Drug Rehab vs. Alcohol Rehab

When evaluating the many types of substance abuse treatment programs, remember that everyone’s needs are different. In general, the longer and more intense the drug use, the longer and more intense the treatment you may need. This is in both alcohol rehab as well as drug rehab. Though alcohol is a drug, and a very dangerous drug – many people do not class the two together.Специализация или широкий ассортимент?

Whether it is primarily an alcohol rehab or drug rehab – the critical success factors remain the same. An effective treatment program not only addresses the drug or alcohol abuse, it also addresses the emotional pain and other life problems that contribute to the addiction.

The lines of difference between the alcohol rehab and the drug rehab have become progressively blurred.  The basis of this early separation is fundamentally a legal issue.  Alcohol is legal and drugs are illegal. The clients of the alcohol rehab are therefore not unlawful by nature; the clients of the drug rehab are criminal in their very use. Most Alcoholics Anonymous meetings of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s discouraged discussion of drug use.  It was not unusual for the ‘old-timers’ to ridicule a ‘drug addict’ and encourage them to leave.

Today most of those new people in AA have abused many drugs beyond alcohol. The abuse of many drugs by an individual has become the norm.  Thus the lines between the drug rehab and the alcohol rehab have become indistinguishable.  The primary difference between the alcohol rehab and drug rehab is in the type of addictions the facility is willing to handle.  Many alcohol rehab programs focus primarily on alcohol.  These alcohol rehabs have remained unable to treat the benzodiazepine drug addict or the opiate addict.  This alcohol rehab vs drug rehab differentiation if most likely a cost issue and less of an outright prejudice.

 

Where is the Alcohol Rehab and the Drug Rehab the same?

There are many indicators that demonstrate addiction (alcohol or drug) has genetic and/or biological/structural influences . Whatever the case the alcoholic and/or the drug addict uses the substance for its effects. This effect is always the same; the substance reduces the impact of undesirable emotions and increases the effect of more desirable emotions. It is the emotions we run to or run away from.

Time and reintegration are the next most crucial factors. Regardless of a drug rehab or alcohol rehab program’s length in weeks or months, after the program is over, support and on-going participation/follow-up are crucial to recovery.  The Riverbank House program creates that ‘after program’, aftercare support in the community and the family.

It seems we have become a society of addictions. It takes courage and strength to face up to any type of addiction, whether it’s alcohol, drugs, gambling, or…..whatever. The list is long. The alcohol rehab and the drug rehab are overwhelmed with the multi-addicted person.  The treatment protocol has become less specific and more generalized.
The Riverbank House, particularly in phase 1 seeks to help residents address these “run to/run away from emotions”. At Riverbank House we hold the belief that the drug abuse or alcohol abuse (or both) is but a symptom. At its root, the causes and conditions that compel us to use substances must be brought into the light. Any drug rehab/alcohol rehab that does not address the root causes will be in the long run, less successful.

In the latter phases (III, IV) the residents have the support to create new and positive ways of being with these disturbing and “un-desirable” emotions. And, the Riverbank House programming creates opportunities for residents to experience “highs” without the use of substances. Any alcohol rehab or drug rehab worth its weight, knows that replacing negative emotions with positive experiences and “highs” will improve its efficacy.