People who suffer from severe forms of alcohol and substance abuse may be required to undergo an individualized intensive program (IIP) for rehabilitation. It may last for as short as 3 months to a year depending on their condition as well as their response to the program and willingness to recover. Alcohol abuse impacts many different parts of the body—the brain, heart, liver, pancreas, and more—and can cause a variety of serious health problems. From dehydration, which occurs when you’re vomiting or have diarrhea and can’t keep water down.