Drug and alcohol detox Program

The majority of addicts entering into a drug and alcohol detox program are suffering from poor nutrition which unless fixed will make their drug and alcohol detox harder than it has to be, and the complicated side effects of withdrawals while in drug and alcohol detox are one of the primary causes that people decide to leave their drug and alcohol detox program before they are finished and go back to drinking or using.  In fact it is becoming apparent that good nutrition during drug and alcohol detox can drastically help to alleviate the withdrawal symptoms and therefore set the table for a higher chance that the addict undergoing drug and alcohol detox will complete their addiction treatment and continue to pursue a clean and sober lifestyle.

Alcoholics, as an example, are known to be low on thiamine in their system as a consequence of their consumption of alcohol, and if this deficiency is left untreated it can lead to wet brain syndrome.  The lack of thiamine is almost always caused by a poor diet, damage to the digestive system from alcohol consumption, and the fact that alcohol prevents the absorption of thiamine in the brain.  Opiate addicts, on the other hand, are known to suffer from a wide variety of nutritional deficiencies due to bad diet during their addiction as well as the physical side effects of heavy opiate abuse, and giving vitamins and supplements during drug and alcohol detox has been demonstrated to reduce the withdrawal symptoms during drug and alcohol detox.  

Addiction is a mind, body, and spiritual disease.  when we can lessen the stress and anxiety during drug and alcohol detox with the use of good food in addition to nutritional supplements, then the addict's mind will be in the right place to cope with the behavioral changes that will be necessary for pursuing a clean and sober life following their drug and alcohol detox.  Naturally, we also have to bring the body along for the ride during drug and alcohol detox or we are setting ourselves up for a relapse.  

As for the spiritual side, it is vital that proper counseling be provided during drug and alcohol detox otherwise treating the mind and the body with proper nutrition will be useless.  Low self-esteem, as an example, is a common factor amongst alcoholics and addicts and it is can be to start to look for the causes behind this during drug and alcohol detox. If the spiritual side isn't treated during drug and alcohol detox, then treating the mind and the body with good nutrition will be pointless.

An advice on residential treatment

Much like the first time a person finally has the idea to enter residential treatment to find help for a substance abuse problem, the decision to return to residential treatment a second or even third time to find help for substance abuse is not an easy one.
As with the 1st time they went into a residential treatment facility, there can be stages of readiness.  Does the person think that their substance abuse issue has become bad enough again that going back into residential treatment is necessary?  Or, as is probably the situation with the first time they entered into residential treatment, do they think they can handle their substance abuse problem on their own?
Layered upon this is the thoughts of failure.  The individuals have previously gone through a residential treatment program, and the individuals have continually relapsed.  Why will this time be any any different?  Put another way, what is it that the individuals are going to learn in their 2nd or 3rd try at residential treatment that is going to make the change and reduce the chance for them from relapsing over in the future?
The reality of the situation is that the rate of success for residential treatment programs, and all other forms of substance abuse treatment programs, is less than optimal.

 The way success is defined for residential treatment programs varies, but in general it is the percentage of the facility's clients that have stayed clean and sober one to 2 years after treatment.  For almost all residential treatment facilities the “success rate” is most likely below 20%.
Because of this low ratio of “success”, many residential treatment programs find many of their clients who have relapsed coming back one, two, or quite often more times.  Does this mean failure for the residential treatment program?  Or does it mean that the facilities have instilled in their patients the thought that recovery from substance abuse is a ongoing process that is most likely possible.  As long as a person continues to keep trying, then they haven't failed at their recovery and there can quite possibly be new ideas to learn by giving residential treatment an additional try.