Drug and Alcohol Rehab Programs for Beginners

Drug and Alcohol Rehab Programs for Beginners Addiction Coping and Recovery Methods and Support Print Drug and Alcohol Rehab Programs for Beginners By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial policy Buddy T Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on October 13, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on October 15, 2019 ONOKY - Eric Audras/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images More in Addiction Coping and Recovery Methods and Support Overcoming Addiction Personal Stories Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Drug Use Nicotine Use A first-time rehab experience can be scaryâ€"but it can also give you the lift you need to adopt a sober lifestyle. Learn what is it like to go into a rehab program.?? No Locks First, there are no locks are on the doors. You are free to leave at any time. Even if you have been adjudicated by the criminal justice system into the program, you can still walk out. You may face the consequences later, but you can choose to leave. The reason there are no locks is that no rehab or treatment program is going to work unless you are willing. If you enter rehab knowing that you are going to drink or use drugs again, you are likely wasting your money and time. If you decide to stay, youll encounter similar conditions regardless of the facility you choose. Alcohol and Drug Rehab Recovery Begins With Treatment Initiation The First Stop: Detox Some residential rehab facilities feature their own in-house detoxification programs, but more centers today require clients to complete detox prior to entering their facilities.?? You may need to get clean and sober before you can even enter rehab. The trend today is to have you go through the withdrawal process at a facility that specializes in dealing with drug and alcohol withdrawal symptoms.?? Typically, this transition occurs on a short-termâ€"five to seven daysâ€"inpatient basis, although the time frame can vary.?? The Facilities Each residential rehab facility is different in its physical facilities.?? They range from almost primitive camp-type settingsâ€"usually for troubled teensâ€"to the most luxurious facilities imaginable, and everything in between. Like most other things in life, you get what you pay for or what you or your insurance can afford. The type of physical facilities the program offers may have little to do with how successful or effective their program might be in keeping you sober. So, its important to research the type of treatments offered as well as their success rates.?? Education Education is the core component of all treatment and rehab programs. It may vary from facility to facility. The process is aimed at getting you to look at your addiction honestly and realistically, and change your attitude about your drug and alcohol use.?? In the early stages of recovery, most alcoholics or addicts may still be holding on to some  denial  about the seriousness of their problem or may be ambivalent about quitting drugs and alcohol for good. Treatment programs try to break through that denial and ambivalence to try to get you to commit to a clean and sober lifestyle. Typically, you will learn about the nature of alcoholism, the dynamics of addiction, the effects drugs and alcohol have on your body, and the consequences if you continue to use. Where to Find Free Alcohol and Drug Treatment Programs Counseling and Group Therapy During your rehab, you will probably receive individual counseling with a trained addiction counselor and you will possibly participate daily in group therapy meetings with others at the facility.?? These sessions are designed to teach you the skills that you will need to live life without drugs and alcohol. You will learn how to recognize situations in which you are most likely to drink or use drugs and how to avoid these circumstances in the future. You will learn new coping skills. The group sessions are designed to teach you the value of seeking support from others who are going through the same experiences and challenges that you are. In some facilities, these group sessions may be actual 12-step meetings. In other facilities, they may be facilitated by staff members.?? Family Meetings Many successful drug and alcohol rehab programs include members of your family in your treatment program. Some programs include family members and friends throughout the entire rehab process, from the initial assessment through continued follow-up aftercare. Research has shown that including family and friends in the educational process significantly improves rehab outcomes. In the family meetings, your family members will learn about the dynamics of addiction, learn to identify strengths and resources to help encourage you in your recovery, discuss how they have been affected by your substance abuse, and learn how they also can begin to heal their own wounds.?? Many rehab facilities require family members to attend Al-Anon meetings if they want to visit you while you are in treatment, to learn how they may have been enabling you and contributing to the problem with their actions and reactions to your substance abuse. Aftercare Program The typical residential drug and alcohol rehab program will last about 28 days, sometimes longer, during which you remain in a structured environment where no drugs are alcohol are available. Successful rehab programs have a strong aftercare program plan designed to meet your individual needs. By now your counselor probably knows you well and will suggest the next steps based on where you are on your recovery journey. Your aftercare plan may include intensive outpatient treatment, residence at a halfway house, attendance at 12-step meetings, weekly check-ins with your counselor, and other suggestions to help you avoid the situations and triggers that might cause you to relapse.?? What Happens When a Loved One Goes to Alcohol or Drug Rehab?