Alcohol Addiction Treatment Centers and Rehab

1. What Are The Signs and Symptoms of Alcoholism?
2. Am I Addicted to Alcohol?
3. How to Encourage Someone to Get Treatment
4. Support Groups for Family and Friends
5. Alcohol Addiction Treatment
6. Finding The Best Alcohol Treatment

Is Alcohol Addictive? How Addictive is Alcohol?

The short answer is: yes, alcohol is most certainly addictive. The NIH estimates that in 2014:

• Over 17 million adults in the US qualified as having an alcohol use disorder (AUD).
• 1 in 10 children lived with an alcoholic parent.

However, not everyone who consumes alcohol is classified as having alcohol use disorder; being able to discern this fine line between use, misuse or abuse is quite difficult, and often leads an alcoholic to believe he/she does not have a drinking problem when, in fact, the opposite is true.

Alcohol consumption can elicit a subjective warm and tingly sensation, and further make the user feel confident - in a state of mild euphoria and decreased inhibitions. The majority of those who struggle with alcohol abuse continue to drink despite the consequences in an attempt to continue to achieve these feelings, which are caused at the cellular level by increased gamma-Aminobutyric acid (or GABA) activity. GABA is a neurotransmitter with an overall inhibitory effect on the nervous system (acting as a central nervous system depressant).

What Are The Signs and Symptoms of Alcoholism?

The signs of alcohol addiction, as described in detail in the DSM-V, are numerous, and all involve a basic disruption to the users life. A few of these signs include:

• Drinking more or for longer periods of time than originally intended.
• Past attempts to stop drinking on more than one occasion without success.
• Spending copious amounts of time drinking alcohol or obtaining alcohol.
• Craving.
• Withdrawal symptoms upon stopping alcohol consumption.
• Drinking increasingly more alcohol to achieve to same effects.
• Drinking interferes with family life, work, school, and other relationships.
• Sacrificing other enjoyable activities to drink alcohol.
• Continuing to drink despite feeling guilty or sick after drinking.

Alcohol consumption can produce physiological and psychological dependence in users:

• Physiological dependence is present when the user experiences withdrawal symptoms upon stopping alcohol consumption.
• Psychological dependence is a bit more subjective and varies between users.
  • Typically, a user is psychologically dependent when he/she cannot normally function without consuming alcohol, or he/she must use alcohol to dull emotional pains in order to feel "normal".

Am I Addicted to Alcohol?

How to Encourage Someone to Get Treatment

Being supportive is one of the most important aspects of attempting to get a friend or family member the addiction help they need. It's also very important to educate yourself about the effects of alcohol addiction, to offer an informed perspective to your loved one when approaching him to discuss treatment. Your friend or family member needs all of the emotional support he can muster, and may greatly appreciate that you've taken the time to educate yourself about the disease process of addiction.

Remember, do not approach your loved one:

• When you are angry or upset.
• When your loved one is under the influence.

Approaching the issue with compassion and sensitivity is important.

Staging an Intervention

The Mayo Clinic offers some helpful advice for staging an intervention. As loving, compassionate family member/friend, it is your job to ensure that you are not angry or upset during the intervention, as this may deter the alcoholic (your loved one) from accepting the offer of treatment. Make sure to:

• Include family and friends who have a strong relationship with the alcoholic.
• Plan to exclude those who may not be able to stay objective and calm during the intervention; hysterical family may cause more harm than good.

Planning is key: make sure the right professional(s) are present, if you choose to have one (remember, these trained professionals along with non-family members can help keep the discussion focused). Your loved one must be sober during the intervention in order to make the best decision possible. Because your loved one may not recognize that they have a problem with alcohol, and may also be blinded to the negative effects the alcohol addiction has on the family; it is important for everyone present at the intervention to:

• Convey their feelings about the behavior of the loved one struggling with alcohol addiction.
• Make clear how the consequences of that continued behavior will impact relationships.
  • You must be firm about these consequences, even though that is one of the most challenging aspects of an intervention.

Part of the planning process involves determining a treatment option, with transportation available to that treatment option at the time of intervention. If, after all family/friends have presented their feelings and ultimatums, the alcoholic accepts the offer for treatment, follow-up is key. Make sure a devoted family member or friend is involved to increase the chances of the alcoholic staying in treatment and avoiding relapse.

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Remain Calm

Do not stage an intervention angry, and avoiding involving family friends who are unable to stay calm.

Plan

Make sure your loved one is sober, if possible, and clearly convey the consequences of his or her continued behavior.

Determine Treatment Options

Make sure treatment is part of your planning. Have transportation available for immediate transfer to treatment.

Support Groups for Family and Friends

Alcoholism affects the whole family, not just the alcoholic.

It is completely normal for family members and friends to feel sad, depressed and overwhelmed while trying to support an addicted loved one. There is help available for family and friends: groups such as Al-Anon or Adult Children of Alcoholics are two options for family and friends, as is individual or group counseling. Remember, as the family member, you are not alone with your feelings and other family members would likely be willing to talk with you about your feelings and stresses.

Seeking professional help may benefit those who wish to develop the skills necessary to try to keep the alcoholic on track once they leave treatment. These skills may include:

• Relapse prevention techniques.
• Improved communication.
• Repairing relationships.

Alcohol Addiction Treatment

There are many different treatment options available for alcohol addiction, and they vary primarily by their ability to maintain one's current lifestyle during treatment. These options include the following types of treatment programs:

• Inpatient treatment.
• Outpatient treatment.
• Residential (private, luxury, and executive) treatment.

Depending upon the person and their family needs, outpatient treatment that allows the patient to maintain his current job may be the best fit. Meanwhile, someone whose home life contributes greatly to their alcohol addiction may benefit immensely from residential treatment. Residential rehab removes the alcoholic from their home environment with the hope of removing cues for craving and factors that motivate the user to drink alcohol in the first place. Traditionally, abstinence from drinking alcohol is the goal of treatment; however, current studies have suggested that low-risk drinking (what non-alcoholics normally view as "social" drinking) may be an acceptable treatment outcome.

• 
  Inpatient therapy normally occurs in a hospital setting, and is recommended for alcoholics who have concurrent medical conditions or are expected to have a severe withdrawal syndrome (including delirium tremens and/or seizures) upon stopping alcohol use. Inpatient treatment typically only lasts a few days or up to one week, depending upon the individual conditions. After inpatient therapy (if required), many alcoholics continue treatment in an outpatient setting.
• 
  Outpatient settings can include behavioral therapies, medication, or group support therapies (or a combination of the three). Behavioral therapies usually involve a psychiatrist or psychologist, and may be focused on changing drinking practices or constructing a strong support system. Medications may help some drinkers reduce cravings to consume alcohol though these medications are not effective for everyone and must be prescribed carefully by a physician. The most common example of a group therapy is Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), which implements a peer leader model to support members in abstaining from or reducing drinking alcohol. Outpatient treatment options are best for alcoholics who must retain their job during treatment, or who have a strong support system at home and do not require a residential setting.
• 
  Residential therapy involves an alcoholic moving into a rehabilitation-like facility where he is surrounded by peers fighting some of the same problems. An important distinction between inpatient and residential programs is the typical length of treatment: inpatient is usually thought of as a short-term option, usually only for detoxification and monitoring for concurrent medical conditions. On the other hand, residential treatment is more long-term (normally beginning with 28 days, and extended from there based upon the patient's needs), with housing provided, and daily life outlined by treatment staff. Residential treatment may include behavioral and cognitive therapy, medications, and group support programs as part of the daily schedule. Residential programs may also help with job training and placement after completion of treatment, a benefit that is unique to this treatment type.

Finding The Best Alcohol Treatment

Find a Meeting Meetings are great resources for those struggling with alcohol addiction to maintain recovery. Find a meeting today.

The best place to begin looking into alcohol treatment is with your primary care physician. They can recommend different treatment options and medications based on your current needs. Remember, a high price tag doesn't always equate to the best treatment option. Look for treatment options that work with:

• Your schedule.
• Your goals.
• Your lifestyle.

Make sure the program you choose has the appropriate credentials and a good follow-up protocol.

It's never too late to reclaim your life. Call 1-888-993-3112Who Answers? for confidential assistance in choosing a treatment option that is a perfect fit.