Author: Gary Jackson
Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder National Institute
About 15 million American adults and 400,000 adolescents suffer from alcohol use disorder, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. But treatment and support are available to help those suffering begin to heal. Inpatient treatment centers typically have counselors on staff to schedule regular meetings with patients and monitor the alcoholic’s recovery. They typically work closely with other members of the inpatient staff, so they can address problems quickly. In some cases, they may learn about other aspects of your treatment through other staff members who are coordinating your care, so your treatment may be more thorough.
According to Kennedy, for those taking antidepressants, combining them with alcohol can reduce their efficacy. “In our society alcohol is readily available and socially acceptable,” says Jill Bolte Taylor, PhD, author of Whole Brain Living, explains. “Depression and alcohol misuse are often tied because we take a depressant to counter a chemical depression which only makes it worse.” We often seem to fight addiction with one (or both!) arms behind our backs.
What is an Alcohol Counselor?
In addition, an injectable, long-acting form of naltrexone (Vivitrol) is available. These medications have been shown to help people with dependence reduce their drinking, avoid relapse to heavy drinking, and achieve and maintain abstinence. Naltrexone acts to reduce the craving for alcohol in those who have stopped drinking. Acamprosate is thought to work by reducing symptoms, such as anxiety and insomnia, that may follow lengthy abstinence.
- Just like some people have a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease or cancer, others have a greater risk of developing an alcohol use disorder.
- Overall, gather as much information as you can about the program or provider before making a decision on treatment.
- Triggers become engrained in addiction, so it’s valuable to recognize these cues, avoid them, and replace them with new behaviors, such as calling a sponsor or loved one when craving alcohol, which can help avoid a relapse.
- If this is the case, diagnosis of any coexisting condition is essential for guiding treatment.
- Overcoming alcohol use disorder is an ongoing process, one which can include setbacks.
- Scientists are working to develop a larger menu of pharmaceutical treatments that could be tailored to individual needs.
It is rare that someone would go to treatment once and then never drink again. More often, people must repeatedly try to quit or cut back, experience recurrences, learn from them, and then keep trying. For many, continued follow up with a treatment provider is critical to overcoming problem drinking. Research shows that about one-third of people who are treated for alcohol problems have no further symptoms 1 year later. Many others substantially reduce their drinking and report fewer alcohol-related problems.
Is Counseling for Alcohol Abuse Effective?
Family relationships influence drinking behavior, and these relationships often change during an individual’s recovery. Alcohol abuse and alcoholism can worsen existing conditions such as depression or induce new problems such as serious memory loss, depression or anxiety. Once people begin drinking excessively, the problem can perpetuate itself.