For decades, individuals who have tried to overcome alcohol addiction have aided their cause by smoking.  Cigarette smoking represented an alternative behavior to fill the void left when that person stopped smoking.  While the dangers of smoking are well documented, it was always seen as “the lesser of two evils” when compared to alcohol abuse.

But a recent study by the American Society of Addiction Medicine has found that individuals who stopped smoking during their alcohol rehab were more likely to recover vital brain functions than those who continued to smoke during this same period.

Michael Miller, president of the ASAM is seeing some encouraging news in the way rehab facilities are handling the situation.  “I would say that over half of chemical dependency treatment agencies now talk about nicotine, encourage patients to stop smoking and provide them assistance to stop, such as with nicotine-replacement therapy or prescriptions for Zyban or Champix,” the well-respected addiction professional says. “So that’s a tremendous advance.”

If you have drinking problem, or love someone who does, contact an alcohol rehab facility immediately and get life-saving treatment from addiction specialists who know how to save lives.

After an alcohol fueled binge with his 20 year old girlfriend, Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood entered into rehab for alcohol addiction, drug addiction and compulsive sexual behabvior.  The 61 year old is now facing legal troubles as his wife prepares to sue him for divorce.

Certainly living and working alongside Keith Richards for decades is not going to do anyone’s health any favors, but Wood has seemingly entered a cycle of addiction that, at his advancing years, will be difficult to dig out from underneath.

Couple that with the financial problems that seem to be right around the corner and, despite being part of the most popular band in the world, Wood’s golden years don’t look to be so sweet.

This latest trip into rehab is one of many - and one can only hope that he benefit from the chance to spend some time away from his party-heavy lifestyle.

When individuals such as Wood fall from grace, we tend to shrug our shoulders and say “told you so.:  This attitude however, will not suffice when helping one of our own friends or loved ones through a difficult alcohol or drug addiction.

The only way to make sure that an individual gets the help they need is to hold an intervention and get them into an alcohol or drug rehab program immediately where there are professionals who have made it their life’s work to get people clean and sober.