Also known as «alcohol counseling,» behavioral treatments involve working with a health care provider to identify and help change the behaviors that lead to alcohol problems. This guide is written for individuals—and their family and friends—who are looking for options to address alcohol problems. It is intended as a resource to understand what treatment choices are available and what to consider when selecting among them. For more information, please visit the NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator®, an online tool that helps individuals find the right treatment for them—and near them. The Navigator offers a step-by-step process to finding a highly qualified professional treatment provider. As a person progresses in recovery, they may transition from one level of care to another.
Naltrexone is available in the form of an oral tablet or injection. Vivitrol is an injected form of the drug that your doctor can give you once a month. This may be more reliable and convenient than oral pills, especially if you think you may forget or be Alcohol intolerance Symptoms & causes unwilling to take a pill every day. But keep in mind that support groups aren’t for everyone, and they may not be helpful for some people. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content.
Remember that your loved one is ultimately responsible for managing their own illness. If you have any of these symptoms, alcohol may already be a cause for concern. The more symptoms you have, the more urgent the need for change. A health care provider can look at the number, pattern, and severity of symptoms to see whether AUD is present and help you decide the best course of action. Instead, these are groups of people who have alcohol use disorder.
A therapist will also address the problem of alcohol triggers; this is something that triggers a person to use alcohol. Changing these behaviors is often difficult for alcoholics, as it usually involves avoiding places they used to drink or people they would drink with regularly. Three medications are currently approved in the United States to help people stop or reduce their drinking and prevent a return to drinking.
- Treatment for alcohol addiction is individualized, so each person’s care plan will depend on their unique needs.
- Seeking professional help can prevent a return to drinking—behavioral therapies can help people develop skills to avoid and overcome triggers, such as stress, that might lead to drinking.
- “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.
- Although many people are tempted to make other major life changes during this stage of recovery, such as changing jobs, experts recommend focusing energy on stopping drinking for at least the first year.
Recovery may improve resiliency to new addictions
Mutual support groups may be beneficial for providing a sense of community for those in recovery. Groups vary widely in beliefs and demographics, so advise patients who are interested in joining a group to try different options to find a good fit. A person with alcohol use disorder has come to rely on alcohol physically, psychologically and/or emotionally. The brain adapts to the presence of alcohol and undergoes persistent changes. When alcohol use suddenly stops, the body is not accustomed to being alcohol free.
Health Topics: Treatment for Alcohol Problems
Others are outpatient programs, where you live at home and go to the center for treatment. 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.
Groups for Family and Friends
Almost always, people feel nervous or defensive about their drinking, which is one reason this very common problem so often goes undetected or unaddressed. Therefore, primary care physicians often make a point of use time during a visit to provide education about drinking and its dangers. The most severe form of alcohol withdrawal is known as alcohol withdrawal delirium or delirium tremens, often referred to as the DTs.
Preparing and anticipating questions will help you make the most of your appointment time. For serious alcohol use disorder, you may need a stay at a residential treatment facility. Most residential treatment programs include individual and group therapy, support groups, educational lectures, family involvement, and activity therapy. If you or your loved one is ready to embrace sobriety, American Addiction Centers can help. With treatment centers scattered across the U.S., AAC offers all of the aforementioned care plus special programs for unique populations (e.g., Veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ population, etc.).
These medications are prescribed by a primary care provider or other health care provider and may be used alone or in combination with counseling. If your loved one is suffering from alcoholism, try to exercise patience while also making time to practice your own self-care. Like any chronic disease, recovering from alcoholism can take time and may not always be a smooth road. Although your participation in the process can be vitally important, you also need to take care of yourself. Programs such as Al-Anon, which is a support group for friends and family members of alcoholics, may be beneficial as you help support your loved one on the road to recovery. However, just as those with chronic conditions such as asthma or rheumatoid arthritis may have flare-ups of the disease throughout their life, for some alcoholics, relapse is part of the process.
Some people will go through periods where they remain sober, but then relapse. For people who have alcohol use disorder, stopping their drinking is an important first step. This process, however, can bring about the unpleasant and potentially serious symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. These include increased heart rate, sweating, anxiety, tremors, nausea and vomiting, heart palpitations, and insomnia. In more severe cases, people may also have seizures or hallucinations.