The organization is dedicated to improving the quality of care provided to individuals seeking treatment for different forms of substance abuse. Through ASAM, you can learn about local treatment services, health professionals who specialize in alcohol recovery and the latest therapies that are available to heavy drinkers. People often abuse alcohol to ease the symptoms of an undiagnosed mental health problem, such as depression or anxiety. As you seek help for alcohol addiction, it’s also important to get treatment for any other psychological issues you’re experiencing. Your best chance of recovery is by getting combined mental health and addiction treatment from the same treatment provider or team. Alcohol rehab is often the only way that an individual who’s struggling with addiction can get help.

Benzodiazepines are the primary medication used for alcohol detoxification. These medications assist with increased relaxation and sedation, like alcohol, while preventing risky medical conditions such as seizures from developing. Due to the high risk of addiction to Benzodiazepines, they are usually not offered past the detox stage.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Treatment

We usually experience failures along the way, learn from them, and then keep going. 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. Simply understanding the different options can be an important first step. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a medical condition that doctors diagnose when a patient’s drinking causes distress or harm.

Instead, these are groups of people who have alcohol use disorder. Examples include Alcoholics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, and other programs. Your peers can offer understanding and advice and help keep you accountable. Others may want one-on-one therapy for a longer time to deal with issues like anxiety or depression. Alcohol use can have a big effect on the people close to you, so couples or family therapy can help, too.

Medical Professionals

Are you seeking alcoholism treatment for yourself or a loved one struggling with alcoholism? Do you have a spouse, child, relative or friend who you suspect struggles with alcohol abuse? Alcohol rehab can help people ready to address their substance use disorder. Your length of stay in any alcoholism treatment programs depends on your progress toward your treatment goals.

• You may need inpatient medical (hospital), residential rehabilitation (rehab), outpatient intensive therapy or outpatient maintenance.
• Learning why a person turned to substances for relief can reveal a great deal about a person’s challenges in everyday life.
• You can also participate in a program that’s designed for the friends and family members of alcoholics, such as Al-Anon.
• Continuing medication management and therapy services for abstinence can play an important role in long-term recovery.

Seeking professional help can prevent relapse—behavioral therapies can help people develop skills to avoid and overcome triggers, such as stress, that might lead to drinking. Most people benefit from regular checkups with a treatment provider. Medications also can deter drinking during times when individuals may be at greater risk of relapse (e.g., divorce, death of a family member).

An Ongoing Process

A co-occurring disorder could either be the root cause of or could have led to the addiction to alcohol. Specially designed programs are necessary to successfully treat individuals who have an addiction or dependency in conjunction with a co-occurring mental health disorder. Outpatient alcohol treatment is the most flexible level of care.

Recognizing that you have a problem and that you cannot help yourself because addiction has altered your sense of self-control is the first and best step you can take toward living a better life. Drinking excessively can also increase the natural symptoms of anxiety, and can induce panic attacks because of alcohol’s ability to wreak havoc on the body’s physical and mental processing function. Individuals who are dependent on or addicted to alcohol can experience both short- and long-term mental, emotional and psychological effects of heavy alcohol use. In some cases, psychological problems like dementia, delirium and hallucinations can be brought about by continued, heavy alcohol use.

Boundary issues are common with family members, loved ones, friends, colleagues, and even acquaintances. It’s crucial to learn how to navigate boundaries appropriately, so you do not put yourself in risky situations that lead to negative consequences. Once the detox process is completed, the individual can live in residential treatment on-site in a substance-free location, typically for 30 to 90 days.

Drugs used for other conditions — like smoking, pain, or epilepsy — also may help with alcohol use disorder. Talk to your doctor to see of one of those might be right for you. Approximately 7.9 million Americans classify as dual-diagnosis (with any substance and any disorder).

Contact a treatment provider today to learn more about treatment options that can be the solution you need. An aftercare plan is a preplanned guide for the next steps in early recovery. This plan is often created by the individual and their clinical team, which usually includes their medical providers and counselors to ensure that all needs are being met after leaving treatment. Alcohol addiction https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/alcohol-help-now-where-to-get-help-for-alcohol-addiction/ remains one of the most common substance use disorders in the United States, with almost a quarter of the adult population meeting the criteria for an alcohol use disorder (AUD). Fortunately, the amount of treatment options for alcohol addiction has increased significantly in recent years to help assist with this growing concern. Diagnosis is based on a conversation with your healthcare provider.