In 2011, an estimated 22.5 million U.S. citizens aged 12 or older had used an illegal drug or abused a legal prescription drug. While the most commonly used illicit drug involved in this statistic is marijuana, alcohol is regarded as the most destructive and addicting drug abused by Americans. Those who abuse alcohol daily develop an addiction known as alcoholism. With the universal acceptance of Alcohol among the society of America, and the addiction often being hereditary, Alcoholism is far too common of an addiction. Treating alcoholism is an extensive process that is difficult for most alcoholics to get through, despite the abundance of quality alcohol treatment programs scattered throughout every major city in the United States.
Some people who suffer from alcoholism find success in beating the addiction through AA rehab centers. AA, short for Alcoholics Anonymous, is a fellowship of men and women who share their experiences, strengths and hope with each other, so that they may solve their common problem, while helping others to recover from alcoholism as well. The program follows a universal 12-step plan, with each plan in the step geared towards beating alcoholism. In 2006, AA counted 1,867,212 members and 106,202 AA groups worldwide, allowing the method of treating alcoholism through AA groups to be among the most common avenues for alcoholics to pursue. The only requirement for AA membership is the desire to stop drinking, and there are no dues or fees for AA membership.
Although treating alcoholism through AA can be a successful experience for many, some alcoholics may require detoxification through an addiction rehab facility. There are three main steps involved in the detoxification process: evaluation, stabilization, and transfer into a treatment program. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a division of the US Department of Health and Human Services, defines detoxification as “a set of interventions aimed at managing acute intoxication and withdrawal. Supervised detoxification may prevent potentially life-threatening complications that might appear if the patient was left untreated.” Rehab detox centers are more commonly used for addicts struggling to beat highly potent drugs, such as oxycodone, heroin, oxycontin, morphine and methadone. Regardless, detoxification rehab centers can prove to be just as valuable for individuals struggling to beat an addiction to alcohol.
