Christian Alcohol Rehabilitation
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Christian alcohol rehabilitation is distinct from most mainstream alcohol addiction rehab methods because it points to Jesus
Christ as the specific “Higher Power” referred to by the other 12-step treatment approaches like Alcoholics Anonymous.
According to the Christian alcohol rehabilitation viewpoint, other rehab approaches that try to please their client base who are
non-believers are actually doing their members a disservice because they are not stating that it is God alone who has the power to get them out
of the vicious cycle of dependency, help them find their way, and deliver them from their dependency.
Alcoholism is Seen as a Spiritual and a Physical Illness
Several, if not most faith-based, Christian alcohol rehabilitation methodologies perceive alcoholism as both a physical as well as a spiritual
disease.
Just because Christian alcohol rehab protocols stress the centrality of God in
the recovery protocol, however, does not mean that they disregard other valid therapeutic considerations. To be sure, Christian alcohol
rehab methods commonly employ the most efficient behavioral rehab methods, medical practices, and therapeutic protocols in combination with
Biblical scripture in the entire alcohol rehabilitation process.
Christians understand that mere belief or conviction is, more often than not, not enough to help an individual quit abusing alcohol and/or
drugs. On a fairly common basis, Christian individuals who are dependent on alcohol are in agony from the results of alcohol-related legal
problems, employment issues, family and relationship predicaments, and/or poor mental and physical wellbeing. Frequently, these instances
get worse little by little the more the person continues drinking and abusing alcohol.
To put the alcohol rehabilitation process in perspective, many Christian healthcare professionals encourage Christian individuals who are
alcohol dependent to look to the Bible in general and to Job in particular and discover how he transcended his distress and pain in order to
develop a deeper relationship with God. To be sure, the alcoholic may not feel innocent and may have deep feelings of shame and guilt, but God is
always ready to forgive a person so that he or she can eventually get to the other side of rehabilitation.
Christian Alcohol Detoxification
Christian detoxification is the first step in the drug and alcohol abuse treatment protocol. Seen as a combination of physical and
spiritual factors, Christian detoxification aims to rid the alcoholic’s body of the physical poisons and his or her soul of the destructive
activities that he or she has initiated. For instance, alcoholics who face severe withdrawal symptoms are given great relief through the
employment of doctor prescribed medications in the Christian detox process.
| Medical treatments cannot "cure" drinking problems, but they can be combined with other interventions and
therapies to produce treatment that is even more effective. |
While it can be stated that the alcohol rehab course of action is not easy, Christian healthcare professionals conclude that overcoming one’s
addiction is feasible because God does not give an individual more than he or she can handle.
Christian Alcohol Rehabilitation and Recovery
Regarding alcoholism, the problem is that an alcoholic cannot see through the denial and addiction that continue the cycle of abuse and
dependency.
Christian alcohol rehabilitation helps the addict see through his blinders and
concede his powerlessness over the addictive nature of abusive and destructive drinking. Once this is done, the alcoholic can
reinstate his or her “true nature” and relinquish the distress, annoyance, and pain to God who can heal him or her and give him or her
optimism for a dependency-free life in the near future.
Christian alcohol treatment highlights the need for individuals who are dependent on alcohol to swallow their pride, gain some humility, and
take appropriate, Bible-based action so that God can meet the alcoholic half way and take him or her back into His house and redeem his or her
life.
The Christian treatment course of action employs the 12-step method when engaging in individual and group counseling sessions and always keeps
counseling sessions centered in the belief that it is Jesus Christ who is the “Higher Power.” Stated in a different way, Christian alcohol
rehab methods are rooted in Scripture in addition to adhering to the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Whereas the counselors who are members of Christian alcohol rehabilitation facilities are Christian, it is interesting to note that some
Christian rehab methods utilize Christians who are themselves in rehabilitation.
| "According to a recent research study, people trying to quit drinking who become involved in both Alcoholics
Anonymous and professional treatment programs fare much better than those who only go to treatment or only go to Alcoholics
Anonymous." |
Types of Christian Alcohol Rehabilitation
At least three distinctive kinds of alcohol rehabilitation are found at Christian alcohol rehab clinics: inpatient, residential
methodologies; outpatient programs; and day treatment methods.
Residential Inpatient Alcohol Rehabilitation
When an individual gets admitted to a residential inpatient rehabilitation program, he or she gets conversant with the
psychological, spiritual, and physical outcomes of chronic alcohol abuse and alcoholism. This educational course of action is
accomplished mainly through lectures, group therapy, workshops, and personal counseling.
In actual fact, through all of these educational factors, each individual is taught how to effectively identify and work through the
psychological and/or physical hot buttons that more often than not have their consequence in problem drinking. Stated differently, such a
broad-based educational approach helps each person determine and address his or her own unique relapse warning indicators.
| "According to alcoholism research, men are more likely to remain in alcohol treatment if they are there under
suggestions or threats from their employers. This finding seems to indicate that intervention that includes participation by
employers can be effective in some instances." |
Outpatient Alcohol Rehabilitation
Although not quite as intensive and comprehensive as the inpatient programs, Christian outpatient alcohol rehabilitation usually consists of
many of the same educational principals and components that are emphasized in the residential treatment approach. Indeed, through group
therapy, workshops, individual counseling, and education, a person gains insights into the specific high-risk circumstances that challenge their
sobriety. In a word, each individual, via outpatient rehabilitation, learns how to deal more effectively with situations that lead to
relapse.
| Every dollar spent on alcohol treatment leads to a $7.46 reduction in crime related expenses and lost
productivity. When health care savings are added in, every $1 invested in treatment for addiction yields a total return of $12
saved. |
Day Treatment Alcohol Rehabilitation
Some Christian alcohol rehabilitation facilities offer a kind of treatment that is somewhat in between the residential and the
outpatient options. Known as day treatment programs, this kind of approach is usually targeted for local people who need less
structure than the demands made by the residential programs.
People commonly enroll in this type of treatment methodology for a period of four to six weeks and usually attend rehab treatment during
normal work hours (i.e., between 9AM to 5PM). People enrolled in such a program get the same comprehensive educational training and
counseling that the residential clients receive.
Since follow-up counseling and education is so important in the alcohol recovery process, people who have gone through Christian alcohol
rehabilitation are encouraged to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in their local areas when they go back home.
| An important factor in underage drinking is availability, that is, the degree of effort required to obtain
alcohol, as determined by geographic, economic, and social factors. Consequently, interventions aimed at the individual
must be supplemented by policy changes to help reduce youth access to alcohol and decrease the harmful consequences of
established drinking. |
Christian Alcohol Rehabilitation: Conclusion
The entire philosophy of Christian alcohol rehabilitation can be summarized in this proclamation: through a combination of
academic instruction, the latest medical treatment, counseling, medications, and good old fashion Christian principles, people who are
alcohol dependent, along with God, can conquer their addictive, destructive, and unhealthy behavior and re-establish their lives in His
grace.
To put it briefly, Christian alcohol rehabilitation helps an alcohol dependent individual become free of the cravings and the destructive
thoughts and actions that contradict his or her Christian beliefs system. Once this is accomplished, Christian alcohol recovery becomes a
possibility and a reality.
| Personal factors such as childhood behavior problems or a family history of alcohol use disorders can help to
identify high–risk youth and may suggest direction for interventions. Evidence suggests that the most reliable predictor of a
youth’s drinking behavior is the drinking behavior of his or her friends. |
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| Family factors, such as parent–child relationships, discipline methods, communication, monitoring and supervision,
and parental involvement, also exert a significant influence on youthful alcohol use. Accordingly, family–based prevention
programs for youth have been developed. One example is Iowa’s Strengthening Families Program, which significantly delayed
initiation of alcohol use by improving parenting skills and family bonding. The beneficial effects of this program on
student alcohol involvement were still evident 4 years after the intervention. |
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