If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol addiction, know that help is available. Treatment, whether it be inpatient or outpatient rehab, can help you take back your life and move towards a healthier, alcohol-free future. Call to speak with a treatment provider today to get started.
How do I take care of myself?
Even if it has been decades since a person’s last drink, a person with AUD will often require vigilance and ongoing involvement with recovery groups or services to maintain abstinence. But, with engagement in addiction treatment services, a person can successfully manage their AUD and live an otherwise fulfilling life despite their diagnosis. It’s important to note that most researchers and healthcare providers have found that can alcoholism be cured alcohol consumed in moderation — one to two drinks for men and one for women — doesn’t typically affect memory. Because the support of family members is important to the recovery process, many programs also offer brief marital counseling and family therapy as part of the treatment process. Programs may also link individuals with vital community resources, such as legal assistance, job training, childcare and parenting classes.
What is an Alcohol Treatment Center?
- Though there may be no easy “cure” for alcoholism, or alcohol use disorder, the condition is treatable.
- For many people, alcohol seems inextricably linked with a social life.
- These facilities will provide you with 24-hour care as you withdraw from alcohol and recover from your addiction.
- Some people drink heavily all day, while others binge drink and then stay sober for a while.
- You may need to seek treatment at an inpatient facility if your addiction to alcohol is severe.
CT scans have revealed that atrophy, or wasting away of cells, commonly occurs in the brains of alcoholics. The earliest damage occurs in the frontal lobe of the brain, which is responsible for memory, decision making, behavior and executive function. If a person tries to suddenly stop drinking, they will begin to feel withdrawal symptoms that are very uncomfortable. Since they want to avoid the symptoms, they keep consuming alcohol. This largely changed after medical research was done on the impact that alcohol has on the brain. Each time a person drinks, it increases some of the neurochemicals in their brain that are responsible for controlling mood, such as dopamine and serotonin.
The Problem With Calling Someone an “Alcoholic”
It can be hard to identify the lines between casual and occasional drinking and unhealthy alcohol use including alcohol use disorder. Many treatment plans begin with a detoxification program to help treat your withdrawal symptoms after you stop drinking alcohol. Regardless of how the addiction looks, someone typically has an alcohol addiction if they heavily rely on drinking and can’t stay sober for an extended period of time. As defined by the American Society of Addiction Medicine, alcoholism – like other addictions – is a chronic brain disorder1. Similar to other chronic illnesses like asthma and hypertension, alcoholism is not a condition that goes away after treatment. Instead, alcoholism treatment is meant to help individuals manage the condition throughout their lives so they will not relapse to alcohol use.
What’s more, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), excessive alcohol use leads to over 95,000 deaths in the U.S. every year. Some people recover from AUD the first time they seek treatment, while others may require several treatment attempts. The road to recovering from AUD can be a long process that requires various treatments or therapies. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a mental and physical dependence on alcohol. While the recovery period may be challenging, it’s also filled with milestones that can transform your life into one that’s better than you could have previously imagined.
With treatment and support, many individuals are able to stop drinking and rebuild their lives. The consequences of alcohol misuse are serious — in many cases, life threatening. Heavy drinking can increase the risk for certain cancers, especially those of the liver, esophagus, throat and larynx (voice box). Heavy drinking can also cause liver cirrhosis, immune system problems, brain damage and harm to the fetus during pregnancy.
Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder
- Comprehensive treatment gives individuals the needed tools to stay sober for the long-term and enjoy productive lives despite the disorder.
- They’ll recommend treatments and resources to help you recover from alcohol use disorder.
- As an addiction tends to get worse over time, it’s important to look for early warning signs.
- It’s a pretty well-known fact that alcohol often affects people more strongly when they’re above sea level.
- They can help answer questions, provide encouragement, and direct you to support resources.
Despite this information, a person is most at risk from suffering a relapse in the first 12 months following treatment. Attending an alcohol support group, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, allows individuals to share experiences with others who have been through the treatment process too. Self-help groups usually consist of a small group of recovering alcoholics and a professional therapist. Some states also offer recovering alcoholics the chance to stay in something known as a sober house. This is a residence where individuals can stay if they live in an environment where alcohol is commonplace.
- Their metabolism also slows down, so the alcohol stays in their system for longer.
- Today, we know that the symptoms of alcoholism can vary from one person to the next.
- But when you add the effects of heavy alcohol use, memory loss can be very serious.
In order to be diagnosed with AUD, a person must experience any two of these symptoms within the same 12-month period. If you drink more alcohol than that, consider cutting back or quitting. You can prevent alcohol use disorder by limiting your alcohol intake. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, women shouldn’t drink more than one drink per day, and men shouldn’t drink more than two drinks per day. Typically, a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder doesn’t require any other type of diagnostic test.
Don’t forget to take care of yourself, too; consider seeking out your systems of support or even medical help if you’re having trouble. There are effective ways to treat this disease and steps you can take to help a loved one enter recovery. This article discusses alcohol use disorder symptoms and strategies for treatment and intervention. “Alcoholism” and “alcohol abuse” are terms people use when referring to alcohol use disorder (AUD), a widespread issue in the United States.
Even if you answered “no” to all of the above questions, if you encounter drinking-related problems with your job, relationships, health or the law, you should seek professional help. The effects of alcohol abuse can be extremely serious — even fatal — both to you and to others. Although some people are able to recover from alcoholism without help, the majority of alcoholics need assistance.