Alcohol Use Disorder: Get the Treatment You Need
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A word of appreciation or acknowledgment of a success can go a long way. You will want to understand what will be asked of you in order to decide what treatment best suits your needs. Ultimately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and what may work for one person may not be a good fit for someone else.
Charitable Care & Financial Assistance
You’re likely to start by seeing your primary health care provider. If your provider suspects that you have a problem with alcohol, you may be referred to a mental health provider. By classifying alcoholism as a chronic disease, it means that alcoholism is viewed as a progressive, long-lasting illness where there is no cure. No cure, however, does not mean there is no hope for long-term recovery. Like other chronic diseases, such as diabetes or heart disease, alcoholism and its symptoms can be successfully managed with proper treatment.
Individuals who rely on alcohol to relax or reduce their anxiety are at elevated risk for developing alcoholism. There is no way around the fact that, if you want to beat alcoholism, you are going to need to stop drinking. The first step to any treatment will be detox, which you can do at home, as part of an outpatient service, or within a treatment centre. It is generally recommended that you do not attempt to detox without medical supervision, as this can be dangerous or even life threatening, depending on how severe your addiction is.
Do You Have to Be an Alcoholic to Experience Problems?
Outpatient Rehabilitation – During intensive outpatient treatment, clients live at home or in a sober living residence which can help keep them accountable for their recovery commitment. Our staff coordinates with local, reputable sober living homes to ensure that our clients are living in a safe place and that their needs are being met, even when they are not at clinical sessions. However, with the right approach, individuals can minimize the risk of relapse and live a healthy, sober life. Support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or SMART Recovery offer peer support and guidance for those in recovery. These groups often emphasize the importance of personal responsibility and offer practical tools for staying sober.
When Is It Time for Treatment?
If you think that you or someone you know might have an alcohol problem, it is important to see a doctor or other health care provider right away. They can help you determine if a drinking problem exists and plan the best course of action. Alcohol abuse and alcoholism cut across gender, race and nationality. In the United States, 17.6 million people — about one in every 12 adults — abuse alcohol or are alcohol dependent. In general, more men than women are alcohol dependent or have alcohol problems. And alcohol problems are highest among young adults ages 18 to 29 and lowest among adults ages 65 and older.
With these and other treatments and therapies, alcoholism can be managed throughout a person’s life, decreasing the chances of relapse and improving the person’s quality of life. In recovery, the person’s relationships with others can be improved as they maintain the ability to keep up with daily responsibilities and activities. If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol addiction, professional help is just a call away. Contact First City Recovery what is alcoholism today to begin your journey toward recovery and a healthier future.
- If your health care provider concludes that you may be dependent on alcohol, he or she may recommend that you see a specialist in treating alcoholism.
- These medications are prescribed by a primary care provider or other health care provider and may be used alone or in combination with counseling.
- Because alcohol mixes with body water, a given amount of alcohol becomes more highly concentrated in a woman’s body than in a man’s.
Our trusted and compassionate recovery advisors will provide a free, confidential consultation so you can decide on a course of action for treatment. In an alcoholic, the brain’s pleasure centers, as well as neurotransmitters that affect brain stimulation, are essentially out of whack. Although we can rebalance the brain’s neurotransmitters over time, the neural pathways that were created while engaging in addictive behavior (or, in this case, alcohol abuse) will always be there. Not too long ago, using a cell phone in a drug treatment program was a big no-no. People were worried that cell phones could be used to bring drugs into the facility or to plan to leave treatment early, against medical advice (AMA).
Medications
- He or she can help you determine whether you have a drinking problem and, if so, recommend the best course of action.
- Alcohol addiction often co-occurs with mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, or trauma.
- After the individual receives personalized feedback, the counselor will help set goals.
- If you are developing your own symptoms of depression or anxiety, think about seeking professional help for yourself.
- Recovery programs focus on teaching a person with alcoholism about the disease, its risks, and ways to cope with life’s usual stresses without turning to alcohol.
Scientists have found that having an alcoholic family member makes it more likely that if you choose to drink you too may develop alcoholism. In fact, scientists now believe that certain factors in a person’s environment influence whether a person with a genetic risk for alcoholism ever develops the disease. Depression and anxiety frequently occur along with an alcohol use disorder. It is very important to get treatment for such disorders if they are contributing to the problem. Primary care and mental health providers can provide effective AUD treatment by combining new medications with brief counseling visits.
Treatment Options & Programs
With your group, you can bond over shared experiences, spend time together, and create a strong support system. Outpatient programs for alcohol will often hold group activities in the same manner, simply condensed into a smaller portion of the day. The way beginning rehab takes place will depend on the type of treatment program you choose. After detox, you’ll meet with a counselor who will help you determine which type of treatment and setting is best for you. Most people will continue to meet with an individual counselor as well as participate in group sessions. Of course, depending on your situation, you may also be given individual therapy, in which you and a therapist talk through your issues and work on healthier solutions to manage them.
Many people find that a combination of treatments works best, and you can get them together through a program. Some of these are inpatient or residential programs, where you stay at a treatment center for a while. Others are outpatient programs, where you live at home and go to the center for treatment. An important first step is to learn more about alcohol use disorder and your treatment options.
Once all the information is considered, the doctor can decide on the best course of treatment for the individual’s needs. Like many other diseases, alcoholism is chronic, meaning that it lasts a person’s lifetime; it usually follows a predictable course; and it has symptoms. The risk for developing alcoholism is influenced both by a person’s genes and by his or her lifestyle. Contact your primary care provider, health insurance plan, local health department, or employee assistance program for information about specialty treatment. Here’s some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your health care provider or mental health provider. When you or your loved one completes an inpatient or outpatient alcohol treatment program, this is a time for celebration.