Question by almintaka: How well do alcohol recovery programs actually work?
Hi Everyone,
Alcoholics Anonymous (“AA”, spiritual), Rational Recovery (“RR”, cognitive), SMART (cognitive), Save Ourselves (“SOS”, cognitive) and other alcohol recovery programs all claim varying levels of success in helping alcoholics on the road to recovery. However, there is a lot of controversy surrounding their claims, as even a quick search on the internet will reveal. Viewing this chaos of opinions from “outside the box”, it certainly seems as though they’re all blowing smoke. Anecdotal arguments are used, tabloid-style quotations are touted as being authentic, and “my way or the highway” rationalizing is often used. One thing they all have in common is that apparently none of them has a handle on real statistics (though I could be wrong here; I just haven’t found any). In addition, independent studies (NIAA, Dawson) have shown that these programs are no more successful than no program at all. What’s your opion? Do one or more of these programs work better than nothing?

Best answer:

Answer by Rachel
I think any recovery program works only as well as the time & persistance the addict puts into staying clean.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Question by almintaka: How well do alcohol recovery programs actually work?
Hi Everyone,
Alcoholics Anonymous (“AA”, spiritual), Rational Recovery (“RR”, cognitive), SMART (cognitive), Save Ourselves (“SOS”, cognitive) and other alcohol recovery programs all claim varying levels of success in helping alcoholics on the road to recovery. However, there is a lot of controversy surrounding their claims, as even a quick search on the internet will reveal. Viewing this chaos of opinions from “outside the box”, it certainly seems as though they’re all blowing smoke. Anecdotal arguments are used, tabloid-style quotations are touted as being authentic, and “my way or the highway” rationalizing is often used. One thing they all have in common is that apparently none of them has a handle on real statistics (though I could be wrong here; I just haven’t found any). In addition, independent studies (NIAA, Dawson) have shown that these programs are no more successful than no program at all. What’s your opion? Do one or more of these programs work better than nothing?

Best answer:

Answer by Rachel
I think any recovery program works only as well as the time & persistance the addict puts into staying clean.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Question by almintaka: How well do alcohol recovery programs actually work?
Hi Everyone,
Alcoholics Anonymous (“AA”, spiritual), Rational Recovery (“RR”, cognitive), SMART (cognitive), Save Ourselves (“SOS”, cognitive) and other alcohol recovery programs all claim varying levels of success in helping alcoholics on the road to recovery. However, there is a lot of controversy surrounding their claims, as even a quick search on the internet will reveal. Viewing this chaos of opinions from “outside the box”, it certainly seems as though they’re all blowing smoke. Anecdotal arguments are used, tabloid-style quotations are touted as being authentic, and “my way or the highway” rationalizing is often used. One thing they all have in common is that apparently none of them has a handle on real statistics (though I could be wrong here; I just haven’t found any). In addition, independent studies (NIAA, Dawson) have shown that these programs are no more successful than no program at all. What’s your opion? Do one or more of these programs work better than nothing?

Best answer:

Answer by Rachel
I think any recovery program works only as well as the time & persistance the addict puts into staying clean.

Add your own answer in the comments!

My Own Worst Enemy: Hidden Signs Of Self-Sabotage In Recovery
Many people say drugs, alcohol or the disease of addiction itself. Perhaps you'd point to … Meetings and counseling sessions are integral parts of a recovery program, but they aren't sufficient to make each day fun and fulfilling. To fill the time …
Read more on PsychCentral.com (blog)

Rehab network gets Web marketing help with call-tracking software
Jones also purchases a bunch of other keywords, including "addiction treatment," "alcohol rehab," "drug rehab" and "addiction rehab." Foundations had used a company that offers phone numbers, cost-per-click metrics and call-tracking software shortly …
Read more on TechTarget

Christian recovery program promises healing for any ailment
But like others who have walked through the Celebrate Recovery program at Spring Hills Baptist Church, Yoder found renewal in what most alcoholic anonymous programs refer to as a higher power. “We identify the higher power,” said Lisa Farsht, a program …
Read more on The Newark Advocate

Texas' largest addiction–treatment nonprofits merge
Austin Recovery specializes in detoxification and both short- and long-term residential programs, and the Council provides outpatient and co-occurring behavioral health care, including a range of prevention, education and recovery support programs.
Read more on Houston Business Journal (blog)

Excessive alcohol intake can be fatal if not properly treated. Some think of alcohol treatment as impossible. Truth of the matter is, as any addiction it is never easy but with the best attitude and discipline it is very easy. Alcohol treatment is a journey so patience is of essence. It starts by one admitting that they have a problem with alcohol, you should not wait until it becomes uncontrollable.

There are many and effective alcohol treatment options like seeking a professional help or even going to a rehab. Believe it or not but you can also help yourself stop drinking and have control over alcohol The first and the most important thing to do is to commit to stop drinking. One should not allow denial to derail him. You might find yourself making excuses and sometimes not admitting you have the problem. This results into slower recovery. In this case keeping in mind the disadvantages of alcohol will help you to remain focused. You can consider how not drinking makes your relationship improve because you can handle problems with a sober mind. It also makes you feel good mentally. Finally it increases your productivity at work.

You need to surround yourself with people who have similar opinions and those who encourage you to stop drinking. This means you might need to avoid your drinking friends which is a worth course for the sake of your health. It also makes you a more responsible person rather than an ignorant person since alcohol gets in the way of your job performance and family duties.

The second stage of alcohol treatment and of necessity is to set goals and prepare for change. There are people who just want to cut drinking and those who want to stop completely. This depends on the severity of your alcohol intake. Abstinence is considered the safest and easiest. However if you just want to cut drinking you can decide which days you will take your drink, how many drinks you will take. If your case is to stop completely, you should know it is a gradual process which might also help to have a quit date, like 1 month, 2 months, 6 months and so on depending on your choice.

Temptations should be avoided at all cost like doing away with alcohol reminders, bar ware from home and office. Also let your friends, family members and colleagues know your intentions regarding alcohol recovery so that they accord you the support that you need. Discipline yourself from bad influences, where you limit yourself from alcohol and respecting those limits. You can talk to your doctor, join guidance counseling and peer group or even seek help from your health insurance company for encouragement and to keep you focused.

You must remember getting sober safely is also of importance. Due to the long time of alcohol intake when one stops drinking he might get mild headaches, his body parts shaking like the hands or even high blood pressure. When this happens its advisable to seek medical help.

To finally stay alcohol free you need to build a new you. This is in reference to taking good care of yourself, concentrate on eating the right food take daily exercise to help you relieve stress and promote your mental and physical well being. Develop new interests that leave you fulfilled therefore making you feel better about yourself and boost your self esteem.

A good alcohol treatment should plan for future triggers and cravings. These are major challenges and you should counter them with developing new skills to deal with stressful situations. Am mentioned earlier, discipline plays a major role in this treatment therefore saying a firm no is very important.

Alcohol recovery is one of the most challenging areas of addiction because of the major role denial plays in the life of those addicted.  Almost every alcohol treatment center uses the 12 Steps of AA in one form or another. The question remains as to whether or not these 12 steps actually work.  Does a person have to remain in the program for the rest of their life?

Alcohol recovery, keeping alcoholism in remission, is a matter of willingness to change how a person copes and deals with life.  Alcohol recovery can dramatically reduce the economic cost and social problems associated with alcohol abuse.  There is a wide range of financial variables, levels of care, and philosophical differences among the various alcohol rehab programs.

Alcohol recovery has to entail both physical and psychological healing.  Alcoholism, after all, is a jointly physical and psychological disease. Quite often, someone who is addicted to alcohol will deny their abuse problem.  They shrug it off, telling others that they can quit whenever they want or that they don’t have to have a drink, they want to have a drink.  This is normally the first sign that someone is addicted; however, this is not always the case.  There are many out there who are able to drink responsibly and know when to say no.

Addiction is sometimes genetic and almost always a result of some sort of dysfunction in our environment, at some time. Drinking seems to soothe the troubled thinking of those addicted to alcohol. Addiction to alcohol isn’t always a well known problem. Those who are addicted to alcohol might be able to hide their problem from friends and family.  In most cases; however, they are always found out as the alcohol changes the behavior and attitudes of those afflicted.

Addiction strips away an individual’s inner peace as well as hi/ her interpersonal relationships.  The internal struggle that accompanies addictive disorders prevents individuals from forming healthy external relationships.  Alcohol recovery does not have to seem like a hopeless case.

As long as the addict has enough will to break the chains of addiction, various recovery programs are in place to help them improve their prospects for a healthy, balanced, and meaningful life through structured and progressive plans for addiction recovery.  Without the total involvement and cooperation of the person under treatment for alcohol recovery, no results can be expected from the treatment.

People who create more stress for someone going through alcohol recovery and who are overly critical as well may make it more likely that the person will relapse.  With family members, getting counseling can help to deal with these issues and make recovery a possibility within your personal relationships.

Many things occur when one drinks and is in need of alcohol recovery. Driving under the influence may occur, and their health may deteriorate.  These individuals are unable to control their drinking to that one drink which helps them relax just the tiniest bit or enjoy a fine glass of wine at dinner.  These are totally acceptable reasons for partaking in a drink or two, and millions of people who drink this way are doing so without ulterior motives but those in need of recovery do not have the control to leave it at that.