
Stacy Mosel, L.M.S.W.
Stacy Mosel, L.M.S.W.
If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol addiction, treatment for alcoholism is an effective way to help you stop drinking and reclaim control of your life. You don’t need to continue to suffer from the negative effects of alcohol misuse. Continue reading to learn more about the signs, symptoms, and treatment methods that substance abuse treatment professionals commonly used to treat alcohol use disorders, and how you or a loved one can get help and start the path to recovery. Or call our alcohol hotline at
or get a textfor information on various treatment options.
Alcoholism, commonly referred to as an alcohol use disorder (AUD), is a medical condition characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control unhealthy alcohol use despite adverse consequences. Instances of alcoholism are frequently referred to as an alcohol use disorder, alcohol dependence, and alcohol addiction as well. This condition may cause downstream mental health and physical health issues as well as social issues and daily life problems. Brain changes resulting from long-term alcohol use or misuse perpetuate AUDs. Fortunately, there are many effective evidence-based treatment approaches to help a person recover from alcoholism which can range from a combination of rehab treatment, behavioral therapies, and medications to reduce or remove the urge to drink.1
A person is diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder by a medical or mental health professional (such as a psychiatrist). The criteria for mild, moderate, and severe AUD are created and published by the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5). A physician may diagnose someone with a mild AUD if they meet 2–3 criteria—or signs and symptoms—for an AUD, 4–5 criteria for a moderate AUD, and 6 or more criteria for a severe AUD occurring within a 12-month period.1
The APA’s diagnostic signs and symptoms of an AUD include:2,3
Take our free, 5-minute alcohol abuse self-assessment below if you think you or someone you love might be struggling with substance abuse. This evaluation consists of 11 yes or no questions that are designed to be used as an informational tool to assess the severity and probability of a substance use disorder. The test is free, confidential, and no personal information is needed to receive the result. Please be aware that this evaluation is not a substitute for advice from a medical doctor
Some of a person’s risk in developing an AUD depends on how much, how often, and how quickly they consume alcohol. Certain biological, psychological, and social influences are also believed to play a role in the development of AUDs. Some risks factors that may lead to someone developing an AUD may include:1,4
Certain psychiatric disorders, including major depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, and anti-social personality disorder are commonly associated with alcoholism, although whether or not these co-occurring disorders are a result of the alcoholism or contributed to the development of an alcohol use disorder is unclear and may differ per individual. Some studies suggest that schizophrenia, depression, and personality disorders are also predisposing factors for AUDs. This means that if a person has one or more of these psychiatric conditions, they may have an increased risk of alcoholism.
Although there is currently no cure for alcohol use disorders, AUDs (much like many other chronic, relapsing diseases) can be successfully managed and treated.1Professional treatment in a rehabilitation center can help people suffering with AUDs recover from substance abuse issues and remain sober. If you or someone you care about is struggling with an AUD, you will likely benefit from some form of treatment.
If you’re considering professional treatment for problematic alcohol use, you have a variety of options to treat your AUD, ranging from detoxification, to inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, behavioral therapies, medication, and peer support groups
Detox is an ideal first step toward recovery from an AUD, but detoxification alone is rarely sufficient in helping a person achieve long-term abstinence.7 Detoxification is a set of interventions that are designed to help someone safely and comfortably withdraw from alcohol, which will then position a person to transition into a formal and typically longer-lasting treatment program.
Before entering a detoxification center, a physician will need to perform a thorough assessment of a patient’s experience with alcohol abuse, previous withdrawal experiences (if any), and their medical and psychiatric history in order to determine their withdrawal risk. For the sake of this assessment, patients may also undergo blood tests and screening for the presence of any co-occurring mental or physical health issues.
Any person at risk of severe, life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, which include seizures and delirium tremens (DTs), should undergo detox in an inpatient facility, such as a hospital or other acute care facility, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).8
During the detox process, patients may receive medications to help them safely withdraw from alcohol. Some of these medications may include:8
Once detox is complete, a patient may transition to a suitable substance abuse treatment program.8 Depending on the severity of a patient’s addiction, their level of social support at home, and other factors, they may undergo inpatient or outpatient treatment for an AUD following detoxification and withdrawal management.
If you or someone you know is currently attempting to quit using alcohol, help is only a phone call away. At American Addiction Centers (AAC) we can answer questions you have and share more information about our treatment options. Give us a call today at
or get a text for information on various treatment options.
Inpatient or residential AUD treatment entails patients living and residing in the rehabilitation center 24/7. Inpatient rehab may vary in duration, sometimes consisting of short stays of 3–6 weeks which may or may not be followed by attendance at an outpatient rehab. Some people require longer stays of 6–12 months at facilities known as therapeutic communities (TCs), which provide highly structured programming and offer assistance with reintegration into their community.
Inpatient and residential rehab stays are beneficial because they remove a person from distractions and environments where they may be surrounded by people, places, or events that can trigger an alcoholic relapse, allowing them to focus solely on their recovery and building the necessary coping skills to live life as a sober person. Here, patients also receive around-the-clock care and monitoring, which helps address any post-acute withdrawal symptoms and offers necessary support.7
Outpatient treatment types offer different levels of support. In some cases, people transition from inpatient to outpatient treatment. These levels can include:8,9,10
If you are searching for detoxification centers, inpatient treatment, or outpatient treatment, AAC offers various rehab centers across the United States.
Inpatient and outpatient treatment both provide various types of behavioral therapies that are commonly used to treat AUDs. These therapies may include individual and group therapy sessions as follows:11
American Addiction Centers (AAC) is a leading provider of alcohol rehab programs across the nation. We offer a wide range of tailored, customized programs that are designed to address your specific needs. This includes programs to address co-occurring psychiatric disorders (like anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder) as well as alcohol addiction. Some of our research-backed and innovative therapies include CBT, motivational interviewing (MI), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), motivational enhancement therapy (MET), and more.
Some medications can help patients quit drinking, treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms, and prevent relapse. Patients may also receive different medications while in the care of an addiction treatment professional to help address symptoms of co-occurring disorders if necessary.
Some of the medications patients may receive in the care an inpatient or outpatient treatment provider include:8,12
Recovery from alcohol addiction is a lifelong process that does not end when treatment has been completed. After completing a rehabilitation program, many people choose to participate in some form of aftercare. Many of the aftercare methods below are extensions of similar or even the same types of therapy a person receives in primary treatment. Aftercare is of the word used to describe long-term, ongoing treatment that begins once intensive forms of rehabilitation end and is designed to provide additional support and help prevent relapse.13
Patients may choose to participate in one or many different types of aftercare, such as:13
© Scott County KYASAP. Designed by Due North Graphics