The whole person.
The whole person.
Alcohol abuse and alcoholism are among the most serious health problem we are facing today. More than 100,000 U.S. deaths are caused each year by excessive alcohol consumption each year. Direct and indirect causes of death include drunk driving, cirrhosis of the liver, accidents, cancer, and stroke.
50% of all U.S. homicides are alcohol related, and 40% of all assaults are alcohol related, particularly domestic assaults. About three-quarters of all prisoners were involved in alcohol or drug abuse in some way in the time leading up to their current offense.
Alcohol abuse and alcoholism is a family disease. Approximately 53% of adults in the United States have reported that one or more of their close relatives has a drinking problem.
It is often apparent that a person suffers from alcohol addiction when both their mental and physical health suffers as a direct result of their drinking. At Summit Malibu we do an extensive evaluation of each client’s mental and physical health when they enter treatment. This allows us to design a treatment program that is tailored for each client. People who drink excessive amounts of alcohol are more likely to engage in sexually risky behavior, experiment with other illegal drugs, experience a decrease in job and scholastic performance and use tobacco products. At Summit Malibu we address all of these negative consequences that a person may be dealing with from their addiction. Alcohol addiction often causes severe social consequences on a person’s life as well. At Summit Malibu we not only deal with the physical addiction we help each client piece back together their life, giving them more confidence to face their life once they leave treatment.
Drinking patterns are not the same for every alcoholic. While some people get drunk every day, others binge drink at specific times depending on their emotional state. This is why at Summit Malibu we understand that alcohol addiction manifests differently for each individual struggling with the disease. We do not have one specific program that we use for every client that enters treatment. At Summit Malibu we have many therapists that work at our treatment center, giving us the ability to pair each client with the correct treatment professional.
All of our therapists are trained in CBT and DBT therapy which they often use with our clients. We have also found that treating alcohol addiction with holistic treatments and spirituality can be helpful. We believe an entire mind and body approach is necessary in the healing process. At Summit Malibu have a yoga instructor three times a week, a spiritualist, and an art therapist that all work individually with each of our clients.
Although we do not know the specific reason this disease develops, we are aware of several contributing factors. Genetic predisposition, environment, and mental health are the leading risk factors for developing this disease.
Common symptoms of an alcohol addiction problem include blackouts, a change in personality, work and family problems, legal trouble and a lack of interest in activities that were once a priority. Often times it is the feelings of unmanagability, being out of control, and the obsession of the mind that brings someone to the point to seek treatment. Unfortunately for many people it takes losing what is most important to them for them to seek the help they need.
At Summit Malibu we take pride in making each client feel comfortable enough to discuss any shameful events that may have occurred while they were using drugs or alcohol. Often when a person enters treatment they have destroyed many aspects of their life, we believe it is important to help each client deal with things one step at a time. Facing a drug or alcohol addiction is overwhelming in itself which is why we help each client face their own reality one step at a time.