Getting Sober: How to Quit Alcohol or Drugs

Deciding to overcome an addiction to alcohol or drugs could be the most important decision of your life. Once you understand that you have a problem and need help, knowing what next steps to take can be confusing.

Anyone who has had a problem with alcohol, or loved someone who has, knows just how devastating alcohol abuse can be, and what a help a private rehab bring. Addiction to alcohol can very quickly ruin someone’s life. It destroys relationships and can be fatal when left untreated. For many people, using alcohol responsibly isn’t a problem. Unfortunately, however, this isn’t always the case for everyone who chooses to drink.

The fact that you’ve ended up on this webpage suggests one of two things:

• You are currently struggling with alcohol use or addiction
• You have a family member or friend who is battling an alcohol problem

Commit to Quitting

Getting sober takes time and effort, and those enrolled in a treatment program must be fully committed to attaining sobriety. There are many reasons to commit to getting sober. Many people want to rebuild the relationships they had with their children, spouses, or other family members. Others simply want to stop being under the influence of substances that make them behave in ways they should not.

Whatever your reason for quitting, you must commit to being substance-free. Motivation to recover is strongly correlated with ongoing sobriety, so it is critical to your long-term success that you think about what is motivating you to want to make this life change.

In the past, people believed that you had to “hit bottom” before you could successfully recover. But in recent years, research has shown this to be a myth. If you can find the motivating factors, you don’t need to lose everything before you recover from addiction to alcohol or drugs.

"It can be helpful to write a list of all the reasons why you want to get clean and sober, as well as all of the things you have lost due to addiction."

Set Goals for Recovery

Setting goals for your recovery will help you maintain your motivation. Often it can be helpful to personally identify some of your underlying values. Knowing what you value in life will help you set goals that are relevant and important to you.

If you are still actively struggling with your addiction, it may be best to think of short-term goals— things that you feel you can accomplish within a few months’ time. Set goals that are specific behavioral goals, things that other people could observe you doing, not vague goals like “ feel better ” or “ be happy ”. Early in recovery, your goals should be mostly related to your addiction. Applying a timeline to your goals can be helpful in keeping you on target.

Examples of short-term behavioral goals include:

• Identifying a specific problem and developing a plan for dealing with it going forward.
• Managing feelings by recognizing, labeling, and appropriately expressing emotions.
• Talking about the shame and guilt of abusing alcohol or drugs to learn to associate feelings with actions in a healthy way.
• Learning techniques to help manage anger, control impulses, and reduce depression.

Decide on Treatment and Get Sober

When you stop using drugs or alcohol, you must make sure that you do it in a safe and healthy way. Entering an addiction rehabilitation (rehab) center can help you in many ways.

Depending on your primary substance of abuse and how long you’ve been using, you may first need the support of a medically supervised detoxification (detox) program. Drug and alcohol rehab centers are designed to keep you away from the temptation you may experience if you try to get sober alone. After completion of the detox process, these programs can offer you both the emotional support and a structured plan to avoid a relapse.

Drug and alcohol abuse treatment can be sought in a variety of settings and specific program types. Many with relatively severe substance use issues elect to attend inpatient or residential rehab programs. Treatment in a residential setting takes the recovering individual out of a potentially challenging home environment and facilitates focused recovery efforts for a duration ranging from a few weeks to a few months, or longer if need be.

Structured outpatient rehab programs also exist that provide substance abuse treatment interventions similar to those offered in a residential setting but are administered in a somewhat less immersive and less time intensive setting. In many cases, outpatient programs are good fits for people with relatively stable home environments and strong support systems. Outpatient treatment often entails focused recovery programming for several hours per day, for several days a week.

Planning for Cravings and Avoiding Temptation

It is common to experience cravings within the first few months after you quit drinking alcohol or using drugs. You must understand this and have a plan for the times when a craving occurs.

There are many ways to deal with a craving. You can talk to a family member or friend. Some people distract themselves from the craving by doing things like exercising, listening to music, or running errands. For others, reminding themselves of their reasons for getting sober help. Having a written relapse prevention plan can help you remember what to do if an urge strikes.

Try to avoid any temptation. Throw away all of the alcohol and drugs in your house. You may have heard the old adage, “ Stay away from people, places, and things.” It is important to identify relapse triggers and stay away from situations as well as people who have contributed to your addiction or ask them to not drink or use drugs around you.

It is important, to be honest with people about your limits. Do not attend parties where there will be drugs or alcohol. Taking steps such as these can go a long way in preventing relapse.

Trigger situation avoidance and other relapse prevention skills are one of the many valuable lessons you’ll take from participation in some form of the substance abuse rehab program.

Find New Meaning in Life

While rehab and treatment are essential steps at the beginning stages of recovery, it's important to look into the future and plan for a drug- and alcohol-free lifestyle in the long term.

An important step to take is in resolving to take care of yourself in the long-term by building a healthy lifestyle. Eating nutritious meals and getting plenty of rest is important for good health. Many people neglect their health while they are in active addiction. If this is the case for you, recovery can be an opportunity to attend to health issues that may have gone untreated in the past.

Another good idea is to find new hobbies that you find fulfilling. This can help to ultimately improve your self-esteem and lessen the appeal of drugs or alcohol. Finding ways to deal with stress is also important. Hobbies and exercise are healthy ways to reduce your stress level. Exercise helps by releasing endorphins that reduce stress. Finally, mindfulness practice has been demonstrated to assist in maintaining long-term recovery.

Get Support

Finding the right support throughout your recovery process is vital to getting sober. There are numerous places and people you can turn to for help, including support groups, family members, close friends, and other people in recovery.

Many people attend and follow 12-step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA). These programs allow you to be completely honest about your addiction and struggles with getting sober without the fear that what you say will get out into the public.

Many recovering people attend support group meetings in order to encourage those who are just beginning to live a drug-free life. At some meetings, a recovering person may share his or her experiences and struggles with addiction and recovery.

Many rehab centers have residents attend on-site meetings. These programs allow members to obtain sponsors who are willing to guide them through the treatment program. Additionally, support group attendance – whether 12-step or some alternative program – is a crucial part of many aftercare programs.

If you are a religious person, attending church may also help you to maintain sobriety. Attending church functions and following the church's teachings about abstaining from drugs and alcohol can be effective for some people. Churches often host 12-step programs or other addiction support groups. You may also be able to find an addiction treatment center that caters to your religious beliefs, helping you invoke your faith as you start a new life in sobriety. Combining the teachings of a particular religion and the teachings of support group educators can be an effective way to help you stay abstinent from drugs and alcohol.

Family is another means of support that can be powerful. Make use of supportive family members. Some AA or NA groups offer open meetings that family members can attend. Attending an open meeting with you can help your family better understand what you are doing in your recovery.

They may also benefit from seeking their own support in a family program like Al-Anon or Nar-Anon. If you don’t have a supportive family, try to build a support system elsewhere. Many people in recovery don’t have strong family support, so it’s important to find other people they can count on.

Outpatient rehab centers are also an option for those who need a less-intensive level of treatment. An outpatient rehab can offer you a combination of medication-assisted recovery together with a group and/or individual therapy without having to leave home to stay in an inpatient or residential treatment center. No matter where you look for support, having people on your team for support as you embark on your recovery journey will improve your chance of success.

Getting sober is a process that requires your complete commitment, and having others around you who will support you can make all the difference. Addiction rehab works. Get started today on your personal path to recovery and a healthy, substance-free life.

Whatever the case may be, it’s important to know that help is available through private rehab clinics. Private rehab for alcoholics offers people the opportunity to straighten out their lives and move into an alcohol-free future.

Is Rehab the Best Option for You?

Private rehab can truly give people addicted to alcohol the freedom they deserve. There are many different treatment options available, yet attending private rehab can truly offer the services some people need to make it through their addiction and into a life of lasting sobriety and success. Before deciding on a private rehab center for alcoholism, it’s important to understand the mechanisms of alcoholism itself.

Understanding Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Addiction

Alcoholism and alcohol abuse are both all too familiar to countless individuals and families worldwide. The impacts of excessive alcohol consumption reach far and wide. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2012, approximately 3.3 million deaths (or 5.9% of all global deaths) were related to alcohol consumption. Alcohol is something that’s easily available and even encouraged as a way to relax and have a good time, which is indicative of why it’s a problem amongst so many people.

While many people can drink without a problem, there are countless people who have trouble with alcohol abuse. If you suffer from alcoholism or know a loved one who does, you know just how devastating it can be. Drinking socially is something that’s accepted pretty much worldwide, and is even supported in many social circles. The problem is that for some, drinking socially can quickly turn into a serious problem.

While the social drinker can have a few drinks and go about their life as normal, someone who has a problem with alcohol feels the need to drink more and more. Alcohol becomes something they feel they need to make life more stimulating or something to help ease their troubles. Alcohol holds an extreme potential for abuse, and for those that use it with more and more frequency, dependency on alcohol can quickly develop.

Dependency can also quickly turn to full-on abuse if the person consuming alcohol isn’t cautious concerning the amount they drink and the frequency in which they do so. And once someone becomes dependent on alcohol, it can feel impossible to quit. Dependency on alcohol can make an individual feel trapped and is a very dark reality that many people face every day.

For those who have admitted to having a problem, finding the right type of rehab is vital. Countless people unsuccessfully try to quit drinking every year, which is why it’s so important to find the right treatment that fits you or your loved one’s needs. For many, attending a private rehab for alcoholism can provide them with the support and resources they need to make it through this addiction that can be very hard to beat.

What Is Private Rehab?

Rehab is basically a group of therapies used by professionals to help someone suffering from alcohol abuse or addiction break free. Private rehab, however, is a bit more specific. It involves a private clinic offering both therapies and facilities focusing only on addiction recovery.

A private rehab clinic offers an all-inclusive residential facility set in a peaceful and serene environment. Clients live at the facility the entire time they’re in rehab, with therapists and other professionals to assist them every day, every step of the way.

A private alcohol rehab clinic offers much more than you would typically get at an NHS rehab. Because the scope of NHS is so vast, resources have to be distributed equally amongst all services rendered. What this means for those looking for treatment for alcohol abuse and addiction is less concentration to what patients desperately need. Private rehab, however, offers what patients deserve in an atmosphere that is conducive to lasting change.

Private Treatment vs. NHS Rehab

All residents of the USA are eligible to apply for alcohol addiction treatment through NHS. While treatment through NHS is free, getting into residential treatment this way can take weeks. Sometimes getting into treatment through NHS can take months. If you have the finances to pay for private rehab, however, you’re often able to be admitted in as little as 24 hours.

The differences between the two include:

Private

• Quick admission
• Complete confidentiality and privacy
• Care facilities located in a peaceful environment, often away from friends and family
• Flexible treatment plan options
• All treatment at one facility
• Personalised treatment with one therapist
• Often includes complementary therapies such as art therapy, fitness classes, yoga, and more
• Tailored aftercare programs
• More expensive than NHS rehab options
• Not always taken care of by insurance

NHS

• Available to everyone, regardless of financial situation
• Private and confidential
• Locally situated close to home, friends, and family
• Long admission process
• Limited access to personalized therapy, with many therapists often involved in treatment
• Different treatments may take place at different rehab centres
• More probability to be influenced by outside distractions

Ultimately, you’re the only one that can decide which type of rehab will best suit you or your loved one’s needs. Private rehab most often has more to offer, and if you have the funds to pay, private care may provide a better option.

What’s the Difference Between Private Rehab and Outpatient Care?

When you’ve made the decision to get treatment for alcohol, you’re going to soon realize that treatment options fall into one of two categories: private rehab (or inpatient care) or outpatient care. Both have the best interest of the patient to get the help they need, yet vary in their approach to how rehabilitation is attained.

Private rehab is a type of treatment where patients check themselves into a treatment facility to help them overcome their addiction. They stay at the treatment center and receive constant supervision and support.

Private Rehab (Inpatient Care)

Inpatient treatment allows a patient to focus only on getting well, without the outside distractions of friends, family, and day to day life. Each day patients follow carefully planned out schedules that include various types of therapies on both a personal level as well as in group settings.

People that choose to attend private rehab for addiction can expect very personalized care, access to 24-hour medical attention, individual support, customized treatment plans, and more. A typical stay in private rehab is anywhere from 28 days to six months.

Outpatient Care

Someone choosing outpatient care will still get treatment for drug or alcohol addiction, but it will be on a far less intensive schedule than inpatient care. Outpatient rehab treatment is far less restrictive and usually takes place in centers near one’s home. Patients live outside the treatment center and attend somewhere between 10-12 hours each week visiting the treatment facility to receive care.

Outpatient care is often best suited for those with a mild addiction. Because it requires little to no supervision, those attending this type of rehab will be able to see friends and family as they please. While this can be beneficial, it can also lead to temptation if the person receiving treatment isn’t careful.

Outpatient care often consists of addiction education, coping mechanisms, and group and individual therapy. The time outpatient rehab lasts is dependent upon the individual, but typically lasts for 3-6 months.

The Benefits of Private Rehab for Alcohol Abuse

While the free services offered by the NHS are the most popular for those looking to get treatment for alcohol in the USA, they aren’t always the best option. Private rehab not only provides more individualized attention but several other benefits as well. Some of these include:

Fast Admission

When choosing private rehab, patients are usually admitted within 24 hours. When making the decision to go to rehab, it’s vital that treatment starts right away. With private rehab, there’s no need to wait weeks or months to get the help you need.

Personalised Focus

A private rehab focuses solely on what a patient needs to successfully beat their addiction. Attending a public rehab clinic lacks the means necessary to focus all their attention on the individual because their focus is so broad.

Removal of the Individual from Familiar Surroundings

Getting addiction treatment at a private rehab offers the individual an advantage because it takes them away from their immediate environment. Residential treatment offers separation from their daily routine, influential people, their familiar environment, and of course alcohol. In order to get the help one needs, removal from familiar surroundings is crucial.

Custom Plans to Meet the Individual’s Needs

Perhaps one of the best things about private rehab is the attention each individual receives. No two people respond to treatment the same, which is why the custom plans that private rehab offers can seriously benefit the patient. Treatment is designed to fit one’s own unique needs, rather than a general treatment plan.

What Facilities Do Private Rehabs Offer?

Private rehab for alcohol goes above and beyond what you’ll find at public treatment centers. Private rehab facilities offer a wide range of different options, with many containing states of the art facilities. Many private rehabs have centers that are located in a peaceful and serene environment and are located in quiet places outside of large cities and towns.

Many private rehabs come with private rooms, offering the privacy someone needs to successfully combat their alcohol addiction. Healthy meals are provided and detailed care is given to each individual patient. Some private rehab centers even come equipped with a gym and swimming pool. Each offers a highly trained professional staff that is there to attend to every need a patient might have. Counseling, private and group therapy, and a detailed recovery plan are all also offered with private rehab treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Cost of Private Rehab?

While this is one of the most frequently asked questions concerning private rehab, there is no definitive answer concerning the cost of private treatment. The total cost of attending a private rehab facility is dependent upon a number of different factors. The severity of someone’s addiction, as well as what treatments they will receive both plays a large role in determining cost.

The elements involved for an individual in private rehab will determine the final cost. The fees clients pay typically go toward paying for the following:

• Housing
• Meals
• Professional and support staff
• Medicine
• Compliance costs
• Insurance necessary to operate the facility

While treatment cost will vary depending on the private rehab facility you decide on, the average cost of private rehab is approximately £1000 a week. Some private rehabs will charge less, and some will charge more. Luxury private rehab can cost up to £5000 a week.

What is the Success Rate of Private Rehab for Alcohol Abuse?

Rehab is something that has the potential to work very well… for those who are committed to sobriety. Even the best private rehab won’t be successful if the patient isn’t 100% dedicated to attaining and sustaining sobriety.

In 1995 the National Treatment Outcome Research Study (NTORS) published a study that showed 47% of people attending private rehab maintained sobriety five years after treatment was completed. A study published in 2012 by the NHS’ National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse, however, showed the best private rehabs with a success rate of 60-80%. Private rehab works for many, but there must be a commitment by the patient.

• Sources

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  Buckingham, S.A., Frings, D., Albery, I.P. (2013) “Group membership and social identity in addiction recovery.” Psychology of Addictive Behaviors. 25 (4), 1132 – 1140.