Alcoholics Anonymous is not a religious sect: the 12 Step Programme is successful
At The Haynes Clinic we often find when first talking to someone who is looking for help that the person we are talking to has an immediate negative response when we inform them that our approach to Recovery is through the Alcoholics Anonymous 12 Step Programme. This negativity is usually based on their preconceived ideas of AA or possibly they have attended various meetings, whilst still drinking, without an understanding of the AA approach. They are either confused or think they are being made to join some strange religious sect. The fact is that about 95% of all residential alcohol clinics or alcohol addiction rehabs in the UK use the AA 12 Step approach. This is because it is proven to be successful.
Do young people go to alcohol rehab?
Age can also be an issue in someone being reluctant to go to alcohol rehab to get help. It is extremely difficult for someone in their 20s to grasp the mental concept of total abstinence and the thought of attending weekly AA support groups, after they have left alcohol addiction treatment, rather than the pub or nightclub, is almost abhorrent.
They generally fall into the category of “I just need to come in for an alcohol detox and I will be fine, I know what to do next time and I will not drink so much and I will go nowhere near Cocaine.” They think they are invincible and “honestly how can liquid in a bottle possibly destroy my life?’.
The problem is that the “perfect storm has been created,” due to Covid and the working from home regime, which is still continuing. Spending long hours at home, possibly due to boredom or loneliness, there was a general overall increase in alcohol consumption. Also pouring out a drink at home, it is never going to be a single pub measure, it is going to be at least a double measure if not more, and it is amazing how quickly the tins are emptied. Therefore, through drinking larger quantities over a regular period of time, this has led those with a predisposition for an alcohol dependency to shorten the time before they are needing to ask for help.
In addition, the way that people (especially those that are younger) have changed their drinking patterns has also led to the demise of the pub trade as it is cheaper drinking at home rather than paying pub prices. Heavy drinkers and alcoholics will be inclined to drink more. Younger people are now more likely to meet up at a friend’s house and have drinks before they go on to a club.
Parents and family members will see how someone is changing and how their drinking is starting to affect all their life areas, such as work, finances, relationships and health. However, if they challenge the individual they will often be told met “it’s just a phase” or “I’m drinking the same as all my friends”, “I can stop when I want to” or “I’m only young having some fun.”
The fact is that people of all ages need alcohol rehab and the treatment provided there.
Confusing depression with an alcohol problem
Although alcohol will at first give you a high, it actually becomes a depressant when consumed in a regular high quantity. This is the second thing that we are finding at The Haynes Clinic: suddenly there is an overly high percentage of young people who have been prescribed anti-depressants by their GPs. One of the things that alcohol does is to totally nullify the effects of certain medication and one that it completely nullifies is anti-depressants. They may as well have been prescribed polo mints.
The problem is that the GP has prescribed a medication and they believe that the reason they drink is because they are depressed. This is simply not true. Alcohol itself is a depressant so will be making them depressed – to say nothing of their lifestyle when they are drinking which is likely to lead to them having low self worth, to not be fulfilled and to feel bad about their behaviour. So the reason they are depressed is usually because they are alcohol dependant. Even though they will try and deny it, their daily life has started to be controlled by alcohol and for a binge drinker, the gap between each binge is getting shorter or the length of the binge is getting longer.
Urgent alcohol help and detox can be found at a private residential alcohol rehab clinic
So when we finally agree to get help with alcohol addiction, what are the options? It is virtually impossible for anyone with an alcohol dependency to cut back on their daily consumption as feelings of withdrawal and cravings will persist and it is very dangerous to suddenly decide to stop drinking as this will usually lead to a seizure within the first few days after stopping. It is at this stage that an ambulance can be called but the paramedics will often only monitor the seizures or administer a dose of Diazepam and in most cases will recommend returning to drinking alcohol to prevent another seizure occurring. If you arrive at a hospital A and E they may admit you for 24 hours to hydrate you but will then discharge you. It is quite rare to be admitted for a full medicated alcohol detox.
Each county, in the UK, has a drug and alcohol team and although they are usually very short of funding there will be a waiting list that can be joined. The waiting time for any help will vary from county to county but there will be months of trying different options and a residential alcohol detox may not be offered. Due to legislation a GP will often now not prescribe for a home detox because they cannot safely prescribe, within the home environment, the amount of daily medication needed for a successful home detox. There is usually a small window of opportunity, at any age, when someone will finally agree to get help. When this window opens up they need to get into treatment as soon as possible or that opportunity will be lost and they will find excuses to change their mind.
Often the only option for immediate help is to be admitted into a residential alcohol detox clinic or alcohol addiction rehab. Even with the most favoured clinics, due to their professional reputation, as it is a treatment programme that can be started at any date and everyone in treatment is at a different stage, then there is usually bed availability within 48 hours of an initial enquiry.
How long is a typical alcohol rehab programme?
The recommended residential alcohol treatment period is 28 days but possibly due to finances or even getting time off work then the other option is 14 days. This is not usually recommended as just being admitted for an alcohol detox or for a short period of time will often result in relapsing back into old behaviour within a very short space of time. Apart from the alcohol detox, overseen by qualified staff and a doctor, what is also important is the daily structured therapy facilitated by professional therapists. Participants need to gain the vital knowledge of the AA 12 Step programme. They need to understand and accept the changes that need to be made to their addictive thinking and behaviour. Then they can start on the road to Recovery from alcohol addiction.