a plague on any modern society. Even ancient Egyptians, Romans and Greeks bemoaned the ill effects of excessive alcohol consumption, and offered a large number of folk remedies and cures, though few were at all effective. Fortunately, a modern understanding of alcoholism and its chemical background now allow for modern drug treatment centers to be as effective at treating alcohol addiction as they are addictions to other drugs. The human body is amazingly strong and powerful, and with the right sort of medication and treatment, it is possible to deal with alcohol addiction in a safe manner, although there will always be side effects.

Anyone who has attempted to break an addiction to alcohol, or any other drug, will be familiar with the ill effects. Withdrawal from any drug causes an intense amount of mental and physical pain. Drugs that do not cause hallucinations when taken may do so during the withdrawal phase, resulting in the sort of “tremors” and “visions” which are common among those who are trying to cease their drinking. These problems are caused by the fact that most drugs cause a small amount of brain damage when they are abused. Most of the time, this damage is extremely small, and the brain can repair the damage after it has occurred. This is not true of persons who have been drinking for many months or years, however. Over time, the brain damage accumulates, and it is compounded by the fact that the brain becomes used to functioning within the presence of the drug. As such, when the drug is withdrawn suddenly, the brain ceases to function properly.

It is for this reason that many alcohol and drug treatment centers use replacement drugs such as methadone or patches and suppositories which administer the drug at low amounts as the brain and body become used to dealing with the absence of alcohol or other drugs. In some cases, it may be necessary to administer an anti-psychotic medication to prevent tremors or visions as the drug attempts to re-wire itself in the absence of certain key brain cells and chemicals. For the most part, however, proper alcohol and drug treatment centers focus on allowing the mind and body to relax. They are usually located in serene, out-of-the-way places; with some form of greenery, usually a small garden. The best ones have athletic programs of some sort, since physical exercise has been shown to greatly decrease the recovery time when coming down off of a drug or when dealing with alcohol.

Those with truly severe drug and alcohol addictions are advised not to quit “cold turkey” because of the many medical complications that may result. Drug and alcohol treatment centers are often covered by insurance plans, since they greatly increase the general health of any patient who completes the necessary programs. When searching for an alcohol and drug treatment center, it is a good idea to first refer to one’s health insurance for this reason. They may only approve certain clinics and treatments, which would be reflected in their choice of institutions that are covered under a specific health plan. Insurance companies will only pay for drug treatment regimens that have reliably been shown to work, and so the clinics they choose tend to be those with a record of success.

If an insurance company does not cover drug and alcohol treatment centers, then it is wise to shop around if possible. Licensed and accredited treatment centers generally all offer the same level of high-quality care, and variations in price tend to come more from unnecessary extras than they do superior staff or medication. This is particularly true of so-called “celebrity” detoxification centers, which cater specifically to the rich and famous. Most people do not need to live in the lap of luxury to get well, and in many cases, excessive luxury can distract or detract from the treatment. All good alcohol and drug treatment centers focus on winding down the addiction if possible, giving medications to reduce pain and hallucination if that is not possible. They should be clean, neat, have helpful staff, and a good reputation. After all, everyone is very vulnerable when they are undergoing treatment, and the helpfulness and kindness of the staff is often key to recovery.