Finding a Rehabilitation Center

• Once the addict has made the decision to get better, he must get into a rehabilitation center quickly. Choose the rehab wisely. Not all rehabs offer medical withdrawal assistance, and some require that the addict be sober for an extended time before entering the facility. Cost can also be a factor. The National Abuse Treatment Survey tells us that the average cost of rehab is $7,000 per month, and most rehabs recommend that the addict stay for three months. Thankfully, public or private insurance can help ease the financial burden for the medical treatment of alcoholism.
  
  

Alcohol Detoxification and Withdrawal

• The addict will start to feel symptoms of withdrawal as soon as his blood alcohol level drops. This can occur within hours of his last drink. Withdrawal symptoms include vomiting, shaking, anxiety, hallucination and seizure. For this reason, the addict will be admitted and placed in a detox unit where she can receive medical treatment. The physician may sparingly prescribe a benzodiazepine such as Xanax or Valium to treat restlessness, anxiety and to prevent seizures. Thesse medications are addictive, and should only be given on an as needed basis. Some physicians will avoid prescribing benzodiazepines all together in favor of less addictive medications such as the anticonvulsant Tegretol to combat withdrawal symptoms. Tegretol is less addictive and can be used for a longer period of time.
  
  

After Detox

• Once the addict is alcohol free, the physician will advise that a complete physical is performed. Having a clean bill of health is a strong motivation to stay sober. If the physical reveals that the patient has an alcohol related health issue such as cirrhosis of the liver, this is also a powerful motivator to not drink. It is common for addicts to also suffer from a dual mental diagnosis such as bipolar disorder. Drinking alcohol can mask the symptoms of many mental disorders. The addict is unknowingly medicating herself with alcohol to treat an underlying mental problem.
  
  

Staying Sober

• Next, the addict will be integrated with the other people at the facility. The addict will develop a support system, become involved in group and private counseling, and learn to take it one day at a time. This peer support will help the addict to not feel alone. The addict will be able to stop taking the withdrawal medication a little at a time for as long as it takes to feel normal again. When it is time to go home, it is important that the addict stay away from alcohol, and the people and places associated with it. The addict may find great comfort in attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in his area.