What Is Alcohol Abuse?

The Detox Center Coronavirus Policy Update

As we closely monitor the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, we are taking every precaution to ensure our top priority remains the health, safety, and well-being of our clients and staff. This guides each and every decision we make.

We have and will continue to follow the guidelines of our local health departments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC} the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Broward and Palm Beach County Health Departments. As a result, we stay current on this evolving situation, we want to assure you that we are taking the appropriate and precautionary measures, such as:

• Ensuring proper and rigorous cleaning and sanitation of common surfaces

• Requiring hourly sanitization of all staff and clients

• Provision of additional sanitizing products to our clients and staff

• Ongoing staff training to enhance cleaning and disinfecting procedures to maintain a healthy environment

• All employees are required to remain home in the event:

o They display any signs or symptoms of being ill. Employees who report to work ill will be sent home in accordance with these health guidelines.
oIf the employee has traveled outside of the state of Florida by any means or if an employee has traveled via cruise or airplane to any destination, that employee must report to management and Human Resources and self-isolate at that time.

Regarding current and admitted patient's change of schedule, the following has been implemented:

• Some programs and therapies have been temporarily postponed due to COVID-19

• Grocery shopping will be completed by the facility staff

• Clients are urged to keep a safe distance from other persons

• Hourly mandatory hand washing breaks are in effect

• Clients have been instructed to report to medical staff any symptoms

• Additional Health screenings will be conducted at that time of admission

• Clients will not be admitted to the facility if any of the following symptoms are present:

o Fever above 100 degrees
o Consistent Dry Coughing
o Shortness of Breath
o Severer body aches, that surpass PAWS range and/or
o Sore Throat

If a client does contract coronavirus, they will be isolated and quarantined on location. The client will only be handled by designated staff with the proper PPE. The local Department of Health (or equivalent agency) will be informed so that they may come out and provide further guidance on how to best handle the individual. All suspected cases are reported to the Department of Health (or local agency) who will be handling it accordingly. A deep cleaning will occur at the identified location.

Additional information regarding the virus can be found on the Broward Health Department's website or the Centers for Disease Control website.

We will continue to work together to ensure the safety of our patients and team members and adhere to any new regulatory changes as they come.

Most people over the age of 21 enjoy the occasional alcoholic beverage. While some do so more frequently than others, it can be tough to tell the difference between occasionally overdoing it, and outright alcohol abuse. Here is a breakdown of what alcohol abuse is.

Not Physically Dependent

Unlike addiction, simply abusing alcohol does not usually include a physical dependency. This means that stopping does not prompt any type of withdrawal symptoms, and for this reason, it can be easy to linger in this area of not quite addicted but abusing.

It’s OK, I’m In Control…

People who abuse alcohol are more likely to engage in activities that are dangerous or outright illegal while drinking. They usually tell you about how high their tolerance is, or how they do this all the time so it’s ok. These are signs of people that are abusing alcohol. They tell themselves that they are in total control of their actions and tolerance.

I’ll Use A Sick Day…

While most of us have probably suffered from the dreaded hangover after partying, people who abuse alcohol will often push off their responsibilities in favor of drinking. No, I’m not talking about putting off studying for your test to go to a party (although doing this too often certainly does enter the conversation), or even having a few too many at the office holiday party and needing to take a sick day (although also something you should question), true alcohol abuse will cause the user to miss work, school, or any other responsibilities just to stay home and drink. Oftentimes, they can do this alone and will put getting drunk at the top of their priority list regardless of other commitments.

So, while addiction and abuse are certainly different, they both end up down the same path. If you or someone you know has a troubling pattern developing, it may be time to seek help from a professional to make sure to act before it is too late.