| Alcohol addicts are stuck in a groove. Their routine | | | | A concerned, caring and effective center will |
| consists of drinking alcohol, then some more and then | | | | invariably tell you that they tailor make a treatment |
| some. This is the story of a day in the life of an | | | | plan only after clinical diagnoses and analysis of the |
| alcoholic. He does not do anything else: he is incapable | | | | addict. A profit oriented one will tell you that they will |
| of doing it. Assuming he has seen the light and | | | | put him through a program which you can select |
| wishes to be rid of this problem or someone has | | | | from a list and fit yourself into it. |
| intervened and convinced him to get rid of addiction | | | | Effective treatment plans invariably offer not just |
| and lead a healthy happy life, his next step is most | | | | detox and therapy. A proper nutritional diet plan will |
| likely to be a treatment program at an alcohol | | | | be designed and put in place as also a program of |
| addiction treatment center. But how would one | | | | physiotherapy to rejuvenate body and make it fitter. |
| assess the effectiveness of a program which is | | | | Some detox centers skip on this aspect. |
| offered, without going through it? This is a difficult | | | | Effective alcohol addiction treatment involves |
| task and a thorough assessment will need to be | | | | counseling which will change an individual for the |
| made before selecting a suitable center and the | | | | better through motivation, group therapies, removing |
| program it offers. | | | | negative thoughts and inspiring goal oriented thinking |
| Short list a few alcohol addiction treatment centers. | | | | and actions which bring in their own rewards. Run of |
| Make it a point to visit each one personally and talk | | | | the mill centers will handle this aspect most |
| not only to the counselor but also to other staff and | | | | perfunctorily, going through the motions with a "who |
| inmates who are going through a rehab. Note your | | | | cares" attitude. |
| impressions clearly. Was the counselor concerned | | | | Effective treatment will include life handling, relapse |
| about getting an addict free of his problem or is he | | | | handling and vocational skills as part of the treatment |
| she more concerned about getting a patient, a | | | | process so that a recovered person will be able to |
| source of income? Does the staff come across as | | | | live life with assurance and without the chances and |
| warm, caring, sensitive and committed individuals? | | | | dangers of relapses into chronic drinking. Effective |
| What do the inmates have to say? Do they say | | | | centers will advise drinking in control and retaining |
| they are making progress and seem happy to be at | | | | control of situations and their lives. |
| the center? | | | | Do these answer your questions? They ought to. |