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Alcohol is one of the most common sources of addiction in the United States today, and in the State of California, teens and adults alike are at risk. In a survey conducted by the Office of National Drug Control policy, over 61 percent of high school juniors admitted to abusing alcohol in their lifetimes. Unfortunately, alcohol addiction alone has made up just 9.9 percent of treatment admissions, while alcohol and a secondary dependency made up only 10 percent. This is more than 10 percent below reported numbers for public alcoholism treatment admissions in recent years.
While few people may have sought help previously, there are ways to increase these numbers in the future. It’s important for alcoholics and their families to understand what alcoholism is as well as how it’s treated.
Alcohol use is so prevalent in California and in American society as a whole that it’s often difficult to know if everyday exposure is actually indicative of a problem. Moderate alcohol use is not subject for concern, and the CDC even emphasizes the fact that occasional binge drinking – although ill-advised – is also not a sign of alcoholism. Alcoholism is seen in individuals who are unable to practice moderated use of alcohol, both in terms of quantity and the frequency they drink. Alcoholics experience both mood swings and physical symptoms of withdrawal when they are without alcohol.
Alcohol rehab options in California are numerous, but sometimes that can cause more confusion than necessary. There are two commonly chosen, but quite different, options available for California alcohol rehab.
Inpatient rehab for alcoholism has very high success rates. Part of why inpatient rehab comes so highly recommended is the fact that it’s such a comprehensive program. Since many alcoholics experience withdrawal within days and sometimes even hours of being unable to drink, the first stage of inpatient rehab is to help your body overcome its physical dependence on alcohol. This process is called detox, and since it can be difficult to go through alone, California inpatient treatment provides around-the-clock supervision.
After the physical addiction is broken, it’s much easier to tackle the next aspect of alcoholism. Although alcohol is a physically addictive substance, people often feel emotionally dependent on it as well. For this reason, inpatient rehab offers you the chance to discuss your addiction with doctors and other addicts to help you learn how to handle being sober. This is the most important part of treatment, since it directly relates to how you’ll live your life after you leave the treatment facility.
While inpatient rehab is a structured treatment program, it’s not for everyone. If this is the case, an outpatient alcohol rehab program in California might work better for you.
Outpatient care is different from inpatient programs because instead of having you reside at the treatment facility, you simply attend scheduled sessions and return home. In the beginning of your treatment, many outpatient care facilities will either refer you to a stand-alone detox program or help you taper your alcohol usage to allow you to avoid withdrawal. You’ll be given many of the same options for therapy that inpatient rehab offers, from group support to personal conversations.
This type of treatment is especially helpful if you’re already on the road to recovery, but need additional help staying accountable among the temptations in your daily life. Ultimately, you have a great deal of freedom with outpatient rehab, and you need to understand that this means trusting yourself and the therapies you’re receiving to help you overcome your alcoholism.