Making the decision to seek help for your drug addiction is the first important step on the road to recovery. Finding the right rehab that fits your needs can be challenging. There are many reputable drug rehabs to choose from, and each with excellent programs and services that can help you get and stay sober. You may have quality a number of great rehab centers in your town or nearby. While there are tremendous benefits in going through treatment close to home, is it necessarily your best option?

If you don’t have family support or if there are too many temptations found in your home environment, attending your local drug treatment center won’t be a good option. If you have genuinely committed to getting clean and sober, you need to consider traveling for rehab. Making the decision to travel to rehab may seem risky, but the benefits of doing so can give you the motivation you need to transform your life.

What are the Benefits of Traveling for Drug Rehab?

In your search for a drug treatment center, you may not even consider a rehab that is in another town or another state. If you travel for drug treatment, you may think you will miss home, and what’s familiar, and you may miss the ones you love. While those feelings are legitimate, traveling for addiction treatment may be a better option. The following are benefits of traveling to rehab:

You Truly Get a Fresh Start

When people are asked why they want to undergo addiction treatment, a common answer is to get a fresh start. When you travel to rehab, you are truly getting a fresh start. When you are in a completely new environment, you have a greater ability to focus on your recovery. You have a chance to meet new people and build strong support networks. A change in scenery may give you new perspectives, hope for recovery, and profound change.

You Have Space

It is true that friends and family are tremendous sources of love and support. They no doubt can provide the motivation you need to get sober. However, if you struggle with addictive behavior, traveling for drug treatment will give you the time and space to address your behavior. Having time away from those you love may help you find your own identity as a person.

Heal from Family Dysfunction

Another benefit that can be found when you travel to rehab is that you can get away from the toxicity of family dysfunction. You may be in a situation where your family does not support your desire for recovery. In fact, some members of your family may be actively using drugs and alcohol. Moving away from that toxic environment will allow you to be accountable for your recovery without the complications created by family members.

Harder to Leave Treatment

As you already know, drug treatment requires enormous commitment. Treatment is a process, and it takes time and patience for you to become comfortable. Many people in treatment have thoughts of leaving and going back to their old ways of living. If you go to treatment close to home, the temptation to just leave can be overwhelming. If you decide to travel to treatment, the physical and emotional distance can give you greater motivation to see on the path of recovery.

Should I Travel for Drug Rehab?

When considering traveling to addiction treatment, the benefits may tempt you to pack your bags and get that fresh start you need for your recovery. However, there are pros and cons found in traveling to rehab. Obviously, traveling to rehab is great if you truly want to start over. Having the time and space away from the temptations of the home is an excellent catalyst for change. If you don’t have a great family and friends support system, traveling to rehab would be a great option to get the space and time you need to focus on recovery.

How Can Twilight Recovery Help Me?

If you are looking to totally transform your life and need that fresh start, Twilight Recovery can help you. We are an all-inclusive luxury treatment center located near beautiful Baja, California. The expert staff at our residential inpatient treatment center utilize innovative treatment programs that are customized to perfectly fit your unique needs and treatment goals. Twilight Recovery provides the support you need in a comfortable and inviting environment with state-of-the-art amenities and breathtaking scenery.

Call Twilight Recovery toll-free today and start strong on your recovery journey.

Choosing an addiction treatment program can be difficult. In your search for the perfect rehab, the options seem endless. 

The choices seem endless, from day treatment and dorm-style inpatient to wilderness and holistic therapy programs. Having options when it comes to drug treatment is wonderful, but it can also be overwhelming. What if you need intensive treatment but desire to have top-notch amenities and cutting-edge programs that will help you get and stay sober? If this is the case for you, then a luxury addiction treatment center maybe your best choice.

What is Luxury Addiction Treatment?

Luxury addiction treatment centers provide top-notch care and provide a wide variety of evidence-based treatment options that are specifically customized to each client’s needs. These resort-styled treatment centers provide a safe and comfortable environment so clients can focus solely on their recovery. These upscale addiction rehabs facilities are found in breathtaking locations, offer state-of-the-art amenities, and provide innovative treatments that aren’t available at other rehabs. Importantly, luxury drug rehabs take client privacy very seriously. In fact, all treatment staff members sign non-disclosure agreements while employed at these facilities.

Luxury drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers will go above and beyond to meet each client’s needs. In addition to traditional services such as psychotherapy and medication-assisted therapy (MAT), luxury rehabs offer innovative therapies such as adventure therapy, massage therapy, and animal therapy. Additionally, upscale luxury rehabs provide excellent amenities such as fitness centers, access to personal trainers, and feature in-house chefs who create healthy gourmet meals for clients.

What are the Benefits of Luxury Rehabs?

There are tremendous benefits when you undergo treatment at a luxury rehab. The following are a few benefits of choosing an upscale luxury rehab:

• The Scenery—as you would expect, luxury addiction treatment centers are set in breathtaking locations. Many of these facilities are located near beaches, on the ocean, near mountain ranges, and other pastoral settings. These settings create a great sense of tranquility and relaxation, which is more conducive for you to focus on your recovery.
• The Accommodations—upscale treatment centers feature accommodations such as private, suite-like rooms, and many feature private balconies with incredible views, private bathrooms, and most are Wi-Fi capable. These accommodations provide all the creature comforts of home and give you the space you need.
• Experienced Treatment Staff—luxury addiction treatment facilities have treatment staff who have many years of experience dealing with a wide range of people and addiction issues. These addiction professionals, detox staff, and mental health professionals have Master’s-level credentials.
• Activities—taking advantage of the surroundings, luxury rehabs are able to provide many fun and exciting activities. These include exhilarating mountain and beach hikes, ocean swimming, and snorkeling, as well as mountain biking. Additionally, these facilities feature outdoor tennis courts and basketball courts on site.
• Pampering—When you undergo treatment at an upscale drug rehab, staff will ensure that you live in the lap of luxury. These facilities offer spa, yoga, and acupuncture services, and on-site chefs will create healthy gourmet meals for you every day.

Is Luxury Addiction Treatment Right for Me?

A luxury drug rehab is an attractive choice with the amenities, proven treatment programs and services, and around-the-clock, expert care. While the care you receive at these facilities is second to none, they do come with a hefty price tag. Fortunately, most all upscale rehabs work with many insurance companies. If you are underinsured or uninsured, luxury treatment programs offer sliding fee scales and scholarships to help pay for treatment.

Upscale luxury treatment centers are right for you if you have been unsuccessful in completing treatment in the past. These facilities have a wider spectrum of services, and treatment staff will be able to customize a plan that will perfectly fit your needs. Luxury rehab is right for you if you need both comfort and privacy. Additionally, luxury rehab will benefit you if you need to get away from the stressors and pressures found in your home environment.

How to Find Luxury Treatment Near Southern California

If the programs and services offered in luxury addiction treatment are what you need to achieve lasting sobriety, call Twilight Recovery toll-free today. Twilight Recovery is a luxury treatment center that offers evidence-based drug and mental health treatment that is evidence-based, extensively tested, and individualized to meet your unique and specific needs.

Our experienced and compassionate staff has many decades of cumulative experience in working with people just like you who struggle with substance abuse or mental health issues. No matter the severity of your addiction, the staff at Twilight Recovery will give you the tools and support you need to find health, happiness, and lasting recovery. Don’t wait another day to address your addiction or mental health issues; call Twilight Recovery right now!

You have unique needs when it comes to drug treatment. In order for you to achieve lasting recovery, your treatment program must be customized to address your specific needs and treatment goals. An individualized addiction treatment plan provides the blueprint for long-term health and sobriety. While you may know what an individualized addiction treatment plan is on the surface, you may not be aware of how they are created and why they are essential. This article will outline individualized treatment plans and their benefits to your recovery.

The Signs of Addiction

Your addiction experience is different from another person. It affects you in a wide range of ways, and your treatment program must reflect your needs and goals. There are many ways in which addiction affects you. The following are common signs of addiction:

Physical Signs

• Nausea and vomiting
• Dilated pupils
• Impaired physical coordination
• Slurred speech
• Poor hygiene and physical appearance
• Insomnia

Behavioral Signs

• Agitation
• Denial if confronted about substance use
• Withdrawal from family
• Decreased interest in activities once enjoyed
• Becoming increasingly secretive

Emotional Signs

• Sudden changes in mood
• Wide and unpredictable mood swings
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Suicidal thoughts

The underlying roots of your addiction often come from a combination of factors. You may have become addicted to substances by experimentation. You also have developed a substance abuse problem due to past trauma, abuse, family history of addiction, or a variety of environmental factors. Individualized treatment plans take into account all of those factors, and treatment staff utilizes various programs and services to address those needs.

What is Individualized Addiction Treatment?

Individualized treatment plans are comprehensive and personalized plans drawn from all available treatment services available to addiction professionals at a given facility. These plans are people-centered and allow room to change as your needs in treatment change. You and the treatment staff will collaborate to develop your treatment plan. This plan may also include the input of family and others in your support system.

Having a customized treatment plan is absolutely necessary for you to have the best chance at long-term recovery. As already stated, your needs in addiction treatment are unique. Individualized plans are designed to fit your needs and treatment goals and can be easily modified as your needs change.

The following are other important reasons why individualized addiction plans are a must in addiction treatment:

Health Issues—in many cases, substance abuse can cause medical complications. If not addressed, they can lead to serious complications in the detox process. Also, if you are addicted to prescription medications, the use of similar drugs in the detox and treatment process can further damage your health. Individualized plans include around-the-clock medical monitoring that will provide the treatment you need to make the recovery process more smooth.

Dual Diagnosis—if you have a co-occurring mental health issue along with an addiction to substances, we treat both conditions at the same time. It can be challenging to pinpoint which condition led to the other. Individualized treatment plans take these issues into account and utilize different therapies and interventions to deal with substance abuse and mental health issues.

 Multiple Addictions—Oftentimes, people are addicted to more than one substance when they enter treatment. In fact, the use of one substance (i.e. alcohol) may be a trigger to use another substance (i.e., cocaine). Since different drugs have different treatment needs, it is important to have an individualized treatment plan to adequately treat those needs.

Age—The factors that lead to substance abuse in a teen or young adults are different from those who are older. Other generational factors include the length of time being addicted to substances, career, family support, and overall health. The staff at the best treatment facilities understand this and can incorporate the appropriate treatment services to address those factors.

Benefits of Individualized Addiction Treatment

If you still are unsure of the effectiveness of individualized addiction treatment plans, this approach offers tremendous benefits in your recovery. While this approach requires both commitment and motivation on your part, an individualized treatment approach will help you in the following ways:

• Views addiction as a disease and will treat your symptoms accordingly
• Uses specific evidence-based approaches
• Tests and treats any physical health problems or diseases that may be co-occurring
• Builds a strong social recovery network
• Allows almost everyone to find a form of addiction therapy 

Finding Individualized Addiction Treatment in Mexico

Individualized treatment programs will give you the tools you need to find health, happiness, and lasting sobriety. If you are searching for drug addiction treatment in Mexico, call Twilight Recovery today. We are a luxury drug treatment center that features innovative drug treatment programs that are tailored to meet your specific needs. Our experienced and compassionate treatment staff will work with you throughout and after treatment to empower you and transform yourself into the person you want to become. Call us right now and start your recovery journey.

For many who struggle with alcohol abuse, inpatient alcohol rehab provides the best chance at long-term recovery. With its comprehensive programs, around-the-clock support, and safe environment, inpatient alcohol treatment facilities give clients the tools and support they need to achieve sobriety. Despite its obvious advantages, you may be unsure if inpatient alcohol rehab is the best choice. This blog will take a deeper look at what inpatient rehab is, the differences between inpatient and outpatient alcohol rehab, and what to look for in an inpatient alcohol rehab program.

What is the Difference Between Outpatient and Inpatient Drug Rehab?

In your search for inpatient rehab, you may have looked at other treatment options—including outpatient. In making the best-informed choice, it is important to look at the similarities and differences between inpatient and outpatient. Both forms of alcohol rehab are similar in their offerings, such as therapy, 12-step group support, holistic therapy, life skills training, and educational opportunities. In both rehab types, the programs and services they offer are evidence-based, proven to work, and tailored to fit your unique needs. 

Both outpatient and inpatient alcohol rehab have distinct differences you must consider. Outpatient alcohol rehab allows people to live at home while they come to the facility to receive treatment.

Inpatient alcohol rehab programs differ because clients reside in the treatment facility or in housing nearby. Away from the temptation and stressors of their home environment, people can place their sole focus on the underlying roots of their addiction. Most inpatient alcohol treatment programs last 28-30 days. However, many facilities offer 60 day, 90 day, and longer programs depending on the severity of one’s addiction. 

Is Inpatient Addiction Treatment Right for Me?

When deciding whether to enter an inpatient alcohol and drug treatment program, you will ask yourself if it is the right program for your needs. One thing you need to consider is if you need detoxification services. When you quit alcohol, your body and brain will experience withdrawal symptoms that can be dangerous to your health. If you have abused alcohol over a considerable time, inpatient alcohol rehab programs are suitable for you. This is especially true if you are abusing other substances in addition to alcohol. 

Secondly, inpatient drug and alcohol treatment is right for you if you have underlying medical conditions. During the withdrawal process, any medical issues you may have can complicate your recovery and even threaten your life. Inpatient rehabs feature around-the-clock medical care administered by experienced medical personnel.

Thirdly, inpatient alcohol and drug rehab is right for you if you have tried treatment in the past but was unsuccessful in completing a program. The safe and supportive inpatient rehab environment will allow you to focus on your recovery. You will have around-the-clock support from treatment staff as well as your peers in recovery. This strong, in-house support network can provide the motivation you need to stay sober.

What to Look for in an Inpatient Addiction Rehab

If you have made the choice to pursue intensive inpatient treatment, there are some important things to look for in your search. You may want to consider a program in another location if you feel uncomfortable near your home environment. Secondly, the facility that you are looking at needs to be clean, secure and has the proper state and federal accreditations to provide detoxification and other alcohol rehab services. Additionally, the programs and services offered must be extensively tested, researched, and tailored to meet your unique and specific needs.

Finding an Inpatient Drug Rehab Near Southern California

Call Twilight Recovery today if you need inpatient alcohol rehab services in or near Southern California. We are an all-inclusive luxury treatment facility for those looking to break the vicious cycle of alcohol addiction. We fuse traditional and holistic therapies that are customized to meet your specific needs and treatment goals. Call us right now and speak to one of our experienced and compassionate treatment staff. Start your transformation today.

Heroin is one of the most addictive and dangerous drugs known to man. Most users become addicted to the drug after the first hit. If you become addicted to heroin, you will be caught in a downward spiral and could find yourself in a fight for your life. In order to break the vicious cycle of heroin addiction, you must first safely detox from heroin. While heroin detox is essential for your recovery, the process itself can be difficult and even dangerous.

If you need help breaking free from heroin addiction, call Twilight Recovery toll-free today. We offer safe heroin detox programs and treatment that will allow you to break free once and for all.

What is Heroin?

Heroin is an opioid drug that is made from morphine. Morphine is a natural substance that is taken from the seed pod of the opium plant. Heroin can come in white or brown powder form, or it can have a black tar-like consistency. Heroin is commonly injected intravenously in the arm, leg, or another part of the body where major blood vessels are present. The drug can also be snorted or smoked. People who use heroin mix it with cocaine and create what is known as a speedball.

Heroin enters the brain rapidly and binds to the opioid receptors found in the brain. These receptors are found in the cortex, the limbic system, and brain stem. These brain areas control how one feels pain and pleasure and autonomic functions such as breathing and heart rate.

As already stated, heroin is highly addictive. Those who use heroin the first time experience a profound and euphoric high. As people continue to use heroin, they need to take more of the drug to feel that euphoric high. Over time, the high they experience diminishes—and they use the drug to function on a daily basis.

What are the Symptoms of Heroin Abuse?

Those who use heroin over some time will experience both short-term and long-term symptoms. According to information from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the short-term symptoms may include the following:

• dry mouth
• warm flushing of the skin
• heavy feeling in the arms and legs
• nausea and vomiting
• severe itching
• clouded mental functioning

The long-term symptoms may include the following:

• insomnia
• collapsed veins in those to inject heroin
• abscesses
• cramping
• damaged nasal tissue for those to snort the drug
• liver and kidney disease
• onset of depression

Often, heroin can be “cut” with additives such as sugar, corn starch, and talcum powder. These agents can clog blood vessels and arteries. When injecting the drug, those who share needles run an increased risk of contracting infectious diseases such as hepatitis and HIV.

Can Heroin Cause Withdrawal Symptoms?

When you quit using heroin, you will experience a variety of withdrawal symptoms that can be extremely uncomfortable and painful to endure. Some of the most common withdrawal symptoms include the following:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Insomnia
• Agitation
• Diarrhea
• Dilated pupils
• Sweating
• Anxiety
• Cramping
• Muscle aches

While these symptoms are not dangerous and life-threatening, the risk increases if you abuse other drugs or have an underlying medical condition. Trying to handle these withdrawal symptoms on your own can lead you back to heroin use to cope with the pain and discomfort. In doing so, you run the risk of overdose—and you continue the vicious cycle of abuse.

How to Find a Heroin Detox Center in Mexico

If you are addicted to heroin, you need to detox from heroin at a reputable detox center safely. When you search for a heroin detox center in Mexico, it must be safe, secure, and staffed by experienced medical personnel. Staff should use a variety of interventions to allow you to detox from heroin gradually. These interventions can include medication-assisted therapy and nutrition therapy. 

Once you are physically and mentally stable, you can transition into intensive inpatient treatment onsite or at a nearby facility. While in inpatient treatment, staff will create an individualized treatment plan which includes therapy, 12-step or similar self-help groups, holistic therapies, and life skills training, among other programs. When you are ready to leave treatment, heroin treatment centers have aftercare programs that provide additional support as you transition back into your everyday daily life.

Call Twilight Recovery Center Today!

If you are ready to change your life for the better, call Twilight Recovery Center. We are a luxury treatment center that provides world-class addiction recovery services with compassion and respect. Our treatment programs are evidence-based, extensively tested, and proven to work. No matter the severity of your addiction, our caring and supportive staff will support you every step of the way. Transform your life with the help of Twilight Recovery Center.

Drug and alcohol addiction are complex medical challenges faced by millions of people each year. Recent estimates from studies conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration suggest more than twenty-one million adults over the age of eighteen experience physical and psychological issues related to drug and alcohol addiction. Also, nearly one million adolescents and teens between ages twelve and eighteen experience challenges related to drug and alcohol addiction. As sobering as these statistics may be, what is worse is the chronically low rate at which those who could benefit from addiction treatment seek and receive the help they need to get sober. Another surprising statistic is the number of people who will experience a relapse at some point during their recovery journey. 

Signs of Drug or Alcohol Addiction

When people struggle with addiction, the symptoms and challenges they encounter are unique to their relationship with drugs or alcohol. Addiction and the process of achieving and maintaining sobriety are different for everyone. Also, the signs and symptoms of addiction to various substances will inevitably look different from one substance to the next. The wide range of variation in addiction symptoms can make it challenging to recognize the signs of drug and alcohol addiction in a friend or loved one. 

In general, the signs of addiction can be behavioral, physical, and psychological. Most people experience symptoms from all categories, although the intensity and severity of their symptoms will vary. Physical symptoms such as bloodshot eyes, weight loss, skin changes, and changes to personal hygiene are likely the easiest to spot. Psychological and behavioral changes may be more challenging to detect, but examples include mood swings, depression, irritability, and other personality changes. Long-term addiction may also lead to new or worsening mental and physical health symptoms. 

Drug or Alcohol Addiction is a Chronic Relapsing Illness 

Statistics released from the National Institutes of Health and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) indicate addiction treatment rates remain low compared to the rising rates of drug and alcohol addiction. Although millions of Americans of all ages could benefit from potentially life-saving addiction treatment, fewer than 10% will ever reach out to an addiction treatment center to learn about how treatment programs could help them safely and successfully recover from addiction. 

Many people do not realize that seeking help to overcome addiction may not be a one-step process. Although you or a friend or loved one may complete a 30, 60, or 90-day course of addiction treatment, it does not mean you are cured. Unfortunately, drug and alcohol addiction (also referred to as substance use disorders) are diseases without a cure. This means although you can learn to manage your symptoms, avoid triggers, and adopt healthier, safer coping strategies through therapy, struggles with cravings and other issues related to addiction may be life-long battles for some. It is these ongoing challenges that lead to relapse. 

Unfortunately, relapse is an all too common occurrence for many who are new to recovery. However, one does not have to be a newly recovered addict to experience relapse. Incidences of relapse can happen days, weeks, or years after completing therapy. Estimates suggest as many as 60% of those who have completed a treatment program to overcome addiction will experience a relapse at least once. For some, relapse is manageable, and they can move forward in sobriety. However, relapse is significant for others, and returning to treatment is the safest and most effective way to get back on track. 

It is important to note that experiencing relapse does not mean treatment has failed. It is an indicator that further help and guidance as part of treatment or as part of peer support programs may help you practice and solidify your coping strategies to avoid relapse in the future. If you would like to learn more about addiction treatment and relapse prevention planning as part of the comprehensive addiction program, contact us at Twilight Recovery today. Let us help you develop the tools you need to avoid relapse and future addiction struggles.

Despite efforts to improve admissions rates and increase education around drug and alcohol addiction, addiction rates and preventable deaths from drug or alcohol-related causes continued to rise. According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly 100,000 people lost their lives from alcohol-related causes in 2018. In the same year, another 70,000 Americans lost their lives to drug-involved overdose. 

Signs of Addiction

The signs of addiction will vary widely from person to person and substance to substance. In other words, someone struggling with an addiction to heroin may present with different symptoms than someone struggling with an addiction to marijuana. Because of this, it can be hard to pinpoint struggles with drugs or alcohol in a friend or loved one. However, there is a range of common symptoms across most cases regardless of the drug of choice. You may notice new or worsening mental health symptoms, legal problems, financial problems, and other behavioral changes such as voluntary isolation, secrecy, and changes to social circles.

You may also notice physical and psychological changes occurring in a friend or loved one struggling to manage a dependency on drugs and alcohol. For example, they may appear anxious, depressed, moody, irritable, or frequently experience swings. They may also struggle with physical symptoms such as weight changes, sleeping problems, stomach problems, heart and breathing issues, and a range of others. It is important to note that the signs of addiction often appear mild at first and, over time, involve into significant and potentially life-threatening medical and mental health challenges. If you are worried that a friend or loved one is struggling with addiction, it is crucial to seek help at a professional rehab.

What is Sobriety? 

Getting sober is the goal of any addict seeking help to overcome addiction. But what does it mean to be sober? Most people understand sobriety to mean abstaining from drugs and alcohol completely. For many newly recovered addicts, the definition of sobriety closely mimics that of abstinence. This is important because, for someone in rehab, drugs or alcohol have become a central focus of their life. Important obligations, family responsibilities, relationships, and their physical and emotional health have, for the most part, taken a backseat to drinking alcohol or using drugs. As you begin your journey to recovery, you will start to understand the ways drugs and alcohol have affected your life and the lives of those around you. Also, as a part of therapy, you will realize that drugs and alcohol are not as important as many other facets of your life. Because relapse is a common and all too frequent occurrence for many who have completed an addiction treatment program, the safest definition of sobriety generally involves maintaining one’s distance from their former substance of choice.

How to Get Sober and Stay Sober?

Data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration indicates relapse rates for those recovering from a drug and alcohol addiction remain high. Statistics show as many as 60% of people who have completed an addiction treatment program will experience a relapse at some point on their journey to recovery. However, even with this information, the most effective way to get sober and stay sober is to seek the help of a professional addiction treatment center like Twilight Recovery. Although relapse statistics can be disheartening, other statistics show that those who seek help to overcome their addiction at an alcohol or drug rehab are far more successful in achieving and maintaining lasting sobriety years after treatment ends. 

At a professional alcohol or drug rehab, trained medical and mental health providers will help you manage detox and develop healthy, effective coping mechanisms you can use after treatment to manage triggers and avoid relapse. These vital relapse prevention skills can help you during the months and years post-treatment when struggling with people, places, or events that would have formerly increased your desire to drink or use drugs. Contact our admissions team today if you are ready to learn more about how professional drug and alcohol rehab can help you get and stay sober.

Because alcohol is legal to purchase and consume, many people do not consider the addictive and potentially dangerous physical and psychological effects of alcohol dependency and addiction. Unlike some substance use disorders, a dependence on alcohol takes time to develop. With time and regular drinking, tolerance and dependency develop. With these challenges, someone struggling with an alcohol addiction will experience physical and psychological struggles related to problematic alcohol consumption. 

Despite all that is known about the dangerous effects of alcohol abuse, millions of people develop destructive relationships with alcohol every year. Statistics from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse suggest more than eighteen million Americans (some as young as 12) have an alcohol use disorder. Without treatment, long-term alcohol abuse often leads to lasting physical and emotional health challenges. 

Is Alcohol Addictive?

Put simply, yes. Alcohol is one of the most addictive legal substances people buy and consume in the United States. When someone consumes alcohol, it works within the brain to change how the reward system works. One of the most notable changes is how to brain produces a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine is responsible for producing various emotions, including happiness and pleasure. Without alcohol, dopamine production is influenced by day-to-day events that would trigger an emotional response. 

When someone consumes alcohol regularly or struggles with a significant dependency on alcohol, it will eventually change how much dopamine the brain produces. As alcohol intake increases, natural dopamine production is reduced. In time, your brain believes you need alcohol to feel specific emotions generally associated with dopamine. This leads to more frequent drinking at increasingly higher amounts. 

The Warning Signs of a Drinking Problem to Look Out For?

Understanding the warning signs of a drinking problem can help you or a loved one seek early addiction treatment intervention before the harmful and detrimental effects of alcohol abuse worsen. Research has shown that early and effective alcohol addiction treatment is vital in improving positive treatment outcomes. Because alcohol addiction symptoms look different from person to person, it can be difficult to know when occasional drinking evolves into problematic drinking; however, some symptoms may indicate a problem with alcohol. Look for warning signs such as:

• Making excuses for drinking
• Changes in personal hygiene or appearance
• Mood swings and behavior changes
• Increased voluntary isolation
• Drinking secretively or hiding alcohol use
• Choosing to drink over other obligations 
• New or worsening financial, legal, or medical problems related to alcohol use

Even if your loved ones’ drinking may seem mild, it is important to address alcohol use (and abuse) symptoms at a professional alcohol addiction treatment program. When ignored or overlooked, alcohol abuse can lead to dangerous and even fatal consequences. 

When you struggle with a drinking problem and are ready to get sober, the safest and most effective way to meet your sobriety goals is to seek help at an alcohol rehab like Twilight Recovery. As part of alcohol addiction treatment, our team of medical and mental health providers will provide the support and guidance you need at all stages of your recovery process. Depending on your unique treatment needs, the first step on your journey to recovery may be detox and withdrawal. By choosing professionally supported detox services, you enhance the opportunity for positive treatment outcomes. We are here to support you through the most challenging days of withdrawal when relapse risk is at its highest. Once detox is complete, our therapy providers will help you learn and practice the tools and skills necessary to manage relapse triggers in the future. 

If you are ready to put struggles with alcohol in the past and would like to learn more about how rehab at Twilight Recovery can help, contact our admissions team today.

Although alcohol processes through the body in the same way, it can affect men and women in different ways.

While there are a lot of things men and women share in common, what alcohol does to us is not really one of those. There’s a fundamental difference in how the sexes experience alcohol and its effects from the physical side to the mental. 

Does Alcohol Affect Men and Women the Same Way? 

Before we jump into the effects of alcohol and their differences, it’s worth pointing out that more men drink than women do.

A study by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) fittingly called ‘Gender Differences in the Epidemiology of Alcohol Use and Related Harms in the United States’ points out that “alcohol consumption has long been a male-dominated activity. Globally, men consume more alcohol and account for more alcohol-related harms to self and others than women do.”

With respect to America, they add that “males drinkers tend to drink more often and more heavily than females do, consuming nearly three times as much pure alcohol per year (19.0 liters for males, 6.7 liters for females).”

In terms of effects, let’s start with the worst of the lot: death.

That same study by the NIAAA shines a light on some tragic figures:

• In 2017, 72,558 death certificates listed alcohol as a factor – 54,486 were men
• 93,296 people died from alcohol-related causes between 2011 and 2015 – 66,519 were men
• The rate of death from alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver is more than twice as high for men

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) bring some more heavy-hitting differences in alcohol use between men and women, some of which directly affect other people:

• Among drivers in fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes, men are 50% more likely to have been intoxicated.
• Males are more than three times as likely to die by suicide than females and more likely to have been drinking prior to suicide.
• Excessive alcohol use can interfere with testicular function and male hormone production, resulting in erectile dysfunction and infertility.

Alcohol is also very well known to increase aggression, something that’s not unfamiliar to see in bars around the country. But that aggression doesn’t stay at the bar. It can come home and end in assault or sexual violence.

Excessive alcohol use also increases the risk for certain cancers, the CDC explicitly mentioning “mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and colon, which are more common among men. Drinking alcohol also increases the risk of prostate cancer.”

How To Get Help with An Alcohol Addiction If You Are a Man

So, to sum up, does alcohol affect men and women the same?

It most certainly does not.

To make a long, excruciating story short, alcohol takes a lot from men. It is, of course, a devastator for women as well, but the effects are disproportionately skewed.

Given that, how can a man like you, or a man that you may be concerned about, get help with an addiction to alcohol?

By seeking treatment at a rehab center that focuses on your needs.

As we mentioned at the top, Twilight Recovery rehab offers 30-, 60- and 90-day residential treatment programs based squarely on your needs.

Being in a place where you can truly be seen and genuinely understood. A place where you feel comfortable with being vulnerable and open can be a literal gamechanger.

To learn more about our program and facility, call us today.