Alcohol Help

With up to one in three of the adult UK population drinking enough alcohol to create a risk of developing alcohol-related liver disease*, it is hardly a surprise that many are increasingly turning to rehabilitation programmes and residential centres for help. However, for someone making the financially and emotionally costly decision to enter into rehab, how can they compare rehab treatment centres, and programmes, to ensure they get the right help for ultimate success?

Alcohol treatment success rates have always been difficult for rehab centres to quantify. The first difficulty is how ‘success’ is actually measured. Sue Allchurch, director of Linwood Group, explains further: "Unlike taking a degree, where a person can look at the track record of the University’s grades, rehabilitation is far more difficult to measure. There is little hard data actually available on the success rates of alcohol treatment programmes in the UK, purely because there is very little consensus on what ‘success’ actually means. Is a treatment programme termed a success if the person is sober for one year, five years or a lifetime? Although some treatment centres will choose to define success rates based on certain time periods of sobriety, I feel one of the most important determining factors of ‘success’ is whether a person leaves a treatment programme equipped with the essential tools that they will need to keep pursuing life-long freedom from their alcohol addiction."

So, if it is difficult to find reliable quantitative alcohol rehab success rates, what can you base a decision on when looking for a suitable programme or treatment centre? One of the keys to finding a programme or treatment centre that works for you, or a loved one, is suitability. Everyone is different and therefore individual requirements need to be assessed to determine whether the best course of action is going to be inpatient, residential, outpatient or extended care, and/or short-stay options for that person. This type of decision needs be made in conjunction with a trained professional, as an accurate assessment of the individual will need to be done to determine the most suitable treatment for them. Once a treatment path has been determined, how do you choose the right treatment centre? Below are some questions to bear in mind that will help you to find the rehab centre that works for you or your loved one:

- What is the overall philosophy of the treatment centre to addiction? (i.e. find out if they are 12-step oriented, use motivational, cognitive or behavioural therapies, and then ask them to explain any terms you might not understand)
– When you visit them, what impression do you get of the staff and their qualifications? (Are the counsellors registered with the Federation of Drug and Alcohol Professionals (FDAP) and are the nurses and doctors registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and General Medical Council (GMC) respectively?

- What is the range of treatment programmes available and how does this differ from other rehab centres?

- How do the team manage the withdrawal process and what happens afterwards?

- What does a typical week on their programme look like? (It is best to look for a programme that has a mix of individual and group sessions.)

- What is the length of the treatment programme and the overall cost?

- Is there a family support programme on offer alongside the attendee’s treatment?

- How does the centre manage one of the key stages in recovery – aftercare?

- Does the centre have a diverse group of counsellors? (One of the keys to successful treatment is having a good match between the counsellor and the client.)

- Is the treatment centre accredited? (There are a few national accreditation organisations including the CSCI (Commission for Social Care Inspection) and the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) that register treatment centres in the UK. Also, does the treatment centres way of working comply with UK government Drugs & Alcohol National Occupational Standards (DANOS) guidelines?)

Research clearly shows that, for many people, every year, rehab works. It improves their mental and physical health, helps them to address relationship problems and restores their commitment to living an active, fulfilling life.

Linwood Manor

In response to the BMA Board of Science report on the Government’s tackling of alcohol misuse, Chris Sorek, Chief Executive of Drinkaware, says:

“Effecting the cultural change needed to reduce the harm caused by alcohol misuse is the sole objective of the independent charity Drinkaware. To achieve this long-term goal all sectors, including government, businesses, community groups and individuals themselves need to be actively engaged.

"Drinkaware, which has high consumer awareness, is already in a unique position to deliver education campaigns with real impact. While funded by the alcoholic drinks industry, members of the trustee board from the medical community, a chief medical advisor and panel of medical experts ensure that consumers can have confidence in the accuracy and independence of the information Drinkaware provides online, in print and within our programmes of work. Established less than three years ago, Drinkaware already reaches more than 1 million consumers each year through its website, with millions more utilising our drinks calculators, fact sheets and guides.

"While the debate will continue about the relative importance of education, regulatory and other interventions, consumers have a right to easily-accessed, independent and evidence-based advice about the effects of alcohol on their lives and lifestyles. Such information is provided in the education campaigns run by Drinkaware to improve consumers’ knowledge. These campaigns are effective, as evidenced by the large and increasing number of people choosing to visit the website and the response to a recent Drinkaware campaign. 75% of high-risk drinkers said the campaign made them think about their drinking habits, whilst 57% said they would think about reducing their consumption.* ”

Drinkaware

Almost 100,000 people could die over the next ten years as a direct result of their drinking, a charity has today warned. Research from the Alcohol & Health Research Unit at the University of the West of England and Alcohol Concern shows that 90,800 people could die avoidable deaths from alcohol-related causes by 2019 if we continue to drink at the average rate of the past 15 years.

The research maps the whole population’s level of drinking with the number of deaths from alcohol-related causes. The new findings also show there has been a trebling of deaths from 3,054 in 1984 to 8,999 in 2008, as consumption has increased over the past 25 years.

The numbers include diseases directly caused by alcohol and alcohol poisoning, and do not include deaths caused indirectly by alcohol, such as those from drink-driving or cancers which have been caused in part by drinking.
The research also highlighted statistics from the Office of National Statistics which show that deaths from alcohol are highest among older people, supporting the charity’s view that the focus on encouraging sensible drinking among young people should be widened to target the whole population.

Professor Martin Plant, lead author of the work said:

“The UK has been experiencing an epidemic of alcohol-related health and social problems that is remarkable by international standards.

“It is strongly recommended that reducing mortality should be the top priority for alcohol control policy.

“This could be done by introducing a minimum unit price of 50p which would cut alcohol-related hospital admissions, crimes and absence days from work.

Alcohol Concern Chief Executive Don Shenker said:

“This is an unacceptably high death toll and the worst part is that all of these deaths are avoidable.

“Whilst there has been a small reduction in consumption and mortality over the last two years, the overall trend is a rise in consumption and a trebling of deaths since 1984.

“This rise runs in parallel with the growing affordability of alcohol. Without policies which more effectively target the cheap price of alcohol we will not get to grips with what has become one of the country’s biggest public health problems.

Alcohol Concern

The Royal College of Nursing is branding the findings of an Alcohol Concern report an ‘absolute tragedy’.

The report, Future Proof – Can we afford the cost of drinking too much? suggests that alcohol will cause over 90,000 avoidable deaths in the next decade.

RCN Chief Executive Dr Peter Carter says:

"For 90,000 lives to be thrown away as a result of excessive drinking would be an absolute tragedy. As well as causing unimaginable suffering for the families and friends of those involved, more people needing hospital treatment for alcohol-related reasons means extra pressure on an already over-stretched and pressurised health service."

The RCN says the report findings add further weight to the case for regulation of the labelling, sale and advertising of alcoholic drinks to ensure that the alcohol industry does not engage in unscrupulous practices which encourage consumers to drink to excess. Dr Carter adds:

"As we move closer to the next general election, we call on all political parties to prioritise action on binge drinking. They must also think carefully about the steps needed to encourage a safer, more sensible attitude to alcohol, in order to prevent the predicted devastation from becoming a reality. The nation’s relationship with alcohol is a national and international disgrace."

The RCN’s general election manifesto, also published today, calls for better regulation of the drinks industry to minimise the dangers and health care costs associated with excessive drinking.

Royal College of Nursing

Connecticut Drug and Alcohol Rehab Center use Adventure Based and Holistic Approach to Help Treat Addiction

A Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center in Connecticut offers several conventional and some innovative treatment methods in the treatment of alcoholism and addiction.

Activities such as meditation, yoga, Qigong and several others are offered at a drug and alcohol addiction treatment center located in northern Connecticut. Mountainside Drug Rehab has been offering these treatment modalities along with many other traditional methods to provide the best possible chance of recovery to the suffering addict. Alcoholism and Drug addiction cause chemical changes in the mind as well as changes in the body. The lymph system becomes congested with toxic chemicals; the central nervous system, which includes the brain, becomes dependent on chemicals to regulate its functions.

Studies have shown that activities such as Qigong and Yoga help to speed up and improve the alcohol recovery process. In many cases these activities also accelerate the detoxification process by speeding up the body’s lymph system, releasing harmful toxins from the body. These practices also lessen anxiety levels and improve sleep patterns which in turn give balance back to the body and mind. In the last 10 years, yoga and qigong have become increasingly more popular in the United States for their many health benefits. Some of these benefits were just listed above along with others such as increased blood flow to the brain, increased oxygen metabolism, lower blood pressure and an overall improvement in longevity and health.

Many behaviors that arise in a person during the alcohol Adventure Based Program can be expected to re-occur in other situations that may be similar throughout that person’s life. This program gives our clients a unique and memorable experience to look back on as they attempt to identify and address key issues and behaviors that impact their recovery process. Through the participants involvement in adventure programming the group and the individuals are placed in circumstances that provide immediate information that can be transferred metaphorically into meaningful real-life lessons. Therefore, the adventure-based setting itself presents learning opportunities for participants to draw upon.

The disease of alcohol addiction is extremely powerful and gripping often closing off the person’s ability to make rational decisions and get the help they need. This is why long term, residential treatment is needed for the addict and alcoholic. Intermediate and long term drug addiction treatment provides the person suffering from addiction an adequate chance to:

1) Allow sufficient time for the drugs or alcohol to leave their bodies.
2) Provide time to learn new coping mechanisms for dealing with day to day stresses.
3) Regain social and interpersonal skills
4) Give the alcoholic or addict the required tools and life skills to become a productive member of society again.

At Mountainside Alcohol Rehab Center we treat everyone as an individual taking into account the many factors of their lives and circumstance as we structure a treatment plan that is the best fit for each person.

Mountainside Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center has been helping people recover from alcoholism for over 12 years.

It’s licensed and credentialed alcohol counselors and clinical staff includes Advanced Nurse Practitioners who specialize in drug addiction and alcoholism treatment. The highly capable drug addiction treatment team is dedicated to providing compassionate and quality alcohol and drug treatment.

Mountainside Foundation

For those living with a loved one who has a drink problem, it can feel like you are talking to a brick wall when it comes to encouraging them to get help. According to Alcoholics Anonymous, there has been a long-term increase in drinking since the 1950s, and we now drink more than double the amount consumed then. In addition, among 20-something women, 60% of the alcohol consumed is in bouts of heavy drinking (more than six units a day) and for men, half the drinking is done in bouts (more than eight units). The chances of living with an alcoholic are increasing, but what can be done to get help?

Whether you have been living with someone who has an alcohol problem for years, or you are watching your loved one begin down the path of unhealthy drinking patterns, there is support for them and you. Although you can’t force an adult to receive treatment for their drinking problems (unless there has been a court-order following an arrest), there are tried and tested methods to coax them into getting help. Sue Allchurch, director of Linwood Group, explains further: "The first and foremost step in encouraging an alcoholic to get treatment is to stop all pretence. After drink related situations occur, the first tendency of many people is to try and protect the person who has drunk too much from the results of their drinking. Although it might feel like you are letting your loved one down, stopping this behaviour, so they experience the consequences of their drinking, is the first step on their road to their recovery.

" Timing also plays an essential part in coaxing a person who won’t agree to treatment into getting the help they so desperately need. The best time to approach them is shortly after their last bout of drinking has occurred. Obviously it is best to wait until they are sober and fairly calm and it is vital to begin any conversations in private with them, rather than in a public setting. At this point it is essential that you be specific with them. Use examples of the ways that their drinking is impacting on you and the rest of their family and friends and include the latest incident as a prime example. Following on from this, you will need to implement a strategy of what seems like ‘tough love’, which involves letting them know the course of action you will take if they refuse to get help".

Here are some steps that the Linwood Group recommends for those beginning the path of ‘tough love’ to encourage an alcoholic to get help:

- Be clear – you need to make it obvious to your loved one what you will do if they refuse to seek help for their addiction. This is not to punish them, but to protect them from future harm. This could range from refusing to join them in any social activity where drink is involved to moving out if they refuse to get help.

- Know your options – gather information in advance about the type of help available in your community so you can call immediately to book an appointment for them with a treatment counsellor or a GP if they agree to get help. Offer to go with them if to the first meeting to ensure they see they are being supported in this first important step.

- If they refuse – If they refuse to get help, then it is time for you to get support. You will need to ask one of their most respected friends or family members to talk to them and reiterate the steps you have instigated above.

- Strength in numbers – if the thought of confronting your loved one on your own isn’t appropriate, then seek professional advice on how to proceed. It might be appropriate that a healthcare professional or other family members are present when you confront the individual. However, group confrontation is only recommended once you have sought the advice of an appropriate healthcare professional as this type of intervention can be seen by the individual as you all ‘ganging up on them’ and might have the opposite effect.

- Support group vital – not only is a support group vital for a recovering alcoholic, but also for those impacted by living with an alcoholic. A support group will help you understand that you are not responsible for your loved one’s behaviour and give you the tools you need to put in place the appropriate steps to take care of yourself, regardless of whether your loved one ultimately chooses to stay sober or not.

Linwood Manor

At York Crown court today George Wood, skipper of the 30 metre fishing vessel ‘Honeybourne III’ registered in Peterhead was fined £1000 after being found guilty of being drunk in charge of a vessel following an incident on the 23 August this year on the north east coast.

At 9.37am on that day Humber Coastguard was contacted on VHF Channel 16 by the crew of the fishing vessel reporting that the vessel had run aground just north of Filey.

There were seven crew onboard and the report stated that neither the vessel nor crew were in any immediate danger. Humber Coastguard informed the crew to monitor VHF Channel 16, whilst rescue resources were alerted and to keep the Coastguard informed of any changes to the situation.

As RNLI lifeboats from Filey and Scarborough were launching, along with the attendance of warship HMS Severn, further calls were made to the fishing vessel with no response.

Honeybourne III then let off distress flares that were seen by a small passing fishing vessel called the Sunrise, which took all seven of the crew off and took them to Scarborough.

The crew were met at Scarborough Harbour and it appeared that the skipper was under the influence of alcohol. North Yorkshire Police undertook a breathalyser of the skipper who failed the breath test and was arrested.

He was found to have 81 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath – more than twice the legal limit of 35 microgrammes.

Working together with the Crown Prosecution Service, the North Yorkshire Police and Maritime and Coastguard Agency then brought the case to Court.

His Honour, Judge Spencer QC, said that:

Mr Wood has lost his job as a result of this incident.

Mr Wood claimed that he was undertaking an anchor drill at the time but he could have gone aground at any point.

His Honour went on to say, It is a serious offence and there was clearly a risk to the environment. Mr Wood also faces the prospect of losing his Master’s ticket.

Captain Jeremy Smart, Head of Enforcement said:

Being drunk in charge of any vessel is a very serious matter. It puts at risk not only all those onboard but other users of the sea.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency who are responsible for the issue of Master’s Certificates of Competency will now take forward the matter of Mr Wood’s suitability to continue to hold such a Certificate.

Maritime And Coastguard Agency

New and troubling phenomenon correlates eating disorders and binge drinking.

This summer, Eating Disorder Center of Denver (EDC-D) experienced an increase in eating disorder patients with binge drinking problems. Of all the college-aged females enrolled in the program, 75 percent met the criteria for alcohol abuse.

Although co-existing substance abuse is seen through all eating disorders, “drunkorexia” most frequently involves college-aged females who are diagnosed with bulimia and binge drink. Often, these patients either starve all day to offset the caloric intake associated with consuming large amounts of alcohol or they binge, on food and/or alcohol, then purge.

“Drunkorexia” is not an official medical term, but it has recently become a phenomenon in both the eating disorder and addiction fields. EDC-D has tailored its treatment program to account for the co-occurrence of eating disorders and binge drinking.

“Over the last 10 years, the prevalence of both eating disorders and binge drinking has increased on college campuses,” said Dr. Tamara Pryor, EDC-D’s clinical director. “With this increase, we have realized the need to offer a dual focus on substance abuse and eating disorders in the treatment of patients.”

Eating Disorder Center of Denver