There's a commonly held belief among addiction treatment professionals that no one ever fully recovers, asserting instead that the recovery process is an ongoing struggle. This is true for all kinds of addicts, and even those able to go through an inpatient treatment program will need to find support once they are discharged. Knowing where to turn, and how to combat the urge to relapse, can help give you the skills you need to carry on with your life, confident that you are in control of your choices.
Support Groups
Inpatient treatment programs vary widely, and some focus more on the symptoms of addiction than developing the skills necessary for overcoming it. For those who have managed to address the chemical and physiological triggers, psychological alcohol addiction remains a powerful influence for many years to come. In order to help resist those urges, many programs and support groups exist, with some alcohol addiction programs dating back to 1935.
These support programs boast success rates as high as 67% in some studies, compared to success rates of 34% - 39% with no outside help, and 56% with only a professional therapist. This is statistically significant, as support groups allow recovering addicts, whether alcoholics or drug users, to share their stories and rely on the experience of the group to help beat the periodic urges to relapse. In many cases, groups like this can become an extension of the family unit, creating an inter-connected network of support that collectively works to help each individual by leveraging the influence of the group.
Group Home Programs
If attending weekly meetings is good, then extending that support system to apply to a person's entire day should be even better. Programs of this nature do exist, and the most successful operate without the intervention of outsiders. One such program boasts studies that credit it with relapse rates as low as 13%, marking a substantial improvement over support groups alone.
Essentially, the skills and tenants of most support groups are carried into a home environment, and each individual is expected to take responsibility for his or her own recovery. The group that they live with is there to provide support when needed, ensuring that there is never a time when a recovering alcoholic is ever alone in their recovery. As an added benefit, the expected responsibility helps give many who are recovering from addiction an incentive to succeed.
Often, it's not enough to simply complete a course of treatment as a patient in a facility. While these programs treat many of the physical problems, long-term recovery and success in sobriety takes time. With the right support system in place and sufficient motivation, alcoholism can be overcome, but the struggle sometimes comes down to one day at a time. Contact a local alcohol treatment program, such as Arizona Consulting And Counseling Services, for further assistance.
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