What are the basics about alcohol treatment?

If you or someone you love is battling alcohol use disorder, it can feel like there is no hope or end in sight. Thankfully, you and those you love do not need to experience this alone. There are a lot of treatment options available that can help you and those you love to recover from alcoholism and start living a healthy life. Here are some basic facts about alcohol treatment.

Factors That Influence Recovery

Several factors can influence your recovery. These include your motivation, medical history, and the support system you have. Treatment centers allow you to go through the recovery process supported by medical specialists who understand the rehabilitation process.

Alcohol treatment centers are staffed with experienced professionals who serve as guides walking you through the recovery process. It starts with detox and continues with getting help from professionals you interact with during rehabilitation. They are a support system available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They are the people who will celebrate each success you have and walk you through any challenges.

Overcoming alcoholism is not something that happens overnight. It is a continued process. Less than 50% of people relapse if they can achieve sobriety for one year. That number drops to 15% after five years of sobriety.

After completing an outpatient or inpatient treatment program, you have the best chance of long-term sobriety. Once treatment is done, local support groups and continued counseling can give you and those you love the strength to stay sober.

When you join a treatment program, you are making an investment today that will pay dividends for years to come. It will not only benefit your life, but it will also benefit the lives of those around you.

When Should Treatment Start?

Before a person can start the treatment process, they have to understand their condition and need to have a desire to stop drinking. This is the realization that some people come to on their own. Other people may need encouragement from friends and family through an intervention. Intervention is where those closest to the person battling addiction openly yet lovingly express their concerns about the person’s bad drinking habits. Interventions are designed to start the discussion and direct the suffering individual to available treatment options.

It may be time for you or a loved one to seek a treatment program if you see signs like:

  • Frequent binge drinking
  • Poor performance at school or work
  • Acts of crime or violence
  • Decreased interest in friends or hobbies

There is no right or wrong time to get treatment for alcohol use disorder. However, the longer it’s left untreated, the more serious mental and physical health problems and financial- and relationship-related issues can become. The sooner you or the person you love gets help, the better their chance of long-term sobriety.

Treatment Options Available

Making the decision to get help for alcoholism is a major step. To do so, you need to understand the services offered along the way. Many comprehensive programs offer a holistic approach to curing not just alcohol use but the person as a whole. The following are some of the aspects of treatment.

Detox

Detox is the first step to treat alcoholism. It’s also one of the most difficult. You might feel withdrawal symptoms a couple of days after you quit drinking. Detox should never be attempted without the assistance of trained professionals. In a treatment center, people are helped to go through the detox process in a dignified and safe way.

Inpatient Rehabilitation

An inpatient rehab facility offers structured treatment to help a person overcome alcoholism. These programs can last between 30 and 90 days. Treatment is provided by professionals around the clock. The goal is to prepare a person for life after rehab.

Alcohol Counseling

Meeting with an alcohol counselor is key to recovery. Counseling opens lines of communication that are beneficial when things are going well and when things are not going so well. In counseling, a person learns about themself, what triggers their addiction, and ways to avoid it.

Are you looking to break free from the grips of alcohol addiction? If so, contact us today at 833-846-5669. We look forward to helping you.