Alcohol addiction is medically diagnosed as a disease which results in the frequent use of alcohol, despite the negative consequences it has on a person’s life. Many people also refer to alcoholism as a compulsive preoccupation with alcohol and the inability to recognize the negative effects it has on their life. Alcohol abuse causes over 100,000 deaths every year in the United States and Canada. It is the leading cause of death in teenagers due to alcohol related motor vehicle accidents. At Summit Malibu we deal with all types of addiction, alcohol abuse being one of the most frequent addictions we treat. When a person enters Summit Malibu who suffers from this addiction they are generally detoxed. At Summit Malibu we are fully equipped to detox every patient from any type of drug they are on. We have a separate bedroom that is designed to make a patient going through the detox process as comfortable as they can possibly be.
Detoxification from alcohol addiction is significantly more risky than other drugs. It is the only drug that a person can die from as a direct result of withdrawal. Generally, medical detoxification is needed to discontinue heavy drinking. A sudden discontinuation of alcohol consumption can often induce a condition known as delirium tremens. Symptoms include hallucinations, convulsions, seizures, tremors, and possible heart failure. This is the result of a lack of alcohol and GABA in the system, causing synapses in the body to fire with no control. At Summit Malibu we take every aspect of a person’s medical history into account when detoxing clients at our facility and feel confident that we can safely detox them from any drugs.
When a client initially enters our program our entire staff takes the time to truly understand what this person is going through both physically and emotionally. Once we have a clear understanding of a clients specific needs we are able to create the perfect treatment team for the client. At Summit Malibu rehab we are able to treat co-occurring disorders that are often present when a person is dealing with a substance abuse problem. Often when a person is dealing with alcohol addiction they have either had another disorder that lead them to drink or they may have developed a disorder due to their addiction. At Summit Malibu we often treat depression, post traumatic stress disorder, eating disorder as well as other compulsive disorders. We have specialists that come to our rehab that are trained in dealing with all of these co-occurring disorders.
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 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, an acupuncturist, massage therapist and 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. Unfortunately for many people it takes losing what is most important to 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.
Alcohol and drug abuse is often used to medicate and numb the pain of an emotional issue, which a person may or may not even be aware of. It is common for a person suffering from alcohol addiction to have a dual diagnosis of depression, perpetuating the drug abuse even further. Although alcoholism is a terrible and often debilitating disease, effective treatment is available at Summit Malibu. Twelve step meetings, support groups and individual therapy are just a few of the treatments options offered to those suffering from this disease. Once a person decides they are ready for help, an immense amount of support can be easily found in most communities.
Free yourself from alcoholism. For the first time, a world-class program is blending the best traditional recovery techniques with leading-edge science to heal those suffering from alcohol addiction. Summit Malibu complements the widely accepted spiritually-based 12-step program with science-based treatments developed at UCLA and the Matrix Institute on Addition, a UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Program affiliate.
• Scientific treatments for Alcoholism
• Leading UCLA addiction professionals
• Individual treatment plan for each client
• Over 250 hours of individual, group & family therapy
• Safe & secure detox on premises
• Access To Spiritually-based 12-step programs
• UCLA-developed clinical treatments
• Professional therapies for co-occurring conditions.(depression, anxiety, bi-polar & other disorders)
• Proven approaches to addiction treatment
• Professional and credentialed care team
• UCLA-Affiliated Matrix Model of Relapse Prevention©
• Family support and education
• Alternative therapies: holistic, experiential, meditation, yoga, massage therapist
• Comprehensive continuing care upon graduation
• Private, serene, luxurious facilities & grounds
• Beautiful Malibu ocean & mountain settings
• Non-judgmental; non-confrontational atmosphere