Alcohol Treatment for Residents in Oregon
Oregon is a northwestern state in the United States that encompasses natural beauty that only get read about in fairytales. There are approximately 4,028,977 residents in the “Beaver State.” Oregon provides landscapes for all of your outdoor pleasures and incorporates modern metropolitan infrastructure.
Despite its beauty and utopia-like aura, there is an underlying issue in Oregon that has plagued civilization since near the beginning. Alcoholism is a disease that can be detrimental to short and long term health and can prove fatal due to long term alcohol consumption. Luckily, there are many treatment centers for alcohol abuse in Oregon, including many Portland drug rehab centers.
Alcohol has been used in societies throughout human history for ritualistic, religious, and social purposes. It has been socially accepted as a way to celebrate and escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Drinking on the weekends with friends is common in modern society, but there is a whole group of people who are alienated and left helpless because of the stigma of alcohol. People dependent on alcohol have always been a part of various cultures and are often condemned as “less than” and morally bankrupt. They have been treated as criminals over the years .
What we now know thanks to modern research regarding physiology and psychology is that alcoholism is a disease rather than a crime or deficiency of character. Therefore, it should be treated as such. A Better Today has joined the fight to shift the perceptions of alcoholism and provides quality care for those who are struggling with alcohol abuse.
For centuries, alcoholics have been looked down upon for their behaviors. Even within the last century, they have been punished with institutionalization and imprisonment. This has proven to be counter-productive with recidivism rates through the roof. Over half of those who are incarcerated for alcohol or drug use go back within a year of being released. This statistic excludes those who were jailed for crimes committed as a direct result of substance abuse. These are not the results of a systematically sound solution.
It is very common for those who struggle with addiction to have low self-esteem and carry hypersensitive insecurities. Incarceration only perpetuates unhealthy self-perception which, in turn, causes a person to act in accordance with those beliefs. Treatment allows a person to bury low self-esteem and identify their assets. This results in achieving higher expectations set for one’s self. Treatment is not only more humane, but much more effective, highly increasing the likelihood of the suffering person experience long term sobriety.
The Dangers of Alcohol Abuse
Despite years of advertising and social acceptability, alcohol is a killer. The psychological and physiological effects of alcohol consumption can be permanent and/or fatal.
The psychological effects of alcohol can range from mood instability, memory loss, impaired motor skills to psychosis. The consequences of alcohol abuse are not limited to temporary cognitive impairment. Long term alcohol abuse can result in long term psychological damage. “Wet brain” is a term that was coined to describe such affliction.
Alcohol abuse takes a massive toll on the body. Even social drinking causes problems physiologically. Binge drinking (having four or more drinks within two hours) can lead to alcohol poisoning which can be fatal. Abusing alcohol does significant damage to the liver, heart, pancreas, and throat along with other important organs. Like the brain, the body is susceptible to permanent damage from alcohol if not treated in a timely manner.
Alcohol Treatment at A Better Today
The treatment process at A Better Today is structured as to provide the safest and most comfortable environment for addressing substance abuse. Everything we do has a reason behind it. Treatment consists of medical supervised withdrawal and inpatient rehab. A Better Today also provides the highly recommended options of sober living and intensive outpatient treatment in order to make the transition into the world outside of rehab easier.
Withdrawal symptoms occur when alcohol intake is abruptly discontinued. The severity of such symptoms depends on the person, how much alcohol they have ingested over a given period of time, and the regularity of consumption. Symptoms include but are not limited to; sweating, shaking, headaches, nausea, insomnia, and anxiety. Alcohol is also one of only two substances that can cause life-threatening seizures during withdrawal, the other being benzodiazepine. This is why getting proper treatment for alcoholism is so important.
Medical supervision of withdrawal focuses on completely alleviating the body of harmful toxins such as alcohol. This is done in a professional and controlled environment by a trained medical staff. Withdrawal symptoms are often the reason that a person is unable to cease alcohol consumption. After a while, the body has become dependent on the substance to be comfortable. This is one reason it is considered a disease in the medical field. A person loses the ability to control his/her drinking because of the physical and psychological cravings. Medically assisted detoxification helps minimize the symptoms of withdrawal to make it easier on the person to follow through without being tempted to revert back drinking. During this process, which can range from a few days to a couple weeks depending on several variables, counter-acting medications are decreasingly administered as to ween off of alcohol within a certain amount of time. A person cannot experience what rehab has to offer while still being under the influence. Once this phase of treatment is complete, clients are then able to participate in rehabilitation.
A Better Today utilizes evidence-based therapy methods that are proven to be most effective. We offer a multitude of therapies in order to make sure each individual finds what works for them. Forms of therapy at A Better Today include; group and individual therapy, exercise, music and art therapy, equine therapy, family therapy, yoga, cognitive behavioral therapy, and nutrition. These can all be beneficial to some degree. We also regularly take clients to twelve-step meetings in order for them to gain as many tools as possible for life after treatment.
Group therapy has been proven to be one of the most effective aspects of rehabilitation. Communication and social skills are often lost in active alcohol addiction. In many cases, alcohol was used to increase the ability to socialize. Whatever the case, group therapy sessions allow clients to develop or regain such skills without the use of alcohol. The therapeutic value of speaking openly among peers helps develop trust, honestly, compassion, and friendship.
Possibly the most valuable method is Individual therapy. Individual therapy is an approach that assists a person in ridding the themselves from hindering emotions and thoughts. One-on-one sessions are conducted in a private and confidential environment for the purpose of helping clients develop trust and honesty. Being able to speak one’s mind honestly has therapeutic value unlike any other. Once a person is able to address internal conflicts, they can then begin the change. A private setting only increases the likelihood that clients will be unapologetically honest about their issues.
Other forms of therapy are used in order to provide various avenues of self-expression, self-discovery, and self-improvement. Alcohol was used as a means of dealing with life. We focus on providing healthier alternative coping mechanisms that help clients refrain from alcohol and experience the life they deserve.
Unfortunately, alcoholism is a disease that can easily breed denial. Many people are unwilling to admit that they are powerless over their alcohol addiction. In many cases, a person may be able to admit that they have a problem, but are overwhelmed with feelings of self-doubt and hopelessness. Under these circumstances, an intervention may be necessary for getting a loved one the help they desperately need. Although it is not necessary, utilizing an intervention specialist is recommended. Remember, a person that has been abusing alcohol is probably already experiencing low self-esteem, guilt, and shame. Family and friends can often intensify these feelings if not coached on how to properly address these issues with their loved one. The goal is very simple: Get the person help. Anything that can be counter-productive including character assassination should be removed from the equation during an intervention It is important that the family and friends practice compassion and care. Alcoholism is a disease that alters a person’s behavior and strips them of the traits that make them so beautiful. Treatment will help them find that beauty again.
A Better Today is here to help
It is highly recommended that a person travel to receive treatment. A person is less likely to succeed in treatment if constant triggers are surrounding them every day. Removing them from old people, places, and things allows them to focus on their recovery without distractions. Treatment is an intense process and it is easy for a person to revert back to old behaviors. A key priority of treatment is to minimize that as an option as much as possible. Traveling outside of that comfort zone highly increases chances of a successful recovery.
Do not allow finances to hinder you or your loved one from getting the help they need and the life they deserve. A Better Today accepts most private insurance policies than can cover some, most, or all of treatment expenses. We also accept private pay and provide affordable payment plans. There are also scholarships available to assist in covering the cost. Whatever your financial situation, there are options.
If you or your loved one suffering, please do not wait any longer. A simple phone call can make all the difference in the world. Pick up the phone and call us today at (520) 288-8484.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column]
