Answers to Important Drug and Alcohol Recovery Questions

Recovery from a deeply rooted problem such as drug and alcohol addiction does not occur overnight. It requires time, structure, and the support of those who understand the process. Those seeking to recover from addiction will undoubtedly want to know more about this process before they begin. While newcomers to the treatment process may have any number of questions that can be asked and answered prior to beginning their journey toward recovery, some of these questions occur more frequently than others. The following are three of the most common drug and alcohol recovery questions that we encounter.

This article is part of a larger informational series on drug and alcohol rehab.

How Do I Know if I Need Drug and Alcohol Rehab?

Typically speaking, those who seek information on drug and alcohol rehab already suspect they may need it. Nonetheless, there are at least two exceptions. First, those looking into treatment at the behest of a loved one may not agree with their loved one’s opinions regarding their substance use. Second, some may know or suspect that their substance use is a problem, but doubt that they need inpatient drug and alcohol rehab to deal with it.

Many helpful resources, such as WebMD, post elaborate breakdowns of the signs to look for when you suspect that you or another may suffer from alcohol or drug addiction. If the bulk of your drug and alcohol recovery questions focus on whether you need recovery at all, look for the following red flags.

Signs of Drug or Alcohol Addiction

• If your family voices concerns about your drinking or drug use, pay attention. Others tend to see us more objectively than we see ourselves, and will often notice our substance abuse spinning out of control long before it becomes apparent to us. If your family does not know about the degree to which you use because you feel the need to hide it from them by using in secret, this should also constitute a major red flag. Those who hide their using typically understand on a subconscious level that their use is too excessive.
• How much of your time do you dedicate to using substances, procuring substances, or thinking about these activities? If it feels like too much, then it probably is. Furthermore, if it has become such a priority that you find yourself losing interest in other activities that you used to enjoy, you may wish to take a closer look at the role substances currently play in your life.
• As with time, pay attention to whether more money has gone toward substances than important obligations such as food, clothing, bills or family.
• Failed attempts to quit or set limits constitute a strong indication of disordered use. The very desire to quit or set limits is in and of itself a strong indicator that intervention by a drug and alcohol rehab program would be beneficial.
• Physical effects such as withdrawals, bloodshot eyes, sleep disturbances, and extreme weight changes related to increases in substance use are signs of an immediate need for drug and alcohol rehab, possibly beginning at the medical detoxification stage. Emotional signs of withdrawal may include irritation, anxiety and depression when not using.
• Increases in use sometimes stem from a rise in tolerance, indicating that the body has received too much of a substance and is becoming numb to its effects. While the user may feel fewer effects, using at higher amounts can still be very dangerous.
• Addicts tend to cross lines they believed they would never cross. This may include driving under the influence, stealing from family members, or worse. If using has turned you into someone you fear you no longer recognize, it is time to get on the road to recovery.

What Happens in Drug and Alcohol Rehab?

Some of the most common drug and alcohol recovery questions pertain to the nature of the recovery process itself. More specifically, what does this process look like when seeking treatment at inpatient drug and alcohol rehab?

Integrative recovery programs such as Amethyst’s comprise a number of components. Those who enter treatment will participate in standard measures of care such as individual and group therapy. They will also receive addiction education, learning skills such as relapse prevention and various life skills. At night, they will attend outside support groups, learning from those with hands-on experience in sobriety.

Aside from such evidence-based practices as behavioral therapy and peer support, holistic measures will compose a part of the treatment process as well. At Amethyst Recovery, this means that some educational groups will focus on subjects such as mindfulness and spirituality. Clients can meet with a nutritionist and go to the gym in order to better their physical health. They can also receive chiropractic massage services, utilize our biofeedback bed, and participate in afternoon yoga sessions.

Not only will those who enter treatment receive this wide array of services, they will also learn to have fun while sober. Each weekend, inpatient clients go on outings such as beach trips or bowling. This builds a sense of community while also allowing a break in discussions about drugs and alcohol. Addiction education and therapy matter, but so does learning to live and enjoy the time we spend sober. These outings therefore become an important part of the treatment process.

Can You Promise My Recovery Will Be Successful?

Questions regarding success rates are among the most difficult drug and alcohol recovery questions to answer. Two main issues present themselves when entering into this discussion.

First, everyone defines success differently. Some consider any occurrence of relapse to constitute complete failure. Others feel that relapse simply marks a bump on the road, and does not mean failure as long as you get back up and continue your recovery. Regardless of how you define success, you’ll still encounter the second issue—nobody can do it for you.

While it is important that every newcomer’s drug and alcohol recovery questions be answered, these answers will not amount to personal experience. No two journeys through the healing process will look exactly the same. This is why we offer such a broad answer to the question of what happens in inpatient drug and alcohol rehab. Each client will utilize different services to varying degrees. They will apply different tools in different ways upon leaving treatment. Ultimately, they will decide what their journey looks like.

As such, the short answer is that nobody can promise success. Amethyst Recovery, however, can promise to offer you as much help as humanly possible. We can promise to be there for you, answering your drug and alcohol recovery questions as you trudge the road to happy destiny. Through our alumni program and offering of continued long-term support, we will be there for our clients throughout both their victories and their missteps. Nobody can do it for you, but that doesn’t mean that you have to do it alone. Our dedication to sticking by our clients is one promise we are absolutely certain that we can keep.