Many consider Alcoholism and alcohol addiction a terrible disease with the impossibility of ever overcoming it. Alcohol addiction is not only hard on the alcoholic but on their family and friends as well. If you or a family member is investigating in patient alcohol addiction treatment or a substance abuse treatment programs, there are a couple of things to remember to help you determine which one may be right for you.

All alcohol addiction treatment and/or substance abuse treatment programs are different. Each has its own unique policies, rules and more importantly treatment modalities. However, while substance abuse or alcohol treatment programs vary in length, costs and type of treatment there are a couple of key things you can expect to happen and should be aware of.

First, alcohol addiction has a dramatic effect on the internal organs, function of the brain and a huge physical dependency. These barriers are paramount in getting an alcoholic to the alcohol addiction treatment center and very often cause the need for an alcohol medical detoxification prior to entering the substance abuse treatment facility to ensure a safe withdrawal.

Whether a person is genetically or bio-chemically predisposed to addiction or alcoholism is a controversy that has been debated for years within the scientific community. One school of thought advocates the Disease Concept, which embraces the notion that alcohol addiction is an inherited disease, and the alcoholic is permanently ill at a genetic level, even with those experiencing long periods of sobriety.

Another philosophy argues that addiction is a dual problem consisting of a physical and mental dependency on chemicals, compounded by a pre-existing mental disorder (i.e. clinical depression, bipolar disorder, or some other mental illness), and that the mental disorder needs to be treated first as the primary cause of the alcohol addiction. This treatment philosophy is commonly referred to as Dual Diagnosis. This unfortunately is where things get convoluted since this type of alcohol addiction treatment requires medications to be prescribed to “treat” the underlying or co-existing disorder. A third philosophy subscribes to the idea that chemical dependency leads to "chemical imbalances" in the neurological system, which would be a substance induced imbalance and again typically requires medications to be prescribed.

These medications often lead to other addictions and the need for substance abuse treatment for that drug.  The drugs prescribed in this type of alcohol addiction treatment program, include, xanax, klonopin, valium, and antipsychotics such as seroquil. These drugs have a high risk of dependency and very often cause the maladies they are prescribed to treat.  

The concept of drug and alcohol addiction is being refined in light of new research on blood concentrations, receptor sites, brain chemistry and withdrawal syndromes. All mind-altering drugs, including alcohol, marijuana, heroin, other opiates, methamphetamine and cocaine, can produce addiction or dependence, develop intolerance, and induce a withdrawal syndrome after cessation of chronic use.

It is well known fact the abuse of alcohol alters the normal function of the brain and requires a minimum of 90 days or longer of sobriety after alcohol abuse for the brain to function normally.

Another component of alcohol addiction is the physical dependence that causes cravings and relapse. Metabolism is a general term applied to the chemical processes that take place within tissues in the body by converting food or liquids to obtain nutrients. When alcohol is ingested, about 20 percent is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream. The rest is absorbed as it progresses through the gastrointestinal tract. A small amount of alcohol is not metabolized and is excreted through sweat, saliva, urine, and the breath. The alcohol that is metabolized in the liver where an enzyme known as alcohol dehydrogenates (ADH) converts alcohol to acetaldehyde. This substance is then converted to acetic acid and then metabolizes to carbon dioxide, water, and fatty acids which is absorbed into the tissues of the body primarily the fatty tissue. There the alcohol continues to create nutritional deficiencies, causing the person to feel bad and get cravings as the heart rate is elevated and the alcohol toxins are released back into the bloodstream sending impulses to the brain that cause cravings and lack of willpower. 

Putting all this together, drug or alcohol addicts may have any or all of the following problems at the time they enter alcohol addiction or substance abuse treatment:

• Induced chemical imbalance
• Genetic chemical imbalance
• Social and psychological problems
• Inhibited life and/or coping skills

On the assumption that one or more of these factors may be present, it is easy to see why different alcohol addiction or substance abuse treatment programs work and have higher success or addiction recovery rates for addicts. Here are a few key factors to consider and are basics when determining the correct alcohol addiction treatment program and/or substance abuse treatment facility.

• Programs of 90 days or longer achieve higher success rates. 
• There are nutritional supplements that aid in the alcohol addiction recovery by restoring the nutritional deficiencies created that does not cause addiction.
• Removing the toxins stored in the body rids the alcohol addicts of any possible physical craving.
• Any addict at the time of entering any substance abuse treatment program achieves recovery by learning how to live life again and avoid the pitfalls that would cause addiction relapse and hamper recovery.

Overcoming any addiction is monumental particularly an alcohol addiction that frequently is not sought until years of alcohol abuse and addiction have occurred with near death experiences, legal problems and large sums of money being spent cleaning up an addicts mess.

Understanding alcohol addiction and the barriers to be hurdled are important to avoid any unneeded despair and ensuring addiction recovery the first time around.