Alcoholism is a severe form of alcohol abuse. Tolerance, the need to intake more and more alcohol in order to feel buzzed or relaxed, is one of the biggest signs of alcoholism. Needing alcohol in order to steady shaky hands in the morning or to calm sudden anxiety or feelings of depression, are all signs of withdrawal, more warning flags indicating alcoholism. When you begin to develop a physical dependence on alcohol, or you feel physically compelled to drink or rely on it in order to function, you suffer from alcoholism and need to seek help. Take a moment to think about this.
With successful alcohol rehabilitation, a person will be able to eliminate the above along with the following problems from his or her life: alcohol poisoning, DUI's, binge drinking, work trouble, relationship trouble, money issues, and depressive feelings to name a few aspects of alcoholism. Wouldn't you like these things eliminated from your life?
Individuals progress through drug addiction treatment at various rates, so there is no pre-determined length of treatment. However, research has shown unequivocally that good outcomes are contingent on adequate treatment length. Generally, for residential or outpatient treatment, participation for less than 90 days is of limited effectiveness, and treatment lasting significantly longer is recommended for maintaining positive outcomes. For methadone maintenance, 12 months is considered the minimum, and some opioid-addicted individuals continue to benefit from methadone maintenance for many years.
