One of the main reasons people don’t seek help for their addictions is the fear of being labeled an ‘addict’ or an ‘alcoholic,’ terms which hold great stigma in today’s society. And their fears are not unfounded. People who don’t suffer from addiction or have never had experience with those that suffer from this disorder often think that addicts are simply weak, lazy or unmotivated, and this attitude can cause friends and family to turn their backs on people in their time of greatest need. Being labeled an ‘addict’ can also affect a person’s job prospects, ability to receive aid and even ability to find a place to live. It’s no wonder, then, that so many people seeking treatment wish to do so anonymously. So how can you or someone you love stay anonymous during treatment? What protections are there to keep your identity safe and keep your public image clean?   Staying anonymous while attending rehab is actually quite a bit easier than most would think. Rehab treatment centers are considered medical facility and as such, they are protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) which provides privacy and protection to client’s medical records. This law means that future employers, landlords, friends and family can’t simply call a treatment facility and ask for your information. And in fact, these treatment facilities are further bound by The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records Privacy Law,…

Alcohol is commonly used by people in order to relax and in order to celebrate special occasions. Alcohol has the ability to dull the senses and put people into a happy stupor, one of the primary reasons it is so commonly used for celebrations. Alcohol’s mind altering effects can also be highly addictive for some people, causing them to regularly drink in excess. So is it really possible for someone who drinks in excess to be able to limit their alcohol intake to only a few drinks?     Moderation with alcohol has been a method to help heavy drinkers since the 1960s, following the line of thinking that drinking a few drinks would be easier for those that enjoy drinking than giving up alcohol cold turkey. Some have found this method effective in being able to gain control over their alcohol intake. If you have a loved one that is abusing alcohol, suggesting that they start to drink in moderation will be met with less resistance than if you were to suggest that they completely give up alcohol. By testing to see if they can control their intake of alcohol to a moderate level, those who drink in excess will be able to determine whether they really have an alcohol addiction or not. Those who are unable to get a handle on their drinking problem are very likely to have an alcohol addiction and failing to drink in moderation…