"Help, I'm addicted to alcohol!" Well, if you think that sentence may apply to you then please read on as I am going to share with you some of the ways out of that predicament. If you are addicted to alcohol or think you might be there are certain steps that you will need to take in order to get your life back on track.

The first step however is to realize that you have a problem. So, if you have come to the point where you are willing to do that then you're in better shape than you think. Certainly, it may not feel like you're in a good place, and you may not be, but by simply admitting that you may have a problem you are closer to the solution that those who are still in denial about their drinking.

But, I'm addicted to alcohol!

The simple fact is that if your body has reached a state where it is dependent upon alcohol you can not just stop drinking. Stopping drinking cold turkey is the worst thing you can possibly due. Your body will enter a severe withdrawal syndrome and the shock to your system could cause seizures or even death. So, and this may seem somewhat contrary, but you don't want to stop drinking -- not on your own.

The first thing you will need to do is to seek help in the form of a detox from alcohol by trained medical personnel. You can find a detox in your area by doing an online search or consulting the yellow pages. If need be, check into the emergency room and get detoxed at the hospital.

You will be put on librium or another benzo to ease the withdrawals while protecting your body's equilibrium. Within a short time period you will be released and will have to fend for yourself. If you are not careful you could end up drunk again and have to repeat the process. This can become a viscious cycle so once you are detoxed seek help.

In fact, the best course of action would be to get detoxed by a rehab. Instead of checking into a detox facility, make contact with an inpatient drug rehab treatment center and have their medical staff detox you from alcohol. Then, once you are detoxed, you can begin the process of addressing your alcohol addiction in safe environment that will be free from alcoholic temptation.

What to Look For in A Rehab

If you are serious about overcoming your addiction to alcohol you are going to need to make some major life changes that will effect the rest of your life. In order to take these steps it is recommended that you enter a rehab. Choosing a drug rehab doesn't have to be difficult and don't make it harder than it need be by dwelling on whether or not you have choosen the right one. Pick a place, pack a bag and head out to get better. That said, here are some things to look for in a drug rehab.

Longer Stays

Prepare yourself to be gone more than the 28 days you may have heard is the length of stay for an inpatient treatment center. Research has shown that longer duration treatment centers are more effective in sustaining abstinence. Find a rehab with a 90 day program. Or find one that doesn't specify the length of time but generally runs longer than 30 days. You may not think you can afford to drop out of your life for 90 days but one 90 day stay will be more effective than a 30 day stay repeated over and over again because it wasn't effective.

In fact, it is recommended that you look into a sober house after you check out of rehab. The best rehab in the world is not going to help you if you return to the exact same surroundings.

On staff psychiatrist

It is a fact that most alcoholics suffer from a co-existing mental illness. In fact, nearly every alcoholic that I have ever met has been given a dual diagnosis. So, wouldn't you want to go to a treatment center that will treat you holistically and focus on the breadth of your issues rather than just teaching you the 12 steps.

This seems somewhat obvious, but you would be stunned at the number of 28 day rehab centers that don't have a psychiatrist on their staff. These places generally have a doctor in for half-a-day and a shrink for an hour or two on Sunday. This won't do at all. If you're going to spend the money go to a place that has a full staff. Trust me it will be worth it in the end.

12 Step Based

The most effective drug rehabs are based on the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous as outlined in the Big Book (aka Alcoholics Anonymous). There are other methods of getting sober and breaking an addiction to alcohol but the 12 step method has been the most successful and has the most research supporting it.

Yes, you can try an alternate approach. But it can be a gamble. You want to get over your addiction to alcohol and give yourself the best chance of long term success. So give yourself the best shot at recovery.

The important thing is that you seize on the moment and actually enact a positive change in your life. If you take the momentum you first gained when you admitted you were addicted to alcohol and follow it through to its logical conclusion you can overcome this addiction and live out your days in relative serenity.