Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol abuse can happen to anyone. Too many people assume that alcohol addiction is a scourge uniquely by experienced by “somebody else.” It isn’t. Alcohol abuse cuts across all spectrums of American society; alcoholics are rich and poor, black and white, the children of broken homes and scions of otherwise apparently perfect families. Alcoholism, whether you want to acknowledge it or not, really can happen to anyone…and those who believe otherwise are in for the rudest of awakenings. The encouraging postscript to that story, of course, is that alcohol abuse treatment can work for anyone. If you or someone you care about has succumbed to alcohol addiction, there’s help out there…provided you seek it out, and provided you have the strength to see the healing process through to its conclusion. No, no one’s immune from alcohol addiction. At the same time, though, no form of alcohol addiction is immune to alcohol abuse treatment. For your own sake, don’t wait another to start putting your alcohol dependency on the run.

An alcohol treatment center is only as good as the rehab professionals who staff it. It’s an obvious point, maybe, but one that too often gets overlooked in the alcohol treatment center selection process: People matter. If your alcohol treatment center experience is going to be a productive, you’ve got to be comfortable where you are. And if you’re going to be comfortable where you are, you’ve got to be comfortable with the people you’re there with. The truth is that not all alcohol abuse treatment centers were created equal. Some alcohol rehab programs emphasize broad-based addiction cures, with a correlative inattention to individual detail that promotes a sort of impersonal distance among the facility’s staff. Obviously, such an atmosphere is deeply inimical to the alcohol abuse treatment process…and can be hugely detrimental to your prospects for long-term recovery as an alcohol treatment patient. In choosing an alcohol abuse treatment center, it’s incumbent upon to you to find a program staffed by sensitive, involved caretakers…by individuals who understand you as you actually are, and who are committed to treating you as you need to be treated. With so much at stake, anything less isn’t and can’t ever be good enough.

(Article courtesy of Cliffside Malibu)

Spring......Cleaning......Detox

Detox is an essential first step on the road to drug and alcohol recovery. Detox centers and their programs are both crucial components of the drug rehabilitation process, for the simple reason that addiction is at root a physical disease. Drug and alcohol detox helps recovering addicts get free of the physiological dependencies that underlie substance abuse, thus preparing them to face the emotional and psychological rigors of the drug treatment process. Detoxification that works, simply stated, is one that helps you achieve meaningful, lasting, and long-term sobriety. Detox matters because no addict can get better without it, and because detoxification from drug and alcohol addictions is crucial to your prospects for lasting health. At Cliffside Malibu’s exclusive detox center, we can make the detoxification process work for you. Our private estate on 20 acres in the hills above Malibu, California, provides you the ultimate in luxury in the most private and exclusive detox center in Malibu. A full team of medical doctors and medical staff will make sure your stay with us is effective and comfortable. Don’t wait another day to find that out for yourself. Please, call Cliffside Malibu at 1-800-501-1988. We’re here. We can help. All you have to do is say the word.

Dear Cliffside Malibu,

"Thank you so much for my wonderful sobriety-enriching experience at Cliffside Malibu. It was an exciting adventure to spend two weeks working on my fourth step and participating in the group process. You introduced me to other wonderful opportunities in recovery, including psychotherapy, yoga, equine therapy (wow!), and acupuncture. I’ve incorporated yoga into my daily routine, taking a class three times a week and LOVE it! I’m exploring equine therapy further, and will continue to work with Chris as well. Sobriety has never been better, and I can’t thank you enough for accommodating my special request for a serene, supportive environment in which to do my fourth step. Please stay in touch, and let me know how I can participate in the continuing success of Cliffside Malibu through service."
Yours in recovery, [Name withheld for confidentiality]


"Thank you for all your help, support and humor during my stay at Cliffside. It was an incredible experience, one I could never have imagined in my wildest dreams (just like you said!)" … [Name withheld for confidentiality]


"I just wanted to express my extreme gratitude and my great satisfaction for my time with you. When I arrived I was on my last legs. My marriage was falling apart, my step-son didn’t trust me, and I was slowly killing myself with alcohol. I was told by my wife and my counselors that I looked like a person in the late stages of a terminal illness. I certainly felt like one. I was tired, dejected, depressed and hopeless. I didn’t know where to turn. When I realized that I needed to find an in-patient treatment center, I first looked at a well known competitor, and I was treated as only another set of ingredients to be mixed, formed, and baked according to a preset formula. I found Cliffside by entering ‘alcohol rehab’ into a search engine in desperation..." [Name withheld for confidentiality]

Article of note...

I found an article worthy of note, Malibu Offers Evidence Based Drug Rehab Treatment, it offers an enlightened perspective of Cliffside Malibu and its methods. Please take the time to read and offer up any comments.

Pharmaceuticals Addiction

Treating an addiction to pharmaceuticals requires a different approach than programs designed for typical recreational drugs. A wide range of different drugs and circumstances could be involved, each with its own requirements. The staff at Cliffside Malibu have a great deal of experience in treating a wide range of pharmaceutical addictions and they assess each patient to determine the specifics of their addiction and design a treatment plan tailored to each patient’s unique situation. Our doctors provide advanced medical care during the initial detox period, where residual drugs are flushed from the patient’s system. Therapists and counselors then work with the patient, employing proven group and individual therapy sessions including not only intensive addiction counseling, but also psychological analysis to address any underlying issues.


Breaking free of a pharmaceutical addiction can be stressful and physically demanding, especially during the detox phase when withdrawal comes into play. Cliffside Malibu provides residents with exclusive, luxurious surroundings to ensure that they are as comfortable as possible during their treatment, and free of the distractions and stresses of their daily lives. Amenities include:

* private, two acre beach-front estate overlooking the Pacific Ocean
* a Cordon Bleu chef running a kitchen that provides exceptional meals
* fitness center and heated lap pool
* recreational activities including hiking, swimming and cycling
* alternative therapies such as massage, yoga and acupuncture
* spa treatments
* luxury appointments including plasma TVs, fireplaces and Internet access


Completing the pharmaceutical addiction treatment cycle, once a Cliffside Malibu patient is discharged, they have access to our highly effective after-care program.

Article courtesy of www.CliffsideMalibu.com

Gambling Addiction: Why is Cliffside’s gambling addiction program so effective?

In order to successfully overcome a gambling addiction, treatment has to focus on the unique needs of the individual suffering from this affliction. The counselors and therapists with the gambling addiction program at Cliffside Malibu have helped many gambling addicts recover and return to a normal life. Our staff is experienced in dealing with the unique nature of a gambling addiction; they understand that a gambler can’t simply will themselves to stop, that they suffer from a compulsive disorder that requires treatment like any other disease. The gambling addiction program at Cliffside Malibu leverages the expertise of our staff and includes treatment of both the physiological and psychological aspects of the addiction. Our gambling addiction program features:

* a primary therapist assigned to each patient for the duration of his or her stay, ensuring individual attention.
* treatment that is tailored to the unique needs of each patient.
* individual and group therapies.
* Family programs.
* 12 step program.
* aftercare programs for continued support.

Cliffside Malibu also recognizes that recovery from a gambling addiction cannot take place in a stressful, crowded or unpleasant environment. Our exclusive residence is designed to make our patients as comfortable as possible during their stay and to prevent the stresses from everyday life from intruding on their recovery. We feel our facilities are world class, with patients enjoying resort-like amenities such as:

* luxurious rooms equipped with plasma televisions and fireplaces.
* an oceanfront location with private beach access.
* sun deck and heated lap pool.
* wide range of recreational and relaxation activities including horseback riding, yoga, hiking, swimming and cycling.
* fitness facilities and personal trainer.
* An ocean view dining room serving gourmet meals.

What can Cliffside Malibu do to help you overcome your gambling addiction?

If you or someone you love suffers from a gambling addiction, Cliffside Malibu can help; if the measure is required, we can even assist in staging an intervention. Our residents are comfortable, relaxed, medically supervised and worry-free during their stay, so that they have nothing to distract them from their recovery. When in-residence treatment is completed, an after-care program is provided and we also offer counseling and services for family members. Our staff are caring, focused on ensuring patients receive the individual attention they require to succeed and have a wealth of experience in dealing with gambling addiction. We can help you or your loved one beat this addiction and reclaim your life.

Articles taken from Cliffside Malibu

Methods of Treatment

There are many methods for the treatment of substance abuse and addiction. Treatment will vary according to factors such as: type of drug(s) used, level and duration of addiction, and individual personality characteristics. The treatment of addiction has scientific approaches, including behavioral (counseling, cognitive therapy, and psychotherapy), medicinal, or a combination of both. Many addicts believe they can quit using without professional treatment. Unfortunately, long term recovery and abstinence are rarely achieved without the assistance of licensed professionals.

Behavioral therapy focuses on coping skills to deal with the “cravings” and prevent relapses, as well as therapeutic treatment based upon factors such as race, gender, income level, parenting, physical or sexual abuse, and living environment which play a significant role in the formation and treatment of addictive behaviors. Medicinal treatment focuses on detoxification for the physical side, and the use of antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and neuroleptics, when patients have mental issues, such as anxiety disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, or psychosis.



The physiological effects on the brain and changes in brain function due to long term or heavy drug abuse have been known to persist even after the cessation of use. Additional post treatment therapeutic and medical assistance may also be necessary, even critical in some cases. The goal of drug addiction treatment is to heal the patient of their addiction, and help them return to a functional productive state of being. Resolution of the aforementioned issues as well as any criminal, work, social, and personal/family issues, so the patient can return to life as normal, and continued aftercare to avoid and deal with relapses should they occur, are essential to treatment and help ensure a lasting recovery.

This article was provided by Cliffside Malibu.