This guide was intended for individuals, as well as their families and friends seeking options to deal with alcohol-related issues. This guide is designed to serve as an information source to know what treatment options are available and the factors to take into consideration when deciding between them. Note: NIAAA recently unveiled their NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator. This tool online helps you locate the best treatment for you, and within your reach. It will guide you step-by-step to find a highly skilled professional provider of treatment.
When is the Right Time to Get Treatment?
The effects of alcohol-related issues – caused by drinking excessively quickly, too often, or excessively–are one of the biggest health problems facing the public within the United States.
A lot of people have trouble controlling their drinking at least once throughout their life. There are more than 14 million people 18 and above suffer from an alcohol-related disorder (AUD), and one in 10 children reside in a household with parents who have had a problem with drinking.
Does treatment work?
The positive side is that, regardless of how serious the issue may appear the majority of people suffering from AUD will get some sort of treatment.
Studies show that approximately one third of people diagnosed with alcohol-related issues have no symptoms a year after. A lot of people significantly reduce their alcohol consumption and have less alcohol-related issues. Let see Pompano Beach Alcohol Addiction
An indication for an Alcohol Problem
Alcohol abuse disorder (AUD)is a medical condition that is diagnosed by doctors when drinking by a patient can cause harm or distress. The severity of the condition can vary from mild to serious and is diagnosed when a person responds “yes” to at least two in the questions below.
Over the course of the year, did you:
- Did you have a time when you ended in drinking more or for longer than you had planned?
- Many times, I’ve tried to reduce or quit drinking or quit drinking but could not?
- Did you spend some time drinking? Or spent a significant amount of hours drinking? Are you sick or getting from the effects?
- Are you experiencing a desire–a urgent need or desire to drink?
- Did you find that being sick or drinking from alcohol frequently caused problems in taking charge for your house as well as your your family? Or caused job troubles? Or school problems?
- You continued to drink even when it caused problems in you loved ones or your friends?
- Did you give an up or reduced to activities which were important or interesting to you or that brought you pleasure to drink?
- There have been numerous times when you’ve been involved in situations after drinking alcohol that increase your risk of injury(such as swimming, driving, using machines, walking in an area that is dangerous or having a sexual encounter that is unsafe)?
- Did you continue to drink despite the fact that it made you feel anxious or depressed or causing an existing health issue? or after experiencing an mental blackout?
- Did you have you to consume more alcohol than you used to in order to have the effect you wanted? Perhaps you noticed that your regular amountof drinks produced significantly less impact as before?
- It was discovered that as your effects from alcohol began diminishing the effects of alcohol were fading away, you were experiencing withdrawal symptoms that included shaking, insomnia and irritability, anxiety or depression, restlessness sweating, nausea? or sensed things that weren’t present?
If you exhibit any of these signs, your drinking habits could be cause for anxiety. The more you exhibit symptoms and the more pressing the need to change. A doctor can perform a formal evaluation of your symptoms to determine whether you have AUD.
Treatment Options
When asked how issues with alcohol are dealt with, most people think of 12-step programs and the 28-day inpatient rehab, but not be able to name alternative options. Actually, there’s various treatment options which are available today, due to major advances in the field in the last 60 years.
In the end, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, and what could work for one individual could not be the best match for another. Knowing the various choices is a crucial first step.
Different types of treatment
Treatments for Behavioral Disorders
The aim of behavioral treatments is altering drinking habits through counseling. They are administered by health professionals, and backed by research showing that they are effective.
Medicines
Three drugs are currently licensed by the United States to help people quit or limit their alcohol consumption and to prevent the possibility of relapse. They are prescribed by a primary-care doctor or another medical professional. They can be taken on their own or in conjunction with counseling.
Mutual-Support Groups
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and other 12-step groups provide assistance from peers to those who are trying to quit or reducing their drinking. In conjunction with treatment provided by health experts, mutual-support groups be a beneficial additional level of assistance.
Because of the anonymity of mutual-support organizations it is hard for researchers to assess the success rate of these groups compared to the ones that are run by health experts.
Beginning with the Primary Care Doctor
For anyone considering seeking treatment, speaking with the primary care physician is a vital first step. He or she could be a great source of medication and treatment recommendations. A primary care physician may also:
- Assess a patient’s drinking patterns
- Help create a treatment plan
- Examine the overall health
- Determine if alcohol-related medications might be suitable
Patients are encouraged to speak with their physician regarding the best method of treatment for them.