The first step in recovery from substance abuse and alcoholism is finding a luxury residential substance abuse treatment center that is best suited for each individual and the specific nature of his or her addiction. This is often a very confusing task given the numerous kinds of substance abuse facilities available within substance abuse treatment facilities. Most of these centers are where residential treatment programs set in some of the most exclusive and beautiful locations can be found, like Malibu, CA, near Los Angeles, California. When looking into private pay treatment centers, one must consider a plethora of different things that an addict will need for successful recovery. Long-term versus short-term treatment programs are a big consideration. Generally speaking, with more severe addictions, long-term drug treatment programs are suggested over short term treatment. It is imperative to be sure to ask pertinent questions that will get answers leading to the best choice in investments for drug treatment programs. The best drug treatment programs will be the centers that are dedicated to the recovery of the addict and support for the families and loved ones, and not just looking to “fill a bed”.

Drug Addiction or Alcoholism: Which is easier to recover from?

Drug addiction and alcoholism, both diseases of the brain which create devastation in the lives of the addict and alcoholic, have often been debated over as to which is harder to detox and recover from. One professional at a luxury residential drug addiction treatment center in Malibu, CA says that drug addiction is easier to drug detox and recover from as alcohol is legal and more prevalent in today’s society, thus creating greater opportunity for relapse in the case of the alcoholic. The other side of this debate would be that illegal drugs and the addict’s “connection” are still present, prescription medication is being prescribed in ever increasing amounts, not to mention, the internet has now made the purchase of narcotics easier than ever before.

Drug addiction treatment and relapse prevention is equally available for drug addiction and alcoholism.

What we are sure of is the addict or alcoholic always has an excuse when they relapse. They tend to blame other people or situations for the reason behind their relapse behavior. If the person recovering from drug addiction or alcoholism would enter a drug and alcohol addiction treatment center, follow a relapse prevention plan, which might include changing their old drinking and drugging buddies for friends in recovery (changing their support system), quit meeting and frequenting places where they drank or used drugs and abstain from participating in unhealthy behavior, there is no difference in the degree of difficulty recovering from drug addiction or alcoholism.

Alcoholism is a 24-hour disease, that’s right.. a “disease.” Says who? Says the AMA (American Medical Association.) When an alcoholic takes a drink, all they want is more. When they eat chocolate, watch TV, spend money, smoke a cigarette all they want is more. Ask an alcoholic. Ask me. I know. It can be a miserable existence. And, with the proper tools, it can be a wonderful existence. The solution, the key, to living with alcoholism for this addict is recovery. Recovery can be found in a number of places. The most popular one is an Alcohol Treatment Center. The one I went to was a high-end residential alcohol treatment center in Malibu, CA, near Los Angeles. But, there are rehabs all over the place, for all shapes and sizes. Now, after I left rehab I wasn’t cured, Ill never be cured of my alcoholism. I live with it every day of my life. BUT, with the tools, the experience, the strength and the hope I received in rehab, every day I have a shot. Every day I have a chance. Every day I can have fun. Because every day I have hope.

It’s a question every alcoholic asks himself, eventually: When did it really fall apart? When did social drinking become chronic drinking? When did a night at the bar with friends become a night at home with a bottle?

When did alcoholism become, well, alcoholism?

For me, the through-the-looking-glass moment came when I couldn’t stop thinking about it: about that first sip of that first drink, and the long slow tumble into the haze. That’s what alcoholism is, really: that obsessiveness, that compulsive need that won’t and can’t and doesn’t ever go away. Alcoholism is alcoholism when, and because, it haunts you. If you’ve been there, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

There’s nothing easy about alcohol rehab. The fight against alcoholism will rake you over the coals and back again…and I’d be lying if I told that getting sober is anything other than one mother of a fight. But seriously: What’s the alternative? Alcoholism? Thinking about booze twenty-four hours a day, before you drink and after you drink and of course most of all while you’re drinking? No thanks.

You can beat it, if you want to. That’s what someone told me on my first day of alcohol rehab, and that’s what got me through the darkest moments. You can beat it if you want to. Remember that, as you go forward: You can beat it. It’s not easy, it’s not certainly not fun…but, yes, You can.

If you want to.