Why Do People Need to Go To Alcohol Rehab?

Most people with an alcohol problem do not want to go into an alcohol addiction clinic

People, generally, do not want to accept that they have a problem with alcohol. They will go to any length to deny the extent of the problem and will find excuses or reasons as to why their consumption of alcohol has increased. They will try to justify it to family and friends who have started challenging them on their behaviour.

Depression and alcohol

At The Haynes Clinic, one of the most popular excuses that we hear for an increase in drinking alcohol is “depression is the reason why I drink.”

Many people consult their GP and get prescribed anti-depressants when the real reason for their depressive or morbid episodes is due to the fact that alcohol, in excess, becomes a depressant. Under normal conditions it will take about two weeks for anyone suffering with true depression for their prescribed anti-depressant medication to work.

However, if you are drinking alcohol then you may as well take polo mints because the drink counters any effectiveness of the medication.  The result is we are taking prescribed tablets that we think should make us feel better but in fact aren’t working and we feel even worse.  This is just one example of the route that our alcoholic excuses can take us down which makes the problem worse.

Covid and alcohol addiction

Anyone with an alcohol problem will find that their work, family life, relationships and mental issues will all worsen over time. How quickly this happens will be different for everyone.  However, it has been proven that Covid and the various lockdowns have for many speeded this timeline up. Many have been drinking more during the day at home as the restraint of actually going to work has been removed.  This has led to more people needing help over the last two years than ever before.

Alcoholics are reluctant to seek help

Generally speaking, most people with an addiction to alcohol will know there is a problem. However, they will not be able to see how they can manage life without alcohol so this will delay the time when they will seek help. They can neither continue to live life with alcohol nor see a way to live without it. This is a very unpleasant position to be in. 

When an alcoholic does finally agree to get help then there is usually a small window of opportunity before they will change their mind. 

An Alcohol Addiction Clinic may be the only option

At that stage there are very few options open for them. Their GP is not now able to offer a home detox due to the danger of relapsing and drinking and taking the prescribed medication. If you turn up at hospital, they may hydrate you but will usually discharge you within 24 hours and not offer an alcohol detox.

There is the option of the local drug and alcohol team, but their budgets are low and to try and get help for an alcohol addiction can take months.  Therefore, the only immediate option is an alcohol rehab or addiction clinic that offers a medicated alcohol detox within a residential environment. 

An alcohol detox will take up to 10 days to complete, and the prescribed detox medication is usually Librium, administered over a 10-day period on a reducing scale.  This is a very effective medication that makes coming off alcohol safe and reduces the risk of any withdrawal symptoms.  

One of the most dangerous things a daily drinker can do is to decide to suddenly stop drinking, at home, as in the first 3 days they are very likely to have an alcoholic seizure or alcoholic fit which can be physically and mentally damaging. The key to the alcohol detox is that you are not over medicated and would normally be able to join in group therapy within 24 hours of being admitted to a residential rehab.

Choosing the best alcohol rehab clinic

There are a large number of alcohol addiction rehabs and alcohol detox clinics throughout the country. Their prices and what they offer – from bedrooms to treatment to their mobile phone policy – will all vary. A lot of information can be learnt from their websites but be certain that you feel comfortable with what the individual addiction rehab is offering before paying anything.

The recognised alcohol addiction treatment period is for 28 days but due to financial constraints or not being able to get more time off work, then there is often an option for a addiction treatment period of 14 days. If someone were to just go into an alcohol rehab for a 7-day detox, then there would be a very real risk of them relapsing soon after they left treatment and returned home. 

It is not so much about the detox., it is more about getting an understanding of how to change our addictive behaviour and thinking and to break down the denial. We learn that by participating in a daily structured therapy programme.  Apart from residential, daily group therapy, there will also be written work on the understanding of the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and the attendance at AA support groups. 

Minimising the risk of relapse

The longer that someone can stay in treatment then the greater possibility that they will not relapse. Some rehabs, such as The Haynes Clinic, will also offer ongoing support in the form of Aftercare which is being able to attend the Clinic one day a week for up to a year, free of charge, if you have completed the recommended 28 days in residential addiction treatment. If you have travelled a distance to seek help and can’t get back to the clinic each week then there are supportive ongoing Zoom meetings, which are again free for 12 months.

You can recover from alcohol addiction

These days, mostly due to legislation, an alcohol rehab is the primary place for anyone who is alcoholic, has an alcohol dependency or a problem with alcohol to get almost immediate help in a safe and caring environment.  Due to the increased number of people seeking help for their alcohol addiction, then some of the more well-known or recommended clinics have waiting lists. It is, however, better to wait for a place to come free at your clinic of choice rather than going to a second option that might not be so suitable. 

There are many of us out there who prove that being admitted to an alcohol rehab is a way to get our lives back and lead a happy life.  We can escape the downward spiral that alcohol had taken us on.