Here are eight science-backed reasons to consider quitting alcohol for good, or at least scaling back drinking considerably to less than one drink per day. We also recommend building strong relationships with people who can help you if you feel defeated or tempted to relapse. This is one advantage of meeting with a support group frequently, as the others in the meeting can empathize with you and help you find better ways to manage your struggles.
Alcohol Increases Cancer Risk — Even at Low Levels, Quitting Alcohol Reduces That Risk
- The point of a rehab centre is to make the detox stage a permanent state of being.
- Our comprehensive treatment programs are designed to provide individuals with the tools they need to achieve and maintain long-term sobriety.
- Moderate alcohol use — up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women and older people — is not harmful for most adults.
- Certain medications may also be used, particularly during the alcohol detox stage, to help reduce cravings and manage alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
- Under some circumstances, even social or moderate drinking is dangerous — for example, when driving, during pregnancy or when taking certain medications.
As tough as detox can be, it is almost impossible to stay clean without further therapy and support. Rehab can last anything from 30 days to 90 days, depending on the severity of your condition and your specific requirements. It is an intense, structured experience in which you live with other addicts and take part in group counselling, as well as one-on-one sessions.
Research shows that the risk for developing alcoholism does indeed run in families. The genes a person inherits partially explain this pattern, but lifestyle also is a factor. Currently, researchers are working to discover the actual genes that put people at risk for alcoholism. Your friends, the amount of stress in your life and how readily available alcohol is also are factors that may increase your risk for alcoholism.
Science-Backed Health Reasons For Quitting Alcohol Now
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. With treatment and support, many individuals are able to stop drinking and rebuild their lives. 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 alcohol treatment services, a person can successfully manage their AUD and live an otherwise fulfilling life despite their diagnosis.
Inpatient Alcohol Rehab
“No thanks.” Choosing health over habits — because saying no to alcohol is saying yes to better … Screening is important, because early detection and treatment can prevent dangerous complications. If you do feel the urge to relapse, reach out to your therapist, sponsor or sober mentor (if applicable), a friend, or a family member. There’s no shame in having the urge to relapse, but telling someone sooner rather than later will allow them to get you the help you need. After completing treatment, the thought of relapsing can be scary. Many people fear that relapsing means they have undone all of the hard work previously done in treatment and that they will never achieve sobriety again.
Alcohol Treatment Options
A medically managed detox conducted at an addiction treatment center or hospital offers services and medications that may minimize withdrawal symptoms and reduce the risk of relapse during detox. Enrolling in medical detox for AUD can prevent serious symptoms and the risk of death when quitting alcohol use. If https://scienceofbiogenetics.com/articles/understanding-the-role-of-genetic-testing-in-detecting-mental-illness-unraveling-complex-neurological-patterns-for-enhanced-diagnosis-and-treatment your loved one is suffering from alcoholism, try to exercise patience while also making time to practice your own self-care.
Nevertheless, alcohol abuse can result in severe risks to physical and mental health, and to the individual’s relationships, responsibilities, and other pursuits. As described by the West Virginia University School of Public Health, even in the short-term, alcohol use has a high risk of injury and other dangers. The inability to stop or control drinking can throw lives into chaos and do serious harm to relationships and the person’s ability to live a productive, healthy life.
The following services can help individuals manage their alcoholism and minimize the likelihood of relapse. If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol addiction, professional help https://thestillroomblog.com/tag/illness/ is just a call away. Contact First City Recovery today to begin your journey toward recovery and a healthier future. Continuing care and support after the initial treatment phase are crucial for long-term recovery. That is why Primrose Lodge offers all our clients free weekly group therapies for the first year after they leave alcohol rehab.
- It is an intense, structured experience in which you live with other addicts and take part in group counselling, as well as one-on-one sessions.
- As more research emerges, we will better understand how to optimize their use in clinical settings.
- However, with the right approach, individuals can minimize the risk of relapse and live a healthy, sober life.
- The first important step for individuals who are suffering from alcoholism is to visit their own doctor.
“Is there a cure for alcoholism” is a common question among many, including those dealing with addiction as well as loved ones and friends who might be trying to help someone with the disease. Though there may be no easy “cure” for alcoholism, or alcohol use disorder, the condition is treatable. Ongoing treatment and continued recovery efforts can be helpful in successfully managing alcoholism and preventing relapse in the long term.
As an alternative, sometimes the drug disulfiram may be prescribed. Disulfiram does not reduce craving, but it creates an incentive not to drink, because drinking alcohol while taking it causes nausea and vomiting. An antiseizure drug called topiramate may diminish the reinforcing effects of alcohol. Alcohol treatment is an “off-label” use of topiramate, which means the FDA has not formally approved it for this use. Also not approved by the FDA, there is limited evidence that baclofen, a drug used to treat muscle spasticity, could help people quit alcohol use. A person with alcohol use disorder has come to rely on alcohol physically, psychologically and/or emotionally.
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. This usually applies to people who have other alcoholics in their family. According to the NIAAA, alcoholism can never be cured, but with http://boulderlibrary.net/a-healthy-house/chronic-illness-from-acute-exposure-to-virulent-mold-species.html the right sort of treatment and follow-up care, it can be effectively managed.
Recovery meetings are an effective tool to remain sober and focused on healing and are utilized in many inpatient and outpatient settings, as well as after official treatment has concluded. In these meetings, you’ll meet other individuals who are also recovering from AUD, share experiences, and provide support to help each other remain sober. These meetings can come in many forms, the most well-known one being the 12-step program offered by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Recovery meetings may be an effective tool in finding the support you need to manage your condition during treatment and avoid relapse after treatment has concluded. Knowing your disorder or disease isn’t curable can be challenging to accept, and the thought of seeking help can be daunting.
Treatment Options
It is very important to get treatment for such disorders if they are contributing to the problem. Alcohol use disorder increases the risk of liver disease (hepatitis and cirrhosis), heart disease, stomach ulcers, brain damage, stroke and other health problems. In an alcohol use disorder (AUD, commonly called alcoholism), excessive alcohol use causes symptoms affecting the body, thoughts and behavior. A hallmark of the disorder is that the person continues to drink despite the problems that alcohol causes. There is no absolute number of drinks per day or quantity of alcohol that defines an alcohol use disorder, but above a certain level, the risks of drinking increase significantly.
Inpatient rehab provides a safe place for people to focus on their recovery and develop life skills to support sobriety after completing the program. Depending on how bad the person’s dependency on alcohol is, these symptoms can range in severity. A detoxification usually requires a small stay in a hospital or rehabilitation center, although alcoholics who are considered low-risk may be considered for an outpatient detoxification. Certain safe-substitute drugs, such as benzodiazepine, can only be administered in a hospital. A detoxification is considered only part of the treatment, as it only deals with the physical dependency on alcohol. People often wonder whether it’s better to go to inpatient or outpatient rehab for alcohol.