Does Insurance Cover Online Support Groups
The cost of alcohol recovery programs can create a barrier for some people to access support. While some insurance providers have limitations on covering rehabilitation centers, most support groups are completely free.
For people in need of a rehab program, many insurance plans have provisions that allow certain addiction treatments to be covered.
Insurance companies may provide full or partial coverage for inpatient rehab, outpatient rehab, and other additional treatment services, depending on the company and plan.
Substance Abuse And Mental Health Hotlines
National and local helplines offer free and confidential assistance to people experiencing a crisis related to substance use and mental health disorders.
Helplines you can call for support and information include:
- SAMHSA National Helpline1-800-662-Help SAMHSAâs helpline offers assistance for individuals and families facing substance abuse and mental health issues. Services are available in both English and Spanish.
- National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Hope Line800-622-2255The NCADD Hope Line provides professional assistance for people facing issues related to drugs and alcohol. Hope line operators can offer helpful information, assess your situation and determine the best course of action to help you overcome your struggles with substance abuse.
- The National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine800-950-NAMI NAMIâs free helpline provides information, referrals and support to people, families and caregivers affected by a mental health disorder such as addiction. The line is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST.
These helplines offer easy-to-access assistance to individuals who have nowhere else to turn in their time of need. The services provided by SAMHSA and NCADD are available 24/7.
Spiritual Recovery That Isn’t Aa
Addiction Free Forever outlines a method of treating alcohol dependence that emphasizes the spiritual but not the shame and powerlessness associated with the 12 steps The core philosophy behind this system is that you can’t expect someone to give up alcohol if they have nothing to replace it with. One of the best books out there on beating alcoholism dependence and one that has earned much praise from those it has helped.
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How Many Drinks Are In A Bottle Of Wine
A typical 25-ounce bottle of table wine holds about 5 “standard” drinks, each containing about 5 ounces. This serving size of wine contains about the same amount of alcohol as a 12-ounce regular beer or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof spirits.
Get to know what 5 ounces looks like by measuring it out at home. That way you can estimate how many standard drinks you’re being served in a restaurant or bar that uses large glasses and generous serving sizes.
Mixing alcohol with certain medications can cause nausea, headaches, drowsiness, fainting, a loss of coordination, internal bleeding, heart problems, and difficulties in breathing. Alcohol can also make a medication less effective. For more information, see Harmful Interactions: Mixing Alcohol with Medicines.
Examples of medical conditions for which it’s safest to avoid drinking include liver disease , bipolar disorder, abnormal heart rhythm, and chronic pain.
Among the dangers of underage drinking:
- Each year, an estimated 5,000 people under age 21 die from alcohol-related injuries.
- The younger people are when they start to drink, the more likely they are to develop alcohol use disorder at some point in their lives.
- Underage drinking is illegalan arrest can lead to losing a job, a driver’s license, or a college scholarship.
Even moderate amounts of alcohol can significantly impair driving performance and your ability to operate other machinery, whether or not you feel the effects of alcohol.
Causes & Risk Factors
People become addicted because of a combination of factors.
- Genetic factors: Some people may inherit a vulnerability to the addictive properties of drugs.
- How drugs interact with the brain: People use alcohol and other drugs because they stimulate the brain in ways that “feel good.” This immediate rewarding experience makes people want to repeat it. All substances with addictive potential stimulate the release of dopamine, a chemical in the brain that is associated with reward and pleasure.
- Environment: Peoples’ home and community and the attitude of their peers, family and culture toward substance use can influence whether or not they develop substance use problems. People who experience prejudice or marginalization may use substances to cope with feelings of trauma or social isolation.
- Mental health issues: More than 50 per cent of people with substance use disorders have also had mental health problems at some point during their lifetimes. When people have mental health problems, even limited substance use can worsen the problem.
- Coping with thoughts and feelings: People may turn to substances as a way of coping with difficult emotions or situations. They start to rely on substances to regulate their emotions
Risk factors for substance use problems in youth include:
- alcohol or other drug problems among family members
- poor school performance
The protective factors for substance use problems include:
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What Are Alcohol Self Help Groups
There are several self help groups dealing with alcohol addiction but probably the most well known and familiar to most of us, is Alcoholics Anonymous or AA. Founded in 1935 and not to be confused with the roadside rescue organisation of the same name, Alcoholics Anonymous has 2 million people worldwide involved in what they describe as a fellowship, who call themselves members of this established and very successful self help group. These are people who once drank to excess, who have finally acknowledged that they could not handle alcohol being part of their lives and now live a new way of life without it.
You Can Make A Difference To Help Someone With An Alcohol Addiction
You may have heard that it isnt possible to help someone with an alcohol addiction if they dont want your help.
Also, you may have also heard that you cant force someone to go to treatment for an addiction.
Its true that you cant physically force someone to get help for a problem they may not even be willing to admit they have. However, what you do and say can have an impact on your loved ones well-being.
Instead of dismissing your loved one or deeming their situation hopeless, you can be present and engaged with them.
You can demonstrate to them how their drinking has been spilling over into different areas of their life.
You can highlight to them how things have changed since they began drinking. Also, you can help them develop an awareness of these changes as well.
Finally, you can empathise with them while getting them to see that their alcohol use has become problematic for their well-being. However, its incredibly important to take care of your own well-being in the process.
Enforcing healthy boundaries
When you love someone who is facing an alcohol addiction, it can be incredibly easy to get consumed by their struggles.
However, it is so important for your own mental, emotional, and spiritual health to not get consumed by someone else’s addiction.
Examples of enabling an alcoholic loved one include:
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Prepare For Potential Alcohol Detox
People who are more dependent on alcohol may start to experience whats known as alcohol detox when they significantly cut back on or stop drinking. This happens as your body begins to remove alcohol from your system. Detox can bring on alcohol withdrawal symptoms such as:
- anxiety
- shakes
- sweating
Talk with a healthcare professional if youre concerned you may experience detox symptoms when quitting drinking or cutting back. Together, you can come up with a plan to get through it.
How To Accomplish Your Goals
After youve set your goals to either stop or cut back your drinking, write down some ideas on how you can help yourself accomplish these goals. For example:
Get rid of temptations. Remove all alcohol, barware, and other alcohol-related paraphernalia from your home and office.
Announce your goal. Let friends, family members, and co-workers know that youre trying to stop or cut back on drinking. If they drink, ask them to support your recovery by not doing so in front of you.
Be upfront about your new limits. Make it clear that drinking will not be allowed in your home and that you may not be able to attend events where alcohol is being served.
Avoid bad influences. Distance yourself from people who dont support your efforts to stop drinking or respect the limits youve set. This may mean giving up certain friends and social connections.
Learn from the past. Reflect on previous attempts to stop or reduce your drinking. What worked? What didnt? What can you do differently this time to avoid pitfalls?
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How To Approach An Alcoholic
It can be scary to think about approaching a loved one about their addiction to alcoholespecially if their alcohol use has affected you on a personal level. As difficult as it may be, try to focus on the present, and ask yourself how you can best support your loved one from this point on.
Before approaching your loved one, consider how they may be feeling and how they will receive your support. Try your best to remain calm and caring and never begin any conversation about treatment when your loved one is drunk. Use I statements, such as, I noticed, or I have been concerned, and avoid placing blame.
It is not easy for someone to admit they have a problem with alcohol use, so take time to prepare beforehand. You may want to consult with a counselor or a physician prior to the conversation or take advantage of the Community Reinforcement and Family Training model. CRAFT is a holistic approach centered on positive reinforcement that teaches family and friends how to effectively motivate and talk to a loved one about treatment. Other approaches you may want to consider using include:
As a concerned family member, friend, or coworker, you are in a position to positively affect change in your loved ones life. The statistics of alcohol use are grimthe CDC estimated that alcohol consumption shortened the lives of those who died due to excessive alcohol use between 2006 and 2010 by an average of 30 years.5
Looking For Rehab: What To Consider
If youre thinking about getting help for an AUD, there are some things to consider when looking for treatment:
- Medical detox. The withdrawal syndrome from alcohol can be very dangerous, sometimes inducing seizures and/or delirium tremens. If youre thinking of quitting alcohol, you need to line up a detox program. Some rehabs will include medical detox as part of the program.
- Qualifications of staff. When searching for programs, ask about staff credentials. This will help you to determine the quality of care youll receive and may help you feel confident about receiving treatment.
- Cost. First, start by asking if the program takes your insurance, if you have it. Have your insurance card with you when you call so that you have the necessary information at hand. You might also ask about options like financing, loans, and sliding scales .
- Amenities. When youre going to live at a rehab for 1-3 months or more, your comfort is important. If there are amenities that you know are must-haves, such as a private room, ask any potential programs if they offer them. However, do remember that your sobriety is priority #1, and benefits like pools, gourmet meals, and more are secondary.
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What To Expect At Smart Meetings
Much like Alcoholics Anonymous and all the other support groups for addiction, group meetings of recovering addicts are an essential element of this group.Meetings follow a set format as follows:
1. Welcome and Introduction
5. Pass the Hat
6. Check out and closing
Online meetings are also available for those who can’t attend a live one. They also follow the same set format as their offline counterparts.There is a fair degree of flexibility within each individual meeting and thus they can vary considerably.Essentially meetings are free to attend, however without donations they would not be able to function.There are over 800 face-to-face meetings worldwide, for more details and a worldwide meeting list. For a schedule of online meetings .
Provincial And Territorial Health And Support Services
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1-800-665-1822 |
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List of pharmacies that carry naloxone |
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1-866-531-2600 |
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1-866-797-0000 |
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1-866-925-5454 |
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1-800-661-0844 |
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How Do I Stop Drinking
Overcoming an addiction to alcohol can be a long and bumpy road. At times, it may even feel impossible. But its not. If youre ready to stop drinking and willing to get the support you need, you can recover from alcoholism and alcohol abuseno matter how heavy your drinking or how powerless you feel. And you dont have to wait until you hit rock bottom you can make a change at any time. Whether you want to quit drinking altogether or cut down to healthier levels, these guidelines can help you get started on the road to recovery today.
Most people with alcohol problems do not decide to make a big change out of the blue or transform their drinking habits overnight. Recovery is usually a more gradual process. In the early stages of change, denial is a huge obstacle. Even after admitting you have a drinking problem, you may make excuses and drag your feet. Its important to acknowledge your ambivalence about stopping drinking. If youre not sure if youre ready to change or youre struggling with the decision, it can help to think about the costs and benefits of each choice.
The Effects Of Alcoholism
Weve all drank too much beer or had one too many glasses of wine before. When this happens, the worst thing that happens is a nasty headache the next morning nothing a few hangover remedies cant cure.
Constant drinking, on the other hand, can easily ruin a persons life. Binge drinking doesnt just cause financial strain it pushes away family and friends, causes emotional distress and eventually costs you your health.
Has your alcohol problem caused you to lose people you love? Has your family and close friends stopped talking to you? The ones who are still around may constantly bring up your drinking habits or make you feel like an outsider because of your problem.
This type of emotional strain and isolation leads to depression. To deal with depression, people who already have a drinking problem tend to drink even more.
Lets break down some of the most common side-effects of alcohol abuse and alcoholism. You have probably already experienced some of these. Knowing the others will give you a clearer view of why you should learn how to stop drinking as soon as possible.
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Drink Moderately And Stay Healthy
Over 40% of Americans are clinically obese. Being overweight or obese can significantly increase your risk for medical conditions, such as stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. While drinking alcohol does not inherently raise your chances of obesity, many drinks are full of empty calories.Some drinks can contain up to 1000 calories. Drinking just a few of these beverages a week can ramp the risk of gaining weight. Additionally, some people try to restrict their diets throughout the day by eating less- so they can drink more. This strategy can lead to malnourishment, fatigue, and additional weight problems.But do not despair, as it is possible to continue enjoying alcohol AND lose weight at the same time. How To Drink While Dieting shows you how to drink, stay healthy and lose weight…. all at the same time. With over 200 information-packed pages, this is the definitive guide to drinking while dieting.
What Happens In Alcohol Rehab
If you suspect that you or someone you care about has an AUD, it may be time to seek professional alcohol addiction help. Research has shown that rehabilitation treatment can be very effective in helping individuals maintain a life of sobriety.14
According to NIAAA, about a third of people who successfully complete a rehabilitation program show no further symptoms 1 year later and have fewer alcohol-related problems.14
Depending on the severity of the AUD, individuals can enter into a number of alcohol rehabilitation programs including inpatient and outpatient settings.
Treatment typically involves a mix of private and group counseling sessions, behavioral therapies, medications, and support groups.
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