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Recovery Centers of America at St. Charles and South Elgin stress the dangers of alcohol during April Alcohol Awareness Month

ST. CHARLES, IL -- During April National Alcohol Awareness Month, Recovery Centers of America (RCA) at St. Charles and at South Elgin hope to raise awareness that one of the country's biggest health issue and third leading preventable cause of death is alcoholism, also known as alcohol use disorder.

"Alcohol is ubiquitous in our society, so we often forget how dangerous it can be to our health," says

Dr. Stephen Holtsford, RCA Medical Director at both the inpatient St. Charles and outpatient South Elgin treatment facilities. As a former ER physician, Dr. Holtsford has witnessed the ravages of alcohol on people and their families. "Long term alcohol use poses health effects including liver disease, stomach ulcers, pancreatitis, blood cell problems and cognitive decline," he affirms.

The effects of alcohol abuse can begin almost immediately and have long-lasting impacts if left untreated. It is responsible for more than 95,000 deaths each year in the United States, as reported by the CDC.

"Alcohol continues to be the most prevalent substance of misuse and addiction. We see patients across the lifespan, from teenagers to retirees suffering significant health effects and life disruption stemming from problematic alcohol use." says Karen Wolownik Albert, CEO of RCA at St. Charles and South Elgin. "We hope that Alcohol Awareness Month will be an opportunity to bring greater attention to the need for education, support and treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder."

About Recovery Centers of America

Setting a new standard for addiction treatment in the Chicagoland area, RCA at St. Charles opened in September 2020. Covering 125 acres and located less than 50 miles outside downtown Chicago, patients are able to receive convenient treatment close to home where family members can be involved in the treatment process, increasing the likelihood of maintaining recovery. The challenge of recovery can be daunting, and RCA sets patients up for success through inpatient and outpatient treatment supported by community-based resources and followed by social, educational and cultural events via a robust alumni network after treatment.

To help patients suffering from a substance use disorder find facilities that deliver quality treatment and care, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) recognizes Recovery Centers of America at S. Charles as one of the first facilities to receive the Blue Distinction® Center for Substance Use Treatment and Recovery (BDC Substance Use Treatment and Recovery) designation - a new designation under the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.

The RCA Outpatient Center at South Elgin, just ten minutes from RCA's St. Charles inpatient treatment center, is accessible to substance use disorder patients seeking general outpatient treatment as well as intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization care. Programs include group and individual counseling, family therapy, recovery seminars, and RCA Alumni Association support and wellness activities. A digital connection program for outpatient as well as inpatient alumni and others in recovery is incorporated into the treatment program using a new software app called ShoutoutTM to further support the treatment experience and the recovery journey afterwards. Family Services will also be available through the digital health platform including services focusing on siblings and children impacted by addiction.

An in-network provider for most insurance plans, RCA provides affordable, accessible and evidence-based treatment and clinical expertise to deliver quality care tailored to individual patients' needs in the Chicagoland area, as well as telehealth treatment services.

Recovery Centers of America (RCA) has ten inpatient substance use disorder treatment facilities in the United States. RCA facilities have been recognized as the best U.S. treatment facilities in the past two years by Newsweek Magazine. RCA's mission is to help 1 million patients achieve a life of recovery through evidence-based alcohol and drug addiction treatment. RCA also has outpatient programs in most states and opioid treatment programs in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as well as telehealth treatment services. St. Charles is RCA's eighth inpatient location, with others in Indiana, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and Massachusetts. Patients can obtain immediate substance use disorder care by calling 1-800-Recovery with complimentary transportation provided in most cases.

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