A person who is addicted to alcohol is often referred to as an alcoholic. This is because once the addiction is so severe it completely consumes that person and changes their very personality and character. Alcoholism in Canada is a rapidly rising problem. Because of this, there has been a strong response to fighting alcoholism and its debilitating consequences.
While there are over 150 million people who are addicted to alcohol around the world, there is 4% of the population of Canada that suffers with alcohol dependency. The startling fact to this number is the numbers of those who are under 18 years of age. Other surveys show that the majority of people who are under alcohol’s influence are between 20 and 24 years of age. Many of these people find treatment, but only after the damage has been done. Over 40% of the people who say they started drinking at a young age admit that alcohol damaged their marriages, finances, and health.
There are plenty of different options for treating the problem of alcoholism. In the different provinces in Canada there is a unanimous consensus that there needs to be much larger attempt at bringing alcoholism into a decline. Through efforts like residential treatment centers, outpatient rehab services, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, detoxification centers, and long-term treatment centers people who are addicted to alcohol have many different options.
One of the more successful treatment options in Canada is through inpatient care. This type of treatment is long term and requires 24 hour care. Through this type of treatment, the alcoholic is able to go through a supervised time of detox, have medical attention, and go to counseling to prepare them for life without alcohol. Inpatient care can last from a few months to a year in extreme cases.
After the inpatient care treatment has been completed, many centers will place the patient with a support group like AA. This will help them when the desire to have a drink presents itself. They will have a way to reach out and get help. Most AA groups have people who are on call to help people on the verge of taking another drink.
One of the things that many communities are doing to help combat alcoholism in their area is to partner with the rehab centers either through financial means or through volunteering. This means that the person is not shunned for being an alcoholic, but supported by a large network of friends, family, and community members. This goes a long way towards success in defeating alcoholism.
Canada is a large country. However, it does not matter what province you live in, there is a local treatment facility ready to help with a struggling alcoholic. The Canadian Alcohol and Drug Rehab Centers across the country are great areas that provide outpatient, in-patient, and ongoing recovery options. These centers are located from Nova Scotia to Vancouver so that reliable treatment is always available.
Sources: http://alcoholic.ca/
http://www.alcohol-abuse-essentials.com/Alcohol_Abuse_and_World_Statistics.html