Is there a Difference between Alcoholism Rehab and Drug Rehab?

The process of recovery from substance abuse is a lifelong process—and it starts with professional treatment. There are thousands of treatment facilities nationwide that offer effective and proven programs and services for those suffering from drug and/or alcohol abuse.  While there are many similarities regarding the processes of recovery from both alcohol abuse and drug abuse, there are subtle differences between the two. With that in mind, those differences can be explored—and you can find a treatment center that better fits your needs.

While they may not be readily observable, there are some subtle differences between alcohol rehab and drug rehab. Alcohol rehabs feature 12-step support from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) as a key feature in a client’s individualized treatment program. While the data on the effectiveness of AA may be anecdotal, countless numbers of alcoholics have found lasting sobriety through AA. If someone is struggling with alcohol abuse, finding a rehab with a solid 12-step program may be more beneficial.

Drug rehabs also feature 12 step programs. However, programs like Narcotics Anonymous (NA) are less attended. Additionally, it is less common for a drug addict to enter a 12 step program as their initial step in recovery. Because of the illegal nature of most substances and the detrimental physical and psychological effects of drug use, a more structured and supervised program may be needed.

When you attend treatment at a facility such as Hawaii Island Recovery, you have the privilege of having an individualized treatment plan and not a standard-tailored-for-everyone plan. It is comprehensive enough to include your strengths and weaknesses and the specific approach for using available resources for your recovery. It also presents the activities that would use up your day and the benchmark of your progress. The individualized treatment plan reflects the agreement between you and the treatment staff about your commitments and involvement.

At Hawaii Island Recovery, we offer a wide range of programs and services that will help clients gain the tools and support they need to empower themselves in their journey towards sobriety. These include the following:

Both alcoholics and drug addicts benefit both from individual and group therapy. Therapy sessions can be conducted by a substance abuse counselor (for alcoholics) and an addiction counselor (for drug addicts), psychologist, psychiatrist, and marriage and family therapist. For individuals with co-occurring disorders, HIR assigns a cross-trained therapist that has the knowledge and skills to deal with the addiction or alcoholism and the existing psychological conditions.

Individual therapy sessions are designed to encourage and inspire the drug addict and alcoholic so that they will continue to have the personal motivation to achieve sobriety. Individual therapy sessions focus on cravings, withdrawal, coping skills, and obstacles to recovery, social interactions and their individual progress in recovery.

The real part of the EMDR session

On the other hand, group therapy helps drug addicts and alcoholics learn new coping strategies, communicate with others and build a trusting relationship with members of the group. Interacting with people who go through the same struggles with drugs and alcohol, gives them the courage and strength to go on with their recovery plan. The therapist in-charge is a mental health professional that sets rules on time limits when participants speak and share their stories with the group. They usually talk about the facts about addiction, stress-management techniques and how to cope with cravings, withdrawal, anger, loneliness, self-pity, loneliness and other negative emotions.

Alcoholics and drug addicts learn how to deal with grief, trauma, and co-occurring disorders. Group therapy also includes family sessions where the clients’ family joins private sessions. These sessions help family members and the clients’ loved ones know whether or not they are suffering from codependency. Members of group therapy are trained on how to handle relapse and manage medications.

HIR has in-house medical professionals like licensed physicians or addiction specialist that conduct evaluations and supervise the detox process while a registered nurse monitors the procedure. A doctor also monitors withdrawals symptoms, pain issues, and other issues that are related to detox. If you have other health problems, HIR shall coordinate with local health providers to address those issues.

There is a psychiatrist who will look into your mental health needs and provide you with the necessary course of treatment that may include medication and therapies to speed up your recovery.

HIR will not leave you unprepared for life outside the rehab. Clients attend the individual and group counseling sessions conducted by certified substance abuse counselors and social workers under the supervision of a licensed clinical psychologist. It will help them understand the principles of recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction. The goal of this treatment procedure is for you to gain life skills and social skills so that you can take good care of yourself, live independently, communicate well with others and avoid relapse.

It is available both for drug addicts and alcoholics and has positive effects on the clients. While processing the experience, some of their clients claim that therapy is a very evocative experience for them. Using drugs and alcohol for months or years already numbed them to positive emotions like joy, peace, calmness, and serenity but seeing these dolphins reminded them of these positive feelings. The way dolphins swim in a pod and interact with each other and play with their family also stirs their longings to connect with their loved ones. The experience helps them realize that they too have a community to go back to and that they
are a part of it.