How Do Alcohol Rehabilitation Facilities Work?

Whenever a person is diagnosed as alcohol dependent, they will typically have one of two options. The first is to continue as usual, ignoring all medical advice in the process. The second (and more preferred) alternative is to accept that there’s a problem and that things will need to be dealt with, sooner rather than later.

That’s where alcohol rehab facilities make themselves known, and it’s the responsibility of these clinics to ensure that their patients are exposed to the most effective methods to help them to overcome their addiction. Although alcoholism is considered a mental disorder (typically relating to habitual practices), it can also take a very negative toll on internal organs, too.

It’s not unheard of for longer-lasting conditions to develop, especially those that relate to the kidneys, liver and other organs that are most frequently exposed to alcohol. And this is where the services of a rehab centre will start their treatment; addressing the earliest signs of physical damage, whilst focusing on the recovery of a patient.

The first thing that a clinic’s specialists will do, will be to evaluate the physical condition of a patient. This will usually involve blood tests, as well as a review of well-being and fitness. If the alcohol has caused a substantial amount of damage, the important thing to do is to ensure that the patient will be up to the task of over-coming their addiction.

If they aren’t, then there are options to wean the person off the substance over the course of a few weeks; a process that will allow the body to continue functioning as usual, albeit without the concern caused by alcohol consumption. During this time, the organs will begin to recover, but for those that have been suffering with the disorder for years, this may take longer than with those that recently started to abuse the substance.

With alcohol no longer in the patient’s body, the next step is to teach them how to cope without it. This can be via advanced psychological sessions, or even via hypnosis (depending on the type of clinic and its level of expertise). In either event the aim will be to train the patient’s mind to learn to avoid alcohol in all of its forms; from the smallest glass of wine, to the largest bottle of vodka.

Only when the patient is deemed to have recovered fully will they be given the all clear in the form of being signed off. This will permit them to leave the facility (which they will be free to do at any point during their visit), with the added backing of a medical expert to state that they are now out of the risk-zone. Of the patients that leave, over 80% of them will stay clean and sober, with research stating that this amount will improve in the years to come.