Alcohol Addiction Facts, Addiction & Treatment

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism , nearly 14 million Americans abuse alcohol or are alcoholics. Several million more adults engage in risky drinking patterns that could lead to alcohol problems. The costs to society in terms of lost productivity, health care costs, traffic accidents, and personal tragedies are staggering. Numerous studies and reports have been issued on the workplace costs of alcoholism and alcohol abuse, and they report costs that range from $33 billion to $68 billion per year.

• When the clinician successfully alters the balance in favor of a healthy choice, the patient enters the preparation stage.
• Common complications of withdrawal are nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, which increase the likelihood that someone may dehydrate.
• Use explicit evidence; emphasize the consequences endured by the patient as a result of alcohol abuse.
• It would be appropriate to consider having a family member take the employee home.

This will give you an opportunity to learn more about yourself, as well as how to keep your body healthy both inside and out. When you’re struggling with an alcohol use disorder , you may feel as though there’s no end in sight, but you don’t have to suffer alone. There are many treatment options available today that will help you recover from alcoholism and get back to living a healthy and fulfilling life. Caring for a person who has problems with alcohol can be very stressful. It is important that as you try to help your loved one, you find a way to take care of yourself as well. It may help to seek support from others, including friends, family, community, and support groups.

Understanding Alcoholism

This medication blocks the “feel-good” response alcohol causes. Naltrexone may help reduce the urge to drink and prevent excessive alcohol consumption. Without the satisfying feeling, people with alcohol use disorder may be less likely to drink alcohol. Early treatment and intervention can help people with alcohol use disorder. While it’s up to the person to willingly start their sobriety journey, you can also help.

Support can come from family members, friends, counselors, other recovering alcoholics, your healthcare providers, and people from your faith community. Whether you choose to tackle your alcohol addiction by going to rehab, getting therapy, or taking a self-directed treatment approach, support is essential.

Is treatment for alcohol use disorder effective?

The condition can range from mild to severe and is diagnosed when a patient answers “yes” to two or more of the following questions. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ Research shows that about one-third of people who are treated for alcohol problems have no further symptoms 1 year later.

For example, women often do better at meetings for women only because the issues for female patients with alcoholism are different from the issues for male patients with alcoholism. A meeting in the suburbs might not be appropriate for someone from the inner city and vice versa. During the maintenance stage, motivational efforts are directed toward promoting hard won gains and preventing slips. Relapse prevention efforts are sustained by the patient’s appreciation of specific environmental and biobehavioral triggers, which contribute to recurrence. A number of serious problems are closely linked to alcohol intoxication. In fact, according to the NIAAA, intoxication is present in 30% of homicides, 22% of suicides, and 33% of car crashes. Any patient who presents an imminent safety risk to themselves or another person should be considered a candidate for hospitalization.

Groups for family and friends

Acamprosate works by helping the addicted brain function normally without alcohol. There are several medications used to treat the physical effects of alcoholism, such as cravings and withdrawal, during the recovery process. Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps you identify the feelings and situations that can lead to heavy drinking. It teaches you coping skills, including how to manage stress and how to change the thoughts that cause you to want to drink. You may get CBT one-on-one with a therapist or in small groups. Most people with an alcohol use disorder can benefit from some form of treatment. Medical treatments include medicines and behavioral therapies.

This is something that is best done in a medical setting where the patient can be closely monitored and have his or her medical condition evaluated. The alcoholic does not initially have to want to get help to go into treatment. Many people how to treat alcoholism go into treatment because of some kind of threat such as loss of a job or possible incarceration. However, even the individual that is forced will eventually have to personally accept the need for treatment for it to be effective.

Are Home Remedies for Alcohol Detox Safe?

If you know someone who has first-hand knowledge of the program, it may help to ask about his or her personal experience. Professionals in the alcohol treatment field offer advice on what to consider when choosing a treatment program. Alcohol-related problems—which result from drinking too much, too fast, or too often—are among the most significant public health issues in the United States.

• It’s important to acknowledge your ambivalence about stopping drinking.
• And you may need tests to identify health problems that may be linked to your alcohol use.
• Listen to the patient’s goals and point out discrepancies between his or her goals and actions.
• You may get CBT one-on-one with a therapist or in small groups.