Smarmore Castle Drug & Alcohol Rehab
A high functioning alcoholic is someone who meets the criteria for alcohol dependency but is able to maintain – or appear as if they are maintaining – a fairly stable life. Some common markers of alcoholism include difficulties at work, problems in relationships with family or friends, health problems, financial difficulties, and abusive behaviour.
However, a functional alcoholic will not experience, or appear to experience, these problems, or only to a small extent. For example, they may be able to maintain their career and relationships, despite their alcohol use problem. If you think you are experiencing functional alcoholism, or know someone who is, we can help.
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How Can Someone Function as an Alcoholic?
Differences in circumstances can mean that some people with alcohol addiction problems are able to maintain functionality in their lives for longer than others. Some factors could include greater financial resources, stronger support networks or differences in lifestyle.
Differences in the type of profession a person is employed in can also increase the length of time that the problem can go unrecognised. For example, if the person has a job that does not require attention to detail, very structured activities, or frequent social interaction, their problem may not be noticed until later on, when it starts to have a more debilitating effect on their work. Data gathered by the USA’s National Institute of Health indicates that functional alcoholics are most likely to be middle-aged, have a high level of education, and a secure job and family situation.
How Does Functional Alcoholism Differ From Normal Alcoholism?
Although functional alcoholics differ in their ability to cope with addiction problems, ‘functional alcoholism’ is not differentiated from normal alcoholism by any official mental health bodies. For example, the ICD-10, the World Health Organisation’s classification list of mental health disorders, doesn’t distinguish between them. Instead, it differentiates between acute intoxication, harmful use, dependence and withdrawal. A person is diagnosed with alcohol addiction when they meet certain criteria with a combination of self-reported use and objective observation.
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How We Treat Functional Alcoholism
If you think you are experiencing functional alcoholism, or know someone who is, then you should seek help immediately. Although some alcoholics may be able to remain functional for some length of time, it is likely that they will not be able to maintain this for very long. Eventually, they will experience negative effects on their lives.
Often, functional alcoholics merely maintain the pretence that everything is fine, by concealing the true extent of the damage caused by their drinking. Even in cases where they are able to maintain their normal lives, they are inflicting extreme damage to their health, in particular their brain, which in some cases is irreversible.
Residential Rehab at Smarmore in Ireland
Our residential programme at Smarmore Castle offers a comprehensive, treatment plan that successfully rehabilitates people suffering alcohol addiction problems. Our treatment programme begins with a period of detox, and then immerses the patient in a programme of intensive therapy. Each patient’s individualised treatment plan is tailored to their needs and circumstances to improve the chance of long-term abstinence.
Safe Detoxification from Drugs & Alcohol
- How to Access Rehab With Health Insurance
For those experiencing existing mental health conditions in Ireland, there are private medical insurers who can help you cover treatment. As addiction experts, we know that receiving the appropriate care and support when you have a mental health disorder is pivotal to attaining long-lasting recovery. Below, we will go through the various health insurance options to help you understand your options when it comes to seeking private residential care for substance abuse. Please note that there is no guarantee that you can be covered for all addiction problems as policies are always assessed on a case-by-case basis. Find Out More
- My Loved One Doesn’t Want Help, What Do I Do?
You can’t force someone to go to rehab. At the end of the day, it needs to be their decision because they are the ones that need to be open to turning their lives around. There are ways in which you can encourage someone to enter treatment, one of these ways is via an intervention with a trained interventionist, who facilitates an honest discussion between family members and the addict. This is something Smarmore Castle can arrange – contact us today.
- Which Drugs Does Smarmore Castle Detox From?
We can detox people from any drugs whether they are illegal drugs such as cocaine, heroin, ketamine; or prescription drugs such as benzodiazepines or zopiclone, oxycodone, zolpidem, klonopin, methadone, cannabis; and legal drugs such as alcohol.
- How Long Is the Treatment Programme?
Our treatment programme starts at 4 weeks and is flexible in length, giving you the opportunity to extend for a longer period if you need it.
- Do You Treat Dual Diagnosis?
All patients are reviewed by a consultant psychiatrist in the first week and we can diagnose and provide treatment for a number of co-occurring mental health conditions.
- Do I Need to Be Abstinent Before Admission?
Our medically managed detoxification with 24/7 medical cover means that we can perform complete and complex detoxes at Smarmore Castle. You don’t need to be abstinent before arrival.
- How Do I Get To Rehab Safely?
Smarmore Castle is one hour north of Dublin international airport and we can arrange a driver to collect you and bring you straight to us for free.
We can also arrange a ‘sober transport’ service with a trusted driver, from anywhere in Ireland or Northern Ireland, at an additional cost.