Treatment For Alcohol Dependence
The most important starting point for treatment is to talk to your doctor about how to control your alcohol consumption. You can search for a doctor in your region here.
Treatment options depend on the strength of alcohol dependence. For low level dependence, your doctor might discuss the problem with you and suggest changes you can make or recommend counselling.
Stronger dependence will need different treatments to manage the effects of alcohol withdrawal. The treatments might include:
‘couldn’t Break Free’ Of Addiction
Brenda Eamer told CBC News she and Ryan went to the hospital in February 2021 because he knew he needed help.
He struggled with an alcohol addiction for over a decade. He got sober in 2017, but when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, addiction took hold of him again.
“He couldn’t break free of it,” his mother said. “He was struggling in the days before he went to the emergency room.”
Her son loved meeting people, Brenda said, and got a degree in psychology so he could dedicate his life to helping people.
He got a job at a personal care home, where the seniors loved him and called him “Vic” his middle name because to them, he was a friend, Brenda said.
His last few years were spent as a child support worker, helping troubled kids cope with their past.
But when he was 24, he lost a very good friend, and “he never got over that,” his mother said. Addiction eventually took hold.
He was the older of her two children. Now Brenda and her daughter, Melanie, are left to figure out life without him.
“It’s always been the three of us,” said Brenda.
How Alcohol Addiction Treatment Works At Our Facilities
Your recovery starts with a no-cost assessment. Assessments can be scheduled 24/7 by phone or chat, and we also take walk-ins at our Carrollton, TX facility 24/7.
Our assessment team will talk to you about your concerns, challenges, and physical symptoms, as well as answer any questions you may have. Our first priority is to make sure you are safe and stable. Well also ask you about any other mental health issues you may be experiencing, such as depression or anxiety.
Based on your assessment, our team of doctors, nurses, therapists, and specialists will work with you to develop a treatment plan specifically for you. If you decide to get help with us, your treatment plan will evolve over time as your needs change. Your personal care team will be with you every step of the way. Your treatment plan will likely include a combination of recommended therapy, medication management, and health and wellness education.
After completing your inpatient or outpatient treatment, we also offer Alumni Support Groups to help you continue your recovery.
Contact Us
Recommended Reading: How To Support An Addict
How Is Alcohol Use Disorder Treated
Theres no cure for AUD. The road to recovering from AUD can be a long process that requires various treatments or therapies.
Experts recommend that your individual treatment plan should potentially be based on your American Society of Addiction Medicine Criteria results, as well as personal circumstances, like:
- history of alcohol use dependency and alcohol withdrawal
- other medical or psychiatric conditions
- interest in treatment options
- physical and social environment
If you want to take steps to get treatment for your AUD, make an appointment with your doctor. Theyll likely ask you a series of questions to determine the severity of your dependency. These questions can also help them determine the best treatment option for your needs.
Your doctor or therapist may recommend one or more of the following treatment options:
- detoxification
- relapse prevention training, including therapy and behavior modification
How To Find Help For Drug Addiction Near Me
If you want to help your loved one recover and they agree to go to treatment, your next question may be where to find the drug addiction help your loved one needs. You might be in search of short-term detox programs near you or more long-term inpatient treatment. You can talk to a doctor or treatment specialist or research online resources including treatment directories. American Addiction Centers can help you find the best drug and alcohol treatment facilities near you and understand your options. Contact us for free at .
Read Also: How To Beat My Sugar Addiction
Educating Yourself On The Disease Of Addiction
Learn as much as you can about alcohol use disorders doing so will help you understand the disease of addiction, not take things personally, and make good choices when taking care of yourself or your loved one.4,7
Alcohol use disorders are complex medical disorders with many interrelated biological and environmental underpinnings. There is currently no cure for AUD, but it is treatable and can be effectively managed.10
However, this doesnt mean you and others cant implement and enforce healthy personal boundaries.
Last, focusing on your own needs is of the utmost importance when helping a loved one recover from unhealthy alcohol use. Al-Anon meetings, individual therapy or counseling, and support groups are all resources that can help you cope with your loved ones addiction or learn more about the disease of addiction.7
Attain more information on how to support yourself or your loved one struggling with alcohol abuse at AACs toll-free, confidential helpline for loved ones and family members affected by the disease of addiction.
What Not To Bring
- inappropriate reading materials such as materials with violent, pornographic or sexually-explicit content
- clothing or other items with logos or pictures displaying alcohol, drugs or profanity
- knives or other potential weapons
- over-the-counter medications such as cough syrup, Tylenol or cold remedies
- products containing alcohol, such as nail polish remover
- perfumes, air fresheners or other scented products that may affect the comfort of residents and staff who are sensitive to synthetic fragrances or
- large sums of money or valuables, as we cannot guarantee their safety.
We provide a safe, supportive environment to help you withdraw and recover from the effects of substance abuse or dependence.
Don’t Miss: Am I Addicted To Vaping
Staying Healthy And In Control
Cutting down or stopping drinking is usually just the beginning, and most people will need some degree of help or a long-term plan to stay in control or completely alcohol free.
Getting the right support can be crucial to maintaining control in the future. Only relying on family, friends or carers for this often is not enough.
Ask a GP or alcohol service about what longer-term support is available in your area.
Self-help or mutual aid groups are accessible in most areas.
Choose What Works For You
Look through the different types of resource and treatment options. Most are free, and provide information and confidential advice from trained professionals. You may want to contact just one provider, or try different services to find what works best for you. There’s also information for your family, whnau, or friends if they need advice and support.If you’ve been told that a service has a waiting time, dont let this put you off making contact. Other supports can be put in place so ask what you can try in the meantime.
Recommended Reading: How Do You Know If You Have An Addictive Personality
Signs Of An Alcohol Problem
Alcohol use disorder is a medical condition that doctors diagnose when a patients drinking causes distress or harm. The condition can range from mild to severe and is diagnosed when a patient answers yes to two or more of the following questions.
In the past year, have you:
If you have any of these symptoms, your drinking may already be a cause for concern. The more symptoms you have, the more urgent the need for change. A health professional can conduct a formal assessment of your symptoms to see if AUD is present. For an online assessment of your drinking pattern, go to RethinkingDrinking.niaaa.nih.gov.
Types Of Behavioral Treatments
-
CognitiveBehavioral Therapy can take place one-on-one with a therapist or in small groups. This form of therapy is focused on identifying the feelings and situations that lead to heavy drinking and managing stress that can lead to relapse. The goal is to change the thought processes that lead to alcohol misuse and to develop the skills necessary to cope with everyday situations that might trigger problem drinking.
-
Motivational Enhancement Therapy is conducted over a short period of time to build and strengthen motivation to change drinking behavior. The therapy focuses on identifying the pros and cons of seeking treatment, forming a plan for making changes in ones drinking, building confidence, and developing the skills needed to stick to the plan.
-
incorporates spouses and other family members in the treatment process and can play an important role in repairing and improving family relationships. Studies show that strong family support through family therapy increases the chances of maintaining abstinence , compared with patients undergoing individual counseling.
-
Brief Interventions are short, one-on-one or small-group counseling sessions that are time limited. The counselor provides information about the individuals drinking pattern and potential risks. After the client receives personalized feedback, the counselor will work with him or her to set goals and provide ideas for helping to make a change.
Don’t Miss: Can Hypnosis Help With Alcohol Addiction
Set Goals And Prepare For Change
Once youve made the decision to change, the next step is establishing clear drinking goals. The more specific, realistic, and clear your goals, the better.
Example #1: My drinking goal
- I will stop drinking alcohol.
- My quit date is __________.
Example #2: My drinking goal
- I will stop drinking on weekdays, starting as of __________.
- I will limit my Saturday and Sunday drinking to no more than three drinks per day or five drinks per weekend.
- After three months, I will cut back my weekend drinking even more to a maximum of two drinks per day and three drinks per weekend.
Do you want to stop drinking altogether or just cut back? If your goal is to reduce your drinking, decide which days you will drink alcohol and how many drinks you will allow yourself per day. Try to commit to at least two days each week when you wont drink at all.
When do you want to stop drinking or start drinking less? Tomorrow? In a week? Next month? Within six months? If youre trying to stop drinking, set a specific quit date.
Affordable Online Therapy
Nearly 3 Million people have turned to BetterHelp for professional online therapy. Take the quiz and get matched with a therapist that fits your needs.
Need urgent help? .
What Are The Signs Of Addiction
Those with an alcohol problem often experience ongoing troubles, such as arrests, a loss of friends, employment issues, and problems at home. They may find themselves drinking on the job and or making reckless choices.
Here is a partial list of the criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders for an AUD. This list is used for diagnosis and outlines some characteristic signs and symptoms of addiction:9
- Consuming alcohol in larger amounts or over a longer time span than originally intended.
- Trying numerous times to quit using alcohol unsuccessfully.
- Spending an excessive amount of time obtaining, using, or recovering from alcohol.
- Craving or having an overwhelming desire to drink alcohol.
- Failing to fulfill work and family obligations as a result of continued use.
- Continuing to drink alcohol despite knowledge that certain physical or psychological problems are caused or worsened by alcohol.
- Needing increased amounts of alcohol to achieve the desired effect.
Recommended Reading: How Do I Stop My Sugar Addiction
Make Treatment Readily Available
After expressing the way you feel in a conversation with your loved one, they may be open to receiving professional treatment for their substance abuse issues. It is helpful to research and outline possible treatment options before you speak with them about their drinking. Gather resources from doctors, counselors, inpatient alcohol rehab, and outpatient centers. You may even choose to talk to a treatment provider in advance about how the admissions process works, whether theyll accept your insurance policy , and how to explain the program to your loved one.
Going to treatment can be scary and intimidating. If you can tell them about the accommodations, visitation, and amenities ahead of time, they may be more willing to go to treatment.8 Learn more about what alcohol rehab has to offer through alcohol recovery stories from real people.
American Addiction Centers accepts many private insurance policies, as well as some Medicaid policies. To instantly discover whether you or your loved ones addiction treatment program may be covered by your insurance at AAC, enter your insurance information below.
What Is A Personal Intervention
If taking a step back isnt enough to help someone struggling with alcohol abuse, it may be time for an informal discussion, also sometimes referred to as a personal intervention.7
Many people struggling with an AUD are in deep denial about their addiction, making it difficult to seek help.
Personal interventions are a form of informal interventions and, in the right situation, may pose another promising solution to this denial. In relation to substance abuse, a personal intervention exists to intervene in someones addiction with the hope of that individual seeking immediate treatment help. Although the word intervention may seem daunting, these efforts towards mediation can mean something as simple as having a one-on-one conversation with your loved one.7
Although all interventions may seem the same, there are differences between interventions that are considered helpful and unhelpful. All interventions are considered a form of confrontation, and of course, some confrontations can be constructive while others may be considered unproductive by some. More helpful interventions on loved ones involved ones perceived as genuine that were delivered by trusted and respected individuals. Another common thread between helpful interventions includes the offerings of tangible solutions, such as clear steps to receiving professional mental health treatment.8
During an intervention, Partnership for Drug-Free Kids highlights the importance of:7,9
Also Check: How To Break Marijuana Addiction
Find Local Help Centers For Alcohol And Drug Addiction
Get help from local support groups and other services in your community:
-
Alcoholics Anonymous helps people with problems controlling how much alcohol they drink, and who wish to stop drinking. Locate a meeting center or an online support group.
-
SMART Recovery assists young people and adults with alcohol or other addictions through group therapy sessions. Go to a SMART Recovery meeting in person or attend an online meeting.
Where To Get Help With Alcohol Problems
Alcohol problems can be a tough addiction to overcome, and many people struggle to maintain their sobriety for years even if they are able to stay sober during that time. It is an endless fight for most who struggle with this vice, but there are resources available to you if you truly want to seek help with your battle, or help a loved one get help with theirs.
The hardest step to begin recovering from an alcohol addiction is to first realize you have alcohol problems to begin with. A good place to start is by being honest with yourself about how much you or a loved one is drinking.
Signs you may need help include:
- Always feeling the need to have a drink
- You are getting into trouble either at work, home, or school because of your drinking
- Friends and relatives are approaching you with concerns you are drinking too much
- If your alcohol problems are out of control and your body has become dependent on alcohol, quitting cold turkey can have dire consequences. While some people may need to quit drinking instantly, it is often best for heavy drinkers to gradually come down in moderation until they can quit altogether.
You can seek out help and advice from your local community alcohol service center, or seek out support groups or counseling to get you back on the track of sobriety.
You May Like: How To Stop Mastur Addiction Islam
The Signs Of Harmful Alcohol Use
You or someone you know might be drinking too much if they:
- have a strong urge to drink
- cannot control how much they drink
- feel physical effects like nausea, sweating, shakiness and anxiety if they stop after a period of heavy drinking
- need to drink more over time to get the same good feeling
- drink while alone, or hide alcohol from members of the household
- struggle with work, education or relationships for no obvious reason
- lie about how much they drink
- drink early in the day or are anxious about when they will be able to drink
- forget what they said or did while they were drinking
Local Addiction Treatment Services In Windsor
Aegis Health
Outpatient clinic. *Services in English, French, Polish, and Mandarin. All ages.
ACCESS County Community Support Services519-733-8983 ext. 2523 Mill Street West, KingsvilleOne-to-one support, advocacy, and community referrals. Ages 16-24.
Alcoholics AnonymousOffers individual and group support to individuals living with problematic alcohol use, or for their friends and family. All ages.
Brentwood Recovery Homewww.brentwoodrecovery.com2335 Dougall Ave., WindsorResidential addiction treatment with non-residential aftercare for men and women. Supports available for parents, family, & friends of persons challenged by addiction. Ages 16+.Non-residential addiction treatment program. Ages 13-15.
Can Am Friendship CentreAssists Aboriginal people living with alcohol/drug issues. *English and French. All ages.
Canadian Mental Health Association1400 Windsor Ave., Windsor
One to One Addictions Support program.Helps individuals who have a diagnosis of mental illness and struggle with an addiction. Ages 16+.
Concurrent Disorders Family Group.Provides support and education to individuals who have a family member living with mental illness and substance use. Ages 16+.
Sobriety Through Accessing Group Education and Support program.On-going support for those living with mental illness and substance use. Ages 16+.
Crossroads Centre for Personal Empowerment519-252-54561980 Ottawa St., Lower Unit, WindsorEducation, support, and counselling. Ages 18+.
Narcotics Anonymous
Don’t Miss: Therapists That Specialize In Addiction