Lawrence Peltz Ph.D., MFT
Office: (415)
472-5688
Fax: (630) 839-6371
Northgate Medical Center · 750 Las Gallinas Ave., Suite #200 ·
San Rafael, CA 94903
Early Recovery From Alcohol and Other Drugs
Have you decided to do something about your drinking or drug use? If the answer is "yes", you’ve already taken some important steps toward a better life.
There will be many choices to consider along the way. Fortunately, a wealth of assistance is available from professional, community and self-help resources to support and guide you to do your best.
If you’re like most people, you probably agree that it makes perfect sense to talk to someone about your problems with alcohol or other drugs. Talking to a counselor or psychotherapist, who is an expert in the area of chemical dependency is usually a good place to start.
However, it takes courage to come to terms with alcohol or other drugs. Many people are unwilling to take steps in their own behalf. You deserve respect for your willingness to come to terms with the situation.
Acknowledging that help is needed for an alcohol or other drug problem may not be easy. But keep in mind that the sooner a person gets help; the better are his or her chances for a successful recovery.
Any reluctance you may feel about discussing your drinking or other drug use may stem from common misconceptions about problems with these substances. In our society, the myth prevails that an alcohol or other drug problem is somehow a sign of moral weakness.
As a result, you may feel that to seek help is to admit some type of shameful defect in yourself. Problems with alcohol or other drugs tend to get worse when ignored. Seeking help is a sign of strength and commitment to do something about the problem. You do not deserve to be shamed for having a problem. You may however feel more and more ashamed if you do nothing about it.
The important thing to remember is that you have choices. Unless your life or the life of those around you is in immediate danger because of your alcohol or drug use, you are free to choose among available options. Another exception to your right to choose may occur if you are ordered into a recovery program by the court system. If that is your situation, you may have no choice about being in treatment but you will have many choices about what you get out of it.
If you come to see me for help with alcohol or other drug problems, I will ask you a number of questions about your alcohol/drug use to determine whether you are experiencing related physical, emotional, social, family or work/school problems. Try to answer these questions as fully and honestly as you can.
If your body has become dependent on alcohol or drugs, detoxification may be required. Most health care providers recommend detoxification in a controlled environment such as an inpatient hospital or rehabilitation setting, in order to provide protection from some of the worst physical effects of withdrawal. Medication is sometimes provided to ease the detoxification process. For those who have become biologically dependent on alcohol, medication may be prescribed to prevent resumption of drinking. A frequently recommended follow-on phase of inpatient detoxification is a stay in a residential program.
If we decide to work together in outpatient counseling, we will discuss your goals and develop a plan to meet them. The most important point to remember is that unless your life or the life of others is in danger because of your drinking or other drug use, you will always be in the position of gathering information and making decisions in your own best interest. I will never tell you what to do but I will assist you to come to terms with the situation. My professional role (based on considerable training and decades of experience with alcohol and other drug recovery) will be to support and guide you to define, confront and resolve your problems with alcohol or other drugs.
We can work together to consider your relationship with alcohol or other drugs; focusing on and working toward reaching the following milestones of early recovery:
Assessment of your medical needs and attending to them
Addressing your cravings to use
Accomplishing day by day initial abstinence (if that is your goal)
Beginning your education about addiction and abuse
Creating the beginnings of a support system
In addition, you can consider many treatment options including family member participation to help support recovery for everyone involved.
Since alcohol and other drug problems have profound negative effects upon entire families and all concerned others, anyone who is touched by an alcohol or other drug problem is welcome to contact me at their discretion to inquire about help and support.
Whether you participate in an inpatient or outpatient program, individual counseling, group counseling, a self-help recovery program such as Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous or a non spiritually based program such as Secular Organization for Sobriety, give yourself credit for taking steps toward a better life.
If you would like to contact me for more information or to schedule an appointment, call me directly at 415-472-5688. If you leave a message, please provide a phone number and some good times to reach you. In the event that I do not answer your call directly, I will return your call within 24 hours and often much sooner. You may also contact me by e-mail at DrPeltz@Psycounseling.com.
Copyright © 2000 Lawrence Peltz,
Ph.D.