What do Drew Barrymore, Whitney Houston, Lindsay Lohan, and Nicole Ritchie all have in common? If you guessed they were all talented, you’d be wrong in this case. All of these stars have been sent to rehab, often more than once. These stars have endless amounts of money and endless enablers to fuel their addiction fires. “Even with all her money, her life still seems chaotic. Addiction takes everything away—dignity, health, money, sanity, and profession,” Dr. Friedman said when asked about Lindsay Lohan and her very public struggles.  

To close out Alcohol and Obesity Awareness month here at EndlessBeauty, we interviewed Dr. Robert Z. Friedman, the new medical director for Seabrook House Treatment Center in New Jersey. The facility provides rehabilitation for men and women who suffer from alcohol and drug addiction.  

Addiction defined

Dr. Friedman says, “It is not about quantity, or quality, or even frequency. It’s about whether it creates unmanageability in the person’s life. It is a real disease with real neurological affects. Behavior can be injurious.” All addictions, whether sex, food, gambling, drug, or alcohol, are the same disease, says Dr. Friedman. They are all a disease of the reward pathway in the brain, thus how an addiction develops; it makes you feel good.  

Addiction by the numbers

• 76.3 million people have alcohol-use disorders (stem from abuse) worldwide.
• At least 15.3 million people have drug-use disorders.
• Across the world, alcohol causes 2.5 million deaths yearly.
• Overall, alcohol causes more than 60 types of disease and injuries.
• Alcohol accounts for an estimated 20-30% of esophageal and liver cancers, cirrhosis of the liver, homicide, epilepsy, and motor vehicle accidents.
• 200,000 people die annually from drug abuse worldwide.

Statistics provided by the World Health Organization

Risk Factors for Addiction and Abuse 

• Habitual drinking
• Drinking more than you should on a regular basis for a length of time can cause physical dependence on alcohol.
• Age: People who start drinking in their early teens and 20s run a higher risk of eventually becoming hooked.
• Sex: Even though women are more likely to develop medical complications linked to drinking, men are at a higher risk of depending on alcohol.
• Family history: If one of your parents abused alcohol, the risk of you developing dependence is higher.
• Mental health disorders: People who suffer from depression or anxiety are more likely to abuse alcohol or being experimenting with drugs. Feelings of loneliness, exhaustion, angriness, and stress also increase your risk of abuse.
• Social/cultural factors
• Surrounding yourself with relatives or friends who drink can increase your risk of alcoholism.

Risk factors provided by the Mayo Clinic

Movies and television shows that make drinking or drug use look chic also contribute to an overall higher risk. Friedman says, “Society has a huge obligation to not glamorize alcohol and drug abuse. It is not a source of comedy.” 

Treatment Options: What Rehab is Like

Dr. Friedman and the Seabrook House focus on treating their patients with a 3-prong approach. He emphasized the special care the facility takes in rehabbing the patient’s mind, body, and spirit. He defined addiction as a “hole in the soul.”  

Seabrook House currently offers a Seabrook "Changes" recovery program that provides a long term rehab opportunity to female residents ages 21 or older, recovering from alcoholism, chemical dependency, and other compulsive disorders.

The long-term rehab program is designed for chronic relapsers, licensed professionals, executives, and those with a history of multiple treatments (like La Lohan, who has not been treated at Seabrook). The program provides a minimum 90 day program for women in early recovery, however, a 6 - 12 month length of stay is recommended.

The facility features private and semi-private rooms in a homelike environment. The program is designed to immerse each woman into a 12-Step way of life, while providing the basic rehab support of counseling, housing, and recreation.  

Changes also offers group therapy, individual therapy, EMDR, and other additional, more fun, forms of therapy: equine therapy, yoga, meditation, massage, music therapy, outdoor adventure based "ropes" course and workout facilities at an offsite gym.

The total cost for the first three months at Changes is $21,200. This includes meals, all basic needs, and 12 months of monitoring post discharge. Medical, psychiatric services, and prescriptions are paid out of pocket.  

Seabrook also offers an Addiction Treatment Services Family Program. Family visitation and participation are encouraged. Seabrook House offers a Family Education Program at the main campus beginning Friday night and ending Saturday afternoon. This program is free of charge. Visitation is on Saturdays only and must be pre-approved by the staff.

One thing Dr. Friedman stressed was the fact that there is no cure for addiction. Treatment will put the sufferers in remission, but it will be a life-long battle.  

How you can help

Dr. Friedman claims that intervention can take several forms. He told us to always expect the person with the problem to deny it. Admitting to actually having a problem is the hardest step in the process, and it often takes several attempts for them to finally own up to having an addiction. You should always confront their denial attempts with specific instances. Recalling specific situations adds to your credibility. Always present the examples in a loving fashion and make sure they know how valuable they really are to their loved ones.  

If they still won’t seek help, there are hotlines available to call:
National Alcohol and Substance Abuse Information Center 1(800) 784-6776
The Recovery Place 1(877) 575-4364
National Addiction Hotline 1(866) 301-0367   

Catherine Saunders is a staff writer and researcher at EndlessBeauty.com

Elvis Presley, an American legend, died on August 16, 1977, of a drug overdose. At the time, he was clinically obese. For the entire month of August, EndlessBeauty.com will be featuring stories with the theme ‘Elvis Month: Alcohol & Obesity Awareness.’ We’re bringing you potentially life-changing stories on the health risks behind alcohol use and obesity, and some lighter fare too. This is our last article for Elvis Awareness Month.