Many people who notice a decline in their health because of alcohol have been drinking for an extended period of time, but with alcohol use disorder (AUD), they can improve their mental and physical well-being, as well as their relationships and financial status. Alcoholism is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Alcohol consumption costs the United States over $249 billion each year in the healthcare and legal systems, as well as its impact on divorce rates and custody battles. Those who abuse alcohol do not necessarily care about these numbers but may be more motivated when it affects their family life. They may be facing the fact that they are about to lose their children or watch their partner walk out the door. It’s never too late to grab the reins and be the person who your family and you always dreamed that you would be, getting back to that happy person everyone loved.
How do I know if I need help?
Understanding your alcohol consumption can help lead you through the process of deciding to get help. Have you tried to stop on your own and eventually ended up going back to drinking, thinking it wouldn’t hurt to just have one? One that turned into two and more? You are holding down a job and relationship, so you convince yourself that you are fine. You then suspect that you really could need help when you are drinking more during the day. So, how do you know if you need to stop? AUD is graded based on the following 11 symptoms rated over the previous year.
- Drinking more than intended
- Trying but not being able to cut back on how much alcohol is consumed
- Lengthy illness because you drink too much
- Neglecting responsibilities regarding career, family, or school
- Lack of focus because you are thinking of that next drink
- Having problems with family or friends because of alcohol and continuing to drink anyway
- Lack of interest in activities once loved
- Risky or dangerous situations occurring because of alcohol
- Drinking despite health issues, depression, anxiety, and blacking out
- Increased tolerance to alcohol
- Having withdrawal symptoms if you try to stop
AUD is broken down into three divisions, which are measured according to the number of symptoms with which someone presents:
- Mild – 2 or 3 symptoms
- Moderate - 4 or 5 symptoms
- Severe – 6+ symptoms
What should I expect in alcohol use disorder treatment?
Deciding to seek out help is the first step in the process toward recovery. Despite the fact that alcohol is legal and readily available to everyone over 21, it is one of the hardest substances to stop using. Every treatment designs a customized plan according to your specific situation. So, what are some of the options?
- Medical detox
- This step is possibly the most physically demanding. Alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening and accompanied by symptoms that may include DTs (delirium tremens), seizures, irregular heart rhythms, and heart attacks. It is usually recommended that someone use inpatient alcohol detox so that it can be monitored 24/7 in case of the need for medical intervention.
- Inpatient AUD treatment
- Offers the most intense care with 24/7 monitoring and constant access to medical and emotional support. The patient lives at the facility through detox, rehab, and maintenance to receive medication management, holistic therapy, spiritual therapy, and/or individual and group counseling. This is the most recommended program since alcohol is so hard to stop using, as well as when there is a dual diagnosis, or mental component.
- Outpatient AUD treatment
- Outpatient treatment offers more flexibility when someone cannot leave behind their family or job responsibilities for any amount of time. They still have access and attend therapy sessions. This is recommended for those who are stable, have completed an inpatient program, and are highly motivated.
- IOP (intensive outpatient treatment)
- Recovering addict attends therapy several days each week. Provides an intensity level somewhere between those of partial hospitalization and inpatient programs.
- Partial hospitalization
- This can occur after an outpatient program. It is intense with appointments required during the day with medical professionals, counseling sessions, and class attendance. Patients can live in transitional housing, like sober living homes, or even at home if they are highly motivated.
- Aftercare and Maintenance
- It can be difficult to transition back into one’s life and restore relationships that were damaged with family and friends, so living in a place with others who are also trying to transition back into society can help. They support each other as they face similar issues.
What types of medications are used to treat AUD?
Some people have the notion that using one drug to treat another is just switching addictions; however, the prescribed drugs aren’t administered in a doseage that induces a psychoactive effect. They have been proven time and again to help addicts maintain their sobriety. The medications include:
- Acamprosate – alcohol cravings and symptoms of withdrawal are reduced
- Naltrexone – cravings for alcohol are reduced
- Vivitrol – a form of naltrexone, is injected once a month
- Disulfiram – when alcohol is consumed when taking this drug, they will get headaches, nausea, or vomiting in reaction to the alcohol.
What types of treatments are used?
Part of going through rehab is not only finding the help ridding the alcohol from the body safely, but also dealing with the reasons that might have made you drink in the first place, such as a mental illness or past traumas. Unfortunately, 50% of those who abuse alcohol have some form of mental illness. Accomplishing sobriety comes from a vulnerability and willingness to do whatever it takes to regain control of one’s life. This is done through:
- Learning coping mechanisms
- Depending on the individual’s personality, skills may include goal setting, behavioral change techniques, counseling, and self-help methods.
- Psychological counseling
- Group and individual therapy help put into perspective one’s relationship with alcohol and how to give it less importance. Counseling can also include family or couples. A support system is essential to a higher success rate of maintaining sobriety.
- Attention to what makes a person who they are. There are a variety of treatment centers for all walks of life:
It may be overwhelming at first when someone is considering all the options that they have for choosing an alcohol treatment center when they have alcohol use disorder. What they need to focus on is that there is always hope and compassionate help can be found. Making sure that you are surrounded by things that make you happy, such as a Christian based program for the faithful, can help motivate someone to pick the path that is better for their mental and physical health. The proof is overwhelming that an adequate support system will help limit the number of relapses, as well as help an addict control their cravings. It has also been proven that alcoholics who are treated with respect and understanding respond to treatment options much better. It may be a long road, but it will be worth it when someone goes through an AUD treatment program and achieves control over their addiction.
