When you think of going to rehab, you generally picture a drug free facility. While most people get sober by abstaining from drugs and alcohol, there are certain addictions that benefit from medication assisted therapy. No two addictions are alike, which is why at Atlanta Recovery Place we emphasize individualized care. To learn more about medication assisted therapy in addiction recovery, keep on reading! 

What Is a MAT Drug Rehab?

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is a type of therapy that uses a combination of medication and counseling/behavioral therapies. This helps to provide a “whole person” approach to substance abuse and treatment. Research has been done on MAT drug rehab, and shows that this type of therapy has been successful in treating substance abuse disorders and helping those who struggle with an addiction. 

The medication that is used within this treatment program is used to help normalize brain chemistry, and block the euphoric effects that the substance may give. It also helps to relieve some of the physiological cravings and to normalize the body functions without any side effects. The goal of mat is to achieve a full recovery from addiction, and for each individual to have the ability to live a healthy and self-directed life. The MAT program has been proven to:

• Improve person survival from drug addiction
• Increase retention and treatment
• Decreased the usage of illicit opiate and other criminal activity that occurs due to substance abuse disorders
•  Increase a person’s ability to gain and maintain employment
•  Improve birth outcomes among women who are struggling with a substance abuse disorder and are pregnant 

Research has also shown that the medications and therapies within the medication-assisted treatment program can also contribute to lowering an individual’s risk of contracting a disease such as HIV or Hepatitis C. 

Who Needs Medication-Assisted Therapy?

The MAT program has been used to help those who are struggling with substance abuse. Especially those who are struggling with an opioid addiction such as heroin or a prescription drug addiction. The medication- assisted treatment therapy program is usually  customized to fit each of the clients individualized needs. This individualization can be through the usage of  different types of medications and  different types of therapy.  This therapy can be a one-on-one therapy, support group therapy, behavioral therapy, and so much more. 

The professionals within this program will help their clients choose a drug that fits the specific substance in which the individual is abusing. Like previously mentioned the medication-assisted treatment program is usually used to treat opioid use disorders and can help these individuals who are struggling with opioid use disorders to sustain recovery. 

Currently the FDA has only approved three different types of drugs for opioid dependence. These drugs are buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone. Those who receive medication-assisted therapy may be individuals who don’t think that regular behavioral therapy will benefit them and prevent them from furthering their substance abuse problem. It could also be in an individual who has tried behavioral therapies and they have not worked in the past, so trying medication-assisted therapy may be beneficial.

How Atlanta Recovery Place Can Help With Addiction

Atlanta Recovery Place is a premiere outpatient rehab located in Dunwoody, Georgia. We’re a team of dedicated individuals who strive to help anyone struggling with substance abuse. Our programs range from partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, outpatient, and sober living. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please reach out to us today. 

There seems to be so many different addiction treatments and treatment programs available to choose from. We understand that starting your journey to recovery may seem super overwhelming and daunting. Today we’d like to spend some time discussing a commonly used therapy in addiction treatment called cognitive behavioral therapy. This is a type of therapy we utilize at Atlanta Recovery Place. The best part about this therapy is you continue to do it on your own years and years after you leave the addiction treatment. Keep on reading to find out more about CBT! 

What Is CBT?

Cognitive behavioral therapy, also known as CBT,  has been one of the most common and best research forms of psychotherapy. It combines two important therapeutic approaches. These two approaches are known as cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy.

• Cognitive therapy – One of the main aspects of cognitive therapy is to form a clear idea of  one’s own thoughts, attitudes, and expectations. The goal of this is to reveal and change false and/or  distressing beliefs. This is important because sometimes it is not only the situations and things that cause an individual problems, but also the importance of these situations and things that we attach to them. Cognitive therapy helps people to learn to replace certain thought patterns with more realistic and less harmful thoughts. Cognitive therapy also helps people think more clearly and helps them to better control their own thoughts as well. 
• Behavioral therapy – Behavioral therapy’s goal is to find out whether certain behavioral patterns make an individual’s life difficult and/or intensify their problems. Behavioral therapy stems from the theory of behaviorism. Behaviorism assumes that human behavior is a learned trait and can be unlearned or learned anew. Behavioral therapy may also incorporate learning methods to help individuals find coping mechanisms. 

Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on the idea that what we think, how we feel, and how we behave are all connected. This basically means that all of these three different aspects have an influence on our well-being. Cognitive behavioral therapy has been used to treat conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorders, depression, anxiety, and addictions. This form of therapy will require the client to be committed and to take initiative within the recovery process.  This therapy can only truly be successful  if the client actively is taking part  in this treatment and works on their own problems on their own time (not only in sessions). 

How Is CBT Used in Addiction Treatment?

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a problem oriented approach, meaning that when a problem arises, CBT is focused on finding a solution. For addiction, cognitive behavioral therapy would focus on the current addiction that an individual is experiencing and would help to find solutions for that current addiction. Cognitive behavioral therapy doesn’t really focus much on the past but is more concerned with dealing with current problems. This helps people to be able to cope with their lives now and to work on themselves for the future. 

This therapy approach helps with identifying and changing current distressing thoughts and behavioral patterns.  Cognitive behavioral therapy often uses certain techniques such as writing your thoughts down in a journal or using relaxation exercises/methods. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on helping people help themselves, meaning that clients should be able to start to cope with their lives again without therapy as soon as possible. This can help the client to be independent within the recovery process but also help the client  to find support within their current addiction to help in the success of their future.

Get Help With Addiction Today at Atlanta Recovery Place

Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, we want to help our clients succeed within their recovery process. It is important to us that our clients after receiving treatment can go back to living a happy and healthy life. Within the cognitive behavioral approach, this therapy is providing a way for clients to be able to help themselves within the recovery process, therefore they can use this approach long after addiction treatment. Contact us today to learn more about our program & conquer your addiction! 

Something that may cross someone’s mind when getting sober is “well, what will I do for fun now?”. It can be very common to feel this way, especially after years of substance abuse. But have no fear, there are plenty of fun sober activities to partake in all over the country. Today we’d like to spend some time talking about fun sober activities in Atlanta, Georgia! 

What Are Some Fun Sober Activities to Do in Atlanta?

Atlanta is filled with sites to see and culture. A major metropolitan area in Georgia with lots of fun things to do:

• The Georgia Aquarium – Visiting the Georgia Aquarium can be a fun way to spend a day. Each guest can get up close to the animals and experience the fun within each exhibit. It’s a great place to take your family, friends, or just enjoy by yourself. This is a great way to look at aquatic life up close and to discover more about what lies underneath the sea.
• World of Coca-Cola – Take a trip to the World of Coca-Cola to learn more about one of the most commonly known beverage brands. There are many different exhibits to experience and favors to try. You can even create your own flavor of Coca-Cola and  experience it for yourself.
• Atlanta Botanical Garden –  Take a stroll within Atlanta’s Botanical Garden. This is a great way to get exercise while exploring this beautiful place. It is beautiful within every season and has many amazing exhibits. There is a child garden, a canopy walk, an edible garden, and much more. Visit this beautiful garden to discover more about the world around us and to find a peaceful way to spend the day.
• Chick-Fil-A College Football Hall of Fame – There are tons of exhibits and personalized experiences for you and your favorite team. Discover more about some of the famous college football legends and get your picture taken in front of a three-story size helmet. Take out the passions and the traditions of college football and how they relate to today’s college football.
• The Atlanta Beltline – The Atlanta Beltline is a sustainable redevelopment project. It features 1,300 acres of park, 33 miles of trails, and a 22-mile railroad corridor (this is historic). The trails are multi-use so you can take a scenic bike ride, a nice jog, or even a quiet run on these trails. These trails also connect neighborhoods with one another so they seem to be very safe.
• Sightseeing in the city – There are plenty of fun places to visit within the city itself. These places could include things such as the CNN building (which has a huge food court with plenty of delicious places to eat), the ferris wheel (taking a ride on the ferris wheel is a cheap and simple way to see some of the prettiest parts of the city), find fun places to eat (there are plenty of small businesses in which are fun to eat at that don’t include alcohol), and so much more. 

Why Are Sober Activities Important?

Sober activities are important because finding something that you can enjoy while maintaining your sobriety is crucial within the recovery process. This can help replace old habits and activities with new healthy and sober habits and activities. Finding support and friends who can encourage and come along on these excursions is helpful in the enjoyment and the continuance. 

Seek Sobriety at Atlanta Recovery Place

Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, we want to provide our clients with options of fun things to do while trying to maintain sobriety.  We understand that sobriety is not always fun and the recovery process can be long and hard, but  it is important to find activities in which you can maintain your sobriety and prevent a future relapse. Reach out to us  today to discover more options on how to have fun in Atlanta while being sober.

College. The time in someone’s life where they find themselves, and sometimes they start new habits. These habits, such as partying, may not always be healthy or helpful. Everyone knows that in college the stereotype is the party scene is ongoing and never ending. For some people this isn’t true, but for others this is completely accurate. Atlanta Recovery Place would like to spend some time today discussing how binge drinking can affect someone not only in college, but after the fact as well. 

The Definition of Binge Drinking

According to the National Institute of Health and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism,  the definition for binge drinking is a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08% (NIH). For an average adult, this pattern will correspond with consuming five or more drinks in males, or four or more drinks in females, in the span of about 2 hours. 

According to another resource, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the definition for binge drinking is when an individual consumes five or more alcoholic drinks (males), or four or more alcoholic drinks (females), on the same occasion, meaning within the same time. For this definition the “binge drinking” has to occur on at least one day in the past month. While binge drinking doesn’t necessarily mean someone is an alcoholic, there is a pattern and correlation of binge drinking associated with alcohol use disorder. This pattern states that binge drinking/heavy alcohol use can increase an individual’s risk to develop alcohol use disorder. 

Why Is Binge Drinking in College Students Common?

There are many different reasons why binge drinking and alcohol use are so common within college life. These reasons may include things such as peer pressure, freedom from parents, stressors of school and life changes, wanting to fit in, and so much more. According to the National Institute of Health and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the first six weeks within a college student freshman year is the most vulnerable time when it comes to heavy drinking and alcohol abuse. This is because of the student expectations and social pressures that come from college.  

There are other factors that relate to binge drinking within the college environment such as attending a school with a strong Greek system and prominent athletic programs. Students within these Greek systems and athletic programs tend to engage in habitual drinking and high alcohol consumption. The college students who use alcohol the least are those who commute and live with their parents. According to the National Institute of Health and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, college drinking is a significant public health problem. It can take an enormous toll not only on the intellectual ability of a student, but also the social life that this student experiences on campuses all across the U.S. Binge drinking alcohol can cause serious health risks including damage to the liver and other organs, while making some students more susceptible to certain diseases. Drinking can also cause many different safety risks including drunk driving, sexual assaults and harassment, and injuries.

How Atlanta Recovery Place Can Help

Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, we want to help addicts find the best treatment that suits them and their individualized needs. As a college student, it may be hard to fit treatment and recovery into one’s schedule, but waiting to fix this binge drinking problem can result in later alcoholism and even other substance use disorders. It may be difficult for students to find support on their college campuses when overcoming things such as underage college drinking, binge drinking, and more. Finding a support group and finding quality sober companions/peers is crucial when trying to maintain sobriety, and while going through this recovery process. To find more resources, to get treatment, to get information, and more, reach out to us today. We want to help you succeed in your sobriety goals and your well-being. 

What exactly are benzodiazepines, and what are they used for? Is it something someone should take daily, or as needed? Can they be purchased illegally, or only obtained through a prescription? If you’ve found yourself asking these questions in the past, look no further! Within this article, we have provided information about benzodiazepines, what they are, and how to receive help if you or someone you know is suffering for a benzodiazepine addiction. 

Commonly Abused Benzodiazepines

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, benzodiazepines (benzos) calm or sedate the individual taking them. Benzos achieve this by raising the levels of GABA, a inhibitory neurotransmitter, in the brain. There are many different benzodiazepines, some of the common ones include:

• Diazepam (Valium) – Diazepam is an anxiolytic benzodiazepine. This drug is long-lasting and fast-acting. It is commonly used to treat anxiety disorders, but it is also used to treat alcohol detoxification, acute recurrent seizures, severe muscle spasms, and spasticity associated with neurologic disorders. Valium, and the rest of the benzos listed, can be obtained with a doctors prescription or unfortunately, purchased illegally on the street.
• Alprazolam (Xanax) – Xanax, also known as “bars” (due to their physical shape), is one of the most prescribed benzodiazepines in the treatment of panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. This drug is known to be highly addictive according to addiction specialists and is limited within its clinical usefulness. 
• Clonazepam (Klonopin) – Clonazepam is a very high potent and long-acting benzodiazepine. This drug has been used to treat seizure disorders and panic disorders.

Overall, benzos are prescribed to those who struggle with various forms of anxiety. But like any other pill, just because it’s prescribed by a doctor doesn’t mean it can’t become addictive. Benzos are highly addictive and when abused, can cause serious withdrawal side effects. 

How to Get Help With Benzodiazepine Abuse

According to the National Institute of Health, the most common and well-known harms of long-term benzodiazepine abuse are dependency, falls, and cognitive decline. When someone becomes addicted to benzos they may experience withdrawal symptoms (such as headaches, palpitations, tremors, sweating, etc.), and should go through some sort of detox process, and even maintenance treatment (this of course should be done with the help of a professional). Getting help before becoming dependent is ideal, but we understand that sometimes, as humans, we don’t comprehend that something is becoming a problem until something drastic happens. Some people become aware of their addiction when they face health complications, others drain their bank accounts to sustain their addiction. Some people don’t realize the severity of their addiction until they find themselves in the middle of their own intervention. 

Once an individual becomes addicted to benzos, interventions, drug substitutions, and therapy are essential to overcoming the addiction. When treating a benzo addiction, some therapists use different drugs with shorter half-lives (substitutions) within their therapy, especially when overcoming a substance that has a longer half-life. 

For most people, an inpatient program or an outpatient program may be required when dealing with this type of substance abuse. It is important to seek professional help when overcoming this addiction, and take part in activities, such as support groups that will teach you to hold yourself accountable for your actions, and provide a healthy/sober support system. 

Beat a Benzo Addiction at Atlanta Recovery Place

At Atlanta Recovery Place, we provide comprehensive outpatient addiction treatment for those struggling with a benzo addiction and other forms of substance abuse. Our addiction treatment programs include a partial hospitalization program, intensive outpatient, a regular outpatient and sober living. Each of these programs are  unique and individualized to each of our clients’ needs. 

Which treatment track is used truly depends on the client’s substance use; the way they use it, the length of usage, the environment in which they live, and the amount of social support that they have. We will help each of our clients find the treatment option that best fits them, their needs, and their schedule. Reach out to us today to start your recovery process! 

Alcohol – it’s widely available and it may seem like everyone drinks it. Although it’s easily accessible and often used as a social tool, it can be extremely addictive. Because it’s socially acceptable to drink, it can be hard for someone to recognize if you have an alcohol addiction. It can also be difficult to comprehend whether or not you need treatment for said addiction. 

Today, we’d like to talk about the signs of alcohol addiction and how to get help for it. Alcohol can cause some people to engage in extremely destructive behavior. Like any other addiction, it can start off slowly and eventually end up consuming your entire life. If you or someone you know is suffering from an alcohol addiction, please don’t wait to seek professional treatment. 

Establishing What Alcoholism Is 

Alcoholism, or Alcohol Use Disorder, is a chronic disease that is characterized by a dependence to alcohol and uncontrollable drinking behaviors. Alcoholism can also be characterized by a physical and/or emotional dependence on alcohol. Someone that is suffering from alcoholism may not feel like they can function normally without having alcohol within their system. This can lead to a wide range of negative consequences and can even impact their home, work, and social life. As time moves on within this disease, the negative consequences and serious side effects can continue to worsen and produce damaging complications.

What Are the Signs of Alcoholism?

There are many different signs of alcohol addiction/alcoholism. As highlighted and outlined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders (DSM-5), to be diagnosed with alcoholism a person has to meet any of the two criteria presented below within a 12-month period:

• The usage of alcohol in larger amounts or for a longer time than originally intended
• The inability to cut down on alcohol use despite a desire to do so
• Spending a lot of time obtaining, using, and recovering from the effects of alcohol
• Having cravings, or a strong desire to use alcohol
• The inability to fulfill major obligations at home, work, or school because of alcohol use
• Continuing to abuse alcohol despite negative consequences (interpersonal or social) that are likely to occur due to alcohol use
• Giving up previously enjoyed activities (social, recreational, occupational, etc.) because of alcohol use
• Using alcohol in physically dangerous situations (such as driving a car or operating machinery)
• Continue to abuse alcohol despite psychological or physical problems that occur due to this alcohol use
• Developing a tolerance to alcohol (meaning that an individual will need to drink in an increasingly large or more frequent amounts of alcohol to achieve desired effect)
• Developing withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop using alcohol 

Once again, if someone meets two of these criteria within a consecutive 12 months, they may have alcoholism and should seek out treatment. Please note that addiction looks a little different for everyone, if you feel like you have a dependency on alcohol but don’t relate to the bullet points above, you may still have an issue. At the end of the day, you are truly the only person who can determine whether or not you’re suffering from an alcohol addiction.

How to Get Help With an Alcohol Addiction

Getting help with an alcohol addiction first starts with realizing you need help. Once you establish you need professional addiction treatment, it’s important to find the right treatment center for yourself. Addiction and alcoholism is different for everyone, so choosing an individualized treatment program is crucial. Below is a list of different treatment options to treat an alcohol addiction:

• Detoxification – This is (usually) the first step in alcoholism recovery. It’s crucial to have professional help when going through the detoxification process. At times, you may experience withdrawal symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Some withdrawal symptoms can cause serious health complications, so if you do require detox, don’t try to do it alone.
• Rehabilitation – This can be either done within inpatient rehab or outpatient rehab, and truly depends on the severity of the addiction. Inpatient rehab is intensive and requires an individual to check into a treatment facility for a period of time. Inpatient rehab usually lasts from 30 to 90 days. Outpatient rehab allows you to partake in a recovery program while maintaining a sort of ‘normalcy’ within your life. You can live at home or in a sober living while attending outpatient rehab.
• Maintaining sobriety – Addiction is a lifelong disease. Once you complete addiction treatment, attending support groups and counseling is a great way to maintain long term sobriety. Some support groups include Alcoholics Anonymous and Refuse Recovery. 

If you’re addicted to drugs or alcohol, seeking professional treatment should be a main priority. It’s rare for an addict to be able to maintain employment, solid relationships, good health, etc, as addiction affects all aspects of your life. Professional addiction treatment not only helps you get off drugs or alcohol, it helps you learn coping skills to maintain long term sobriety and reintegrate back into society. At Atlanta Recovery Place, we want all of our clients to complete treatment and feel happy and confident starting their new sober life. Today we’d like to spend some time talking about finding employment post addiction treatment. Keep on reading to find out more information! 

Finding a Job After Addiction Treatment

Participating in addiction treatment doesn’t always, but sometimes may, affect your professional life. A lot of people are even hesitant to seek addiction treatment in the first place because of this. Although it may not feel like it, no job is as important as seeking recovery. If your job or career needs to be put on hold in order to do this, that is totally ok. 

After addiction treatment, it can be hard to jump back into a “normal” life/routine. It’s important to be able to find a balance between recovery and some sort of ‘normalcy’. Finding a job is crucial in the search for this balance between normalcy and recovery because working can give you a sense of purpose, and the ability to support yourself financially. Working and being employed full time will also help you create a routine. Routines help you incorporate structure and stability into your daily life, a crucial component to maintaining long term sobriety. 

If you’ve recently completed treatment and are unsure what you want to do professionally, working in the addiction treatment space may be a great place to start your job search! The industry will feel familiar as you’re now immersed in it, so seeking employment here may feel a little less intimidating. 

Jobs in the Addiction Field

There are many different careers within addiction recovery and the rehabilitation field that you can possibly pursue! Some of these jobs include things such as:

• Substance Abuse Counselor – As you may or may not know, Substance Abuse Counselors treat people who are struggling with substance abuse. The main goal of a Substance Abuse Counselor is to help addicts overcome their addiction. Every state in the US has different qualifications to become a counselor but the NAADC is a national certification that exceeds most state requirements. 
• Social Worker – A social worker  performs a great diversity of tasks to help people who are struggling with some aspect of their lives. Social workers can be employed by rehabs and addiction treatment centers, as well as other places such as hospitals. If you’re interested in going back to school and receiving a masters degree, this could be a great option for you. 
• Detox Support Specialist – These people help perform drug screenings and monitor individuals undergoing the detox process. They provide a safe space for their clients to detox and go through their withdrawal symptoms.
• Sober Companion – A sober companion is fairly self-explanatory; this is a person who provides companionship for someone that is sober. They offer guidance and advice, are physically present the majority of the day, and will help someone with day to day tasks. 

The above mentioned are just a few jobs in the addiction field. With a little research, and guidance from the addiction treatment center you went to, the job opportunities in the addiction field are endless! 

Atlanta Recovery Place Can Help You Today

Atlanta Recovery Place is an addiction treatment center in Atlanta, Georgia. We specialize in partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, outpatient, and sober living services. We are also always looking for an extra set of hands to help out at our facility. If you’re interested in working with us, you can fill out the form here. Whether you’re looking for help with your addiction, or a place to work, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us today! 

Rehabilitation and recovery does not have to be a burden for someone who is trying to maintain a sober life. Within outpatient recovery programs you can continue to work while going through the process of sobriety. At our facility Atlanta Recovery Place, we’re here to help anyone with addiction (who wants help of course). We also hope to inform the general public about addiction & effective ways it can be treated. Keep on reading to learn a little bit more about outpatient rehab and how it helps with addiction recovery. 

What Is Outpatient Rehab?

What is outpatient treatment? Outpatient rehab is a treatment style that offers individualized, unique treatment that allows for flexibility in a recovery addicts schedule. This treatment is for a recovering addict who wants to continue to work and spend time with others (including families, friends, etc.). This gives them the ability to experience addiction treatment and recovery while continuing to live their life. The cost of outpatient is also significantly lower compared to inpatient treatment (this is because you don’t have to pay for any living costs.).

The above mentioned are just a few of the benefits of outpatient treatment programs. During these outpatient treatment programs clients typically become engaged in individual therapy, group therapy, life skills workshops, mindfulness practices, and relapse prevention. The individual therapy may consist of cognitive behavioral therapy or dialectical behavioral therapy. Once again, the addiction treatment plan is based on your specific needs and will be individualized/unique to you.

Why You Should Go to Outpatient Treatment for Addiction

There are many reasons why an individual should partake in an outpatient treatment program for their addiction. Once again, outpatient treatment programs include many different benefits. These benefits include things such as:

• Flexibility – The outpatient treatment programs provide less restrictions and more flexibility. This program works with and around  your schedule, and it also helps provide resources that fit your needs.
• Cost – Because there is no need to pay for living arrangements, the costs of the outpatient treatment programs are substantially less than the costs for the inpatient treatment programs. 
• Maintaining a “normal” life – When taking part in these outpatient treatment programs our clients can still maintain their normal life, such as work, family time, talking with peers, etc. This provides freedom and the ability for our clients to take responsibility, and find accountability. While this is the case, we still recommend and encourage finding a sober community to engage in, even while living the client’s normal lifestyle.

These are just a few of the benefits to engaging in an outpatient treatment program. Outpatient rehab can be used as a followup to an inpatient treatment program or as stand alone treatment. No two addictions are alike, therefore everyone’s course of treatment will vary a bit. Using outpatient rehab as a standalone treatment also usually depends on the severity of the addiction and the support system that the client has within their life. 

How Atlanta Recovery Place Can Help

Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, we provide specialized treatment for our clients so they can achieve their recovery and sobriety goals. We provide outpatient treatment programs that usually last a few hours a day on certain days of the week. These outpatient programs typically range from 30-90 days. When a client is engaged in these programs and on the facility grounds, the clients have access to different amenities in this facility. These amenities include things such as  our tennis courts, pools, and the atmosphere of our gated sober community. 

There are three types of outpatient treatment programs here at our facility. We have a traditional outpatient program that provides a more laid back approach and solution to substance abuse and recovery. Our intensive outpatient treatment program is suited for a complex recovery including those struggling with not only substance abuse, but also a co-occuring disorder. Our partial hospitalization program is the most intensive, allowing the clients to focus solely on recovery daily. Reach out to us today to figure out which treatment program best fits you and your schedule!

Quitting something isn’t always simple, especially if it’s something that you enjoy. Drinking alcohol can be enjoyable, and seem like something to partake in at social events, but this can lead to damaging habits and even a future addiction. At Atlanta Recovery Place, we want to provide information and resources for anyone looking to quit drinking alcohol. 

The Dangers of Alcohol

Although alcohol can be purchased legally in the United States, it is still a mood alternating substance and can be abused. There are many different dangers involved when partaking in alcohol. According to the CDC, these risks range from extremely small risks to extremely severe risks. These risks include things such as:

• Alcohol poisoning – This is when an individual’s blood alcohol level is extremely high and can even lead to death. 
• Injuries – These can consist of car accidents, drownings, burns, and falling down. 
• Violence – This can consist of domestic violence and abuse, sexual violence and abuse, emotional abuse, homicide, suicide, etc.
• Risky behavior – These behaviors can be things such as >>>>>
• FASDs – Drinking alcohol while pregnant can cause fetal alcohol syndrome and lead can also lead to miscarriage. 
• Health issues – These can be chronic diseases and illnesses, like things such as: high blood pressure, cancer (breast cancer, throat cancer, liver cancer, etc.), heart disease, stroke,weakening of the immune system, digestive issues, and liver problems/disease. 
• Family/social/learning issues – This can include things such as problems with being social, problems within the individual’s family, poor school performance, memory loss, unemployment, and a decline in productivity. 
• Mental health issues – This can include co-occurring disorders, anxiety, depression, etc.
• Addiction – Having an addiction to alcohol can cause many many issues including co-occurring disorders, social issues, family issues, wok problems, etc. Getting help/treatment before drinking can become an addiction would be preferred, but that isn’t always the case, but getting treatment is important either way.

How Can I Quit Drinking?

If you feel like your drinking is getting to be out of control, you probably find yourself asking “How to quit alcohol”? There are many different ways to quit drinking alcohol and these may or may not include going to a treatment facility. If you feel like you have a severe alcohol addiction, we strongly recommend not detoxing alone. The safest way to detox off any drugs or alcohol is at a professional treatment center. This way, you’ll be under the care of medical professionals. Alcohol & drug withdrawals can cause health complications. 

• Keep a journal – Keeping a log of each time you partake in alcohol can help someone visualize how much drinking they actually do/how much alcohol they actually consume.
• Create goals – Keeping and creating goals is an important way to celebrate small victories when trying to quit a destructive habit. 
• Get help/ask for support – Before the drinking habit becomes an addiction or after the habit becomes an addiction. Cutting out drinking may not always be easy, so getting your family and friends on board will help with keeping you accountable and gaining some support. 
• Stay away from peer pressure – Whether the pressure comes from acquaintances, friends, family, parties, or bars, staying away from people and places that may make you stumble may be a good idea. 
• Stay busy and be persistent – Keeping busy can help to steer clear from temptation that may involve harmful drinking habits. This can also keep one’s mind off of alcohol and on to better things. Being persistent and constant in quitting alcohol is one of the main ways to shake this issue.
• Seek professional addiction treatment – This could also be included in the “get help” category, but getting treatment or attending support group meetings would be a great and helpful way to quit this habit.

Get Sober At Atlanta Recovery Place

Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, we have many different treatment options that can help our clients to quit drinking. We provide individualized treatment options for each of our clients and provide resources/support for our clients once they receive treatment. We have inpatient treatment options, outpatient treatment options, and sober living options as well. Reach out to us today to find the perfect individualized treatment options and find support from many different professions who are willing to work with your needs.

Finding the perfect drug rehab facility is not always an easy task, especially finding one that meets your individual needs. No two people or addictions are alike. At Atlanta Recovery Place, our addiction treatment in Georgia understands the difficulties in finding a drug rehab and the right time to go to that addiction treatment facility. Today we will discuss the different types of addiction treatment options you can pursue and what they entail. 

What Is Addiction?

According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, addiction is a chronic, but treatable, medical disease involving complex interactions and connections between an individual’s environment, their genetics, and their life experiences. 

These individuals that have an addiction, abuse substances and engage in compulsive behaviors that have negative consequences. Addiction is a disease, just like heart disease. The only difference is that an addiction is a disease of the brain. This addiction does not mean that that individual is a bad person, it just means that they have a disease and may be struggling to recover from that disease. 

Types of Drug Rehabs in Georgia

There are numerous avenues of addiction treatment someone can pursue. Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, we want to provide services to help each of our individual clients find recovery and lifelong sobriety. We also want to use this time to describe some of the practices that alcohol rehab in Georgia and drug rehab in Georgia follow. Our facility provides many different services and a lot of information during our clients stay that assist in their recovery process and set them up for lifelong sobriety. Below we have provided some of our treatment options (and options that other facilities may have) and information regarding each one:

• Detox – After the client realizes that they need help with their addiction, this is usually the first step within the recovery process. This is when the client “gets off” of the substance and may suffer from withdrawal symptoms. The facility should help ease those symptoms every step along the way.
• Partial hospitalization – This treatment occurs during the day and usually offers a program that addresses and helps with both the mental and physical aspects of substance abuse. This program helps with all kinds of addiction, substance abuse, co-occuring mental health disorders, etc.
• Intensive outpatient – These outpatient programs usually have the clients come to the facilities to receive treatment. This treatment usually includes individual counseling, group therapy, and alternative therapies. The individual counseling is working with licensed professionals with one on one therapy. Group therapy is where clients can talk to each other about their experiences and to help build community. Alternative therapies include things such as art therapy, acupuncture, exercise, learning healthy life skills, etc.
• Outpatient program – This kind of outpatient program is like the intensive outpatient program, but allows for even more freedom. This program allows their clients to maintain a normal life schedule and also has at-home flexibility. This program is suited best for those with a strong support system, a less severe addiction, or someone who has previously had an addiction. 
• Sober living – This program offers clients with a sober community to live in and also provides long-term aftercare once the inpatient treatment is over. This after-care provides our clients with support and the care that they need to continue to succeed after treatment.

Choosing the Right Alcohol Rehab in Georgia for You

Each client has their own unique and individualized treatment path. Reaching out to someone is the first step in getting treatment. Doing your research is important in finding the right treatment path, especially in understanding what program would best fit your individual needs and your schedule. Understand that you need to find time to make your recovery a priority so you can be back to loving the life that you have. Choosing the right rehab program may be difficult, but it is crucial in your process to recovery and overcoming your addiction.  Reach out to us, a specialized drug rehab in Georgia, today, to find you, or a family member’s, unique and individualized addiction treatment care.