Before Taking Action Against Substance Abuse, One Must First Recognize It. Be it alcohol, tobacco or narcotics, the first method to addressing substance abuse of any sort is to recognize it. Is this abuse affecting one’s life in any way? Are they missing work days due to the inability to function? Is he or she distant and not communicating with friends or family? When joining others, do they need to “prepare” for the social occasion with some sort “hit”, like a quick chug of beer, emptying a wine glass rapidly or smoking/shooting/imbibing a morphine-sedated laced drug product? Do they put off daily grooming maintenance? Borrowing money? etc.

These symptoms have proven to be normal signs of addiction since at least the year 1935 when Alcoholics Anonymous was formed by Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith and in many cases are still used as a benchmark for today’s recovering individuals.

Following what we believe is the first important step in the process for potential treatment options-which is Recognition-we shall now examine the ensuing steps towards potential treatment and taking proper action.

Problem Is Recognized, Now Time For Intervention And To Address The Issue

Intervention with a family member or a close friend can truly be traumatic and unbelievably difficult. Thus many clinics-including the Rehab Center in Denver, Colorado-recommend a professional to assist.

Here an Intervention Specialist will be on hand for support and guidance and then eventually if all things are agreed upon, refer the troubled person to a licensed and accredited therapist.

Early Stage Of Treatment

In this phase, it is suggested that leadership is present after the person with the issue agrees to dispense information to all involved, including family members or close friends and perhaps the Intervention Specialist. The Rehab Center in Denver has a direct line to any Treatment Specialists and has the ability to ease this difficult moment in transition for all involved in the substance abuse situation.

Middle-Stage Treatment

The patient is still very emotional and what is considered “Rocky Ground” and needs constant affirmation and support in case of relapse. Resources are crucial for the addict in question to reach out within this period.

Late-Stage Treatment

This is the part where resources absolutely have to be available to the person with addiction issues. This is the stage where they have reached a moment in time with their recovery which is coined in the profession: “Healthy Mutuality”. The addict’s physical cognitive and neural abilities become improved as the chemicals have been safely and physically removed from their overall bloodstream. Many begin to focus on how they “got to this place” and the truth can be brutal, for it could’ve been a moment of epic trauma, for example. This unsteady state can lead to potential relapses if not addressed just as aggressively as the addiction itself.

Thus, some clients will still require ongoing therapy, and group meetings and discussions among other recovery addicts have proven to be very successful for many years (i.e. Alcoholics/Narcotics Anonymous). But there are times between meetings, a specialist can step in to help.

With that in mind, the Rehab Center in Denver can provide this resource for not only those seeking initial aid and guidance but for those individuals that have gone through the early and middle stages of recovery as well as the late-stages.

Abe Watson