If you are considering sending a loved one to an alcohol rehab program in South Africa you should become familiar with the way that these programs work. This will help you to decide which particular program is going to suit the patient best. People are often unaware that there are quite large differences between the various treatment facilities that call themselves an "alcohol rehab in South Africa". They might be based on different principles and have large differences in how they implement the treatment program.

No matter how the addiction treatment programs differ between themselves most alcohol rehab centers provide treatment in three distinct phases.

You will find that most these phases contain similar elements across all alcohol rehab centers in South Africa. If you know what elements each phase of treatment should include you will be in a better position to understand the treatment philosophy of the alcohol rehab facility in South Africa. This will also allow you to shop comparitively for a program that offers you the most.

Phase 1 - Intervention and Detoxification
Getting an alcoholic to admit that she has a problem and is in need of treatment in an alcohol rehab center in South Africa can be a difficult task. Bringing the alcoholic out of denial and towards accepting the nature of her drinking problem may require special "intervention" sessions with an addictions counselor. Until the patient is fully willing to admit that there is a problem that needs professional attention he is quite likely to continue relapsing. A well-planned intervention can help draw the line for the alcoholic between what is normal drinking and what is problem drinking. The family is the biggest ally of the alcohol rehab center in this phase of treatment. The alcohol counselor will ask the family for background information on the alcoholic's drinking to help confront denial. The family will probably be called into the alcohol rehab center to attend sessions with the patient so that they can provide support.

Once the patient has arrived in the alcohol rehab center he will need to undergo a medical detoxification ("detox"). This refers to the process of cleansing the body of any toxins that are left behind from the drinking. Alcohol detox can be a dangerous procedure and so an alcohol rehab center will have full medical supervision and backup. Because the alcoholic has been drinking for so long she might find that her body has become accustomed to the presence of alcohol. If she suddenly stops drinking her body won't be able to function properly. This is what makes alcohol detox dangerous. The patient is usually considered to be ready to leave the detox process once he is no longer showing any symptoms of withdrawal. Alcohol detox usually takes 3-7 days but the length of the detox depends on the individual situation.

Phase 2 - Alcohol Treatment
This phase of treatment is perhaps the most diverse. You should enquire carefully about the nature of the treatment program in the alcohol rehab. It is generally felt that a multi-disciplinary approach to treatment is the best option. This means that professionals from many different fields and lay personnel work together in one team. By utilizing the combined training and experience of these many professional outlooks the team can develop a rich understanding of the patient that would be very difficult (impossible?) for any therapist to accomplish alone. Look for an alcohol rehab program in South Africa that offers psychiatric care, psychologists, medical doctors, nursing staff, occupational therapists, social workers, 12 step facilitators, and relaxation therapists. Avoid alcohol rehab centers that eschew established professionals in favour of their own brand of treatment - not only is there a lack of accountability but you never really know what you're getting. An alcohol treatment program should mean that the patient spends about 1-3 months in the alcohol rehab center. Extended care programs are possible so that the alcoholic can receive support for periods up to a year.

Phase 3 - Aftercare
A good alcohol rehab program will provide ongoing care for its patients once they have graduated from the treatment program. In some cases medication might be prescribed to help the alcoholic or addict manage cravings. Such medications include Antabuse, Naltrexone, Topamax, and Campral.

An aftercare program will also offer counseling to patients. Early recovery can be a difficult time and having support can make the difference between sobriety and relapse. The family of the alcoholic can also receive counseling support to help them deal with their response to the situation and to encourage them to not to be over-responsible for the alcoholic.