Choosing the best alcohol addiction program largely depends on the personality and history of the person seeking help. The reasons that alcohol became a problem in the first place need to be resolved, as well as the actual compulsion to consume alcohol. Many alcoholics experience both physical and emotional compulsions, and a program should appropriately address the difficulties a recovering addict is likely to experience in these areas. Factors such as the addict’s social group, religious commitments, and gender may all also play a role in choosing the best alcohol addiction program.
While many people believe that a tendency toward alcoholism is a genetic feature, it is also true that in order to become an alcoholic, one must have a reason to drink. Some people are overly stressed at work or home, while others are merely in pursuit of pleasure. An alcohol addiction program must help resolve the original problem that led to excessive drinking in the first place.
An alcohol addiction program must also address physical addiction symptoms if they are present. Some programs do this by recommending a detoxification treatment, which helps with symptoms of withdrawal. Others merely provide support for the addicts, often using former addicts who have gone through the same process to mentor the recovering alcoholic. Emotionally, overcoming addiction is very difficult, and a person who is in an alcohol addiction program can be cruel or moody toward people he or she cares about. For these reasons, it is also important to choose an alcohol addiction program that prepares loved ones for the addict's behavior throughout the recovery process.
Many people find that the most successful programs are those in which one's fellow addicts share other commonalities. For instance, young people often have more success in groups with other young people. When talking about addiction, it is important that members of the program feel some sense of camaraderie and a collective interest in ending addiction. This helps members of the program feel the need to support one another even beyond the program.
The most important feature of an alcohol addiction program is that it gives the addict control over the need to drink. Whether this involves complete cessation of alcohol consumption or merely a decrease in usage, it is important that the addict maintain the ability to refuse a drink. Some people find that this is a lifelong struggle, and so many programs are designed to support the addict with regular meetings. In some cases, many different programs must be tried before a successful fit is found. It is important to find a match that feels right and a community of support in order to ensure that drinking does not once again become a problem.