Alcohol Rehabilitation: A 3-Step Guide to Recovery

Effective treatment of alcoholism can be broken down into three steps: the problem drinker recognizes the issue, he cleanses his body, and he gets mental and medical treatment to stay away from alcohol.

Intervention

• Intervention is the stage of recovery when the drinking problem is recognized, either by the drinker or by her family and friends. Alcohol consumption stops during this stage.

Detoxification

• Detoxifying the body may take up to seven days. Heavy drinkers may experience fever, delirium tremens and convulsions during this stage.

Rehabilitation

• Nursing and counseling may be necessary for the problem drinker to maintain abstinence from alcohol. Inpatient and outpatient services are available, and medication is sometimes used.

Treatment Centers

• It should not be difficult to find an alcohol abuse treatment center in your area. These centers have programs to support problem drinkers in their efforts to detox, be rehabilitated, and avoid drinking again.

Warning

• The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening. Problem drinkers should be watched carefully during the detoxification process.