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. An important first step is to learn more about alcohol use disorder and your treatment options. Inpatient facilities tend to be more intensive and costly. Your healthcare provider can help you evaluate the pros and cons of each.
- Remember that your loved one is ultimately responsible for managing his or her illness.
- Write your drinking goal down and keep it where you will frequently see it, such as on your phone or taped to your refrigerator.
- These advances could optimize how treatment decisions are made in the future.
- It may help to seek support from others, including friends, family, community, and support groups.
Talk to your doctor to see of one of those might be right for you. This is a key step if your drinking problem is severe. Alcoholism is a common and different term for alcohol use https://ecosoberhouse.com/ disorder. Milder cases — when people abuse alcohol but aren’t dependent on it — are as well. The Navigator can help you find some mutual-support groups to consider.
Current Medications
While getting sober is an important first step, it is only the beginning of your recovery from alcohol addiction or heavy drinking. Today there are more options available for treating alcohol use disorder (AUD) than ever before. Decades of research have led to advances in medications and behavioral therapies to help people recover. Professionally led alcohol treatment now takes place in a variety of settings, including outpatient care that can help many people recover while still living at home. If you have no insurance or are underinsured, we will refer you to your state office, which is responsible for state-funded treatment programs. In addition, we can often refer you to facilities that charge on a sliding fee scale or accept Medicare or Medicaid.
Make a note about how you feel physically and mentally on these days—recognizing the benefits may help you to cut down for good. Write your drinking goal down and keep it where you will frequently see it, such as on your phone or taped to your refrigerator. Distance yourself from people who don’t support your efforts to stop drinking or respect the limits you’ve set.
Medications
For many, continued follow up with a treatment provider is critical to overcoming problem drinking. If certain people, places, or activities trigger a craving for alcohol, try to avoid them. This may mean making major changes to your social life, such as finding new things to do with your old drinking buddies—or even giving up those friends and finding new ones.
Many health professionals can play a role in treatment. Below is a list of providers and the type of care they may offer. Alcohol abuse and addiction doesn’t just affect the person drinking—it affects their families and loved ones, too. Watching a family member struggle with a drinking problem can be as heartbreakingly painful as it is frustrating. But while you can’t do the hard work of overcoming addiction for your loved one, your love and support can play a crucial part in their long-term recovery. Lean on close friends and family – Having the support of friends and family members is an invaluable asset in recovery.
Treatment for Alcohol Problems: Finding and Getting Help
We also offer a way to compare your options and see which one is best. Some people just need a short, focused counseling session. Others may want one-on-one therapy for a longer time to deal with issues like anxiety or depression. Alcohol use can have a big effect on the people close to you, so couples or family therapy can help, too. The Navigator helps adults find alcohol treatment for themselves or an adult loved one.
The more symptoms you have, the more urgent the need for change. A health professional can conduct a formal assessment of your symptoms to see if AUD is present. For an online assessment of your drinking pattern, go to RethinkingDrinking.niaaa.nih.gov.
The Navigator’s 3-step “road map” offers expert guidance to focus and support your efforts. We’ll help you learn how to find higher-quality, science-backed care https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/alcohol-help-now-where-to-get-help-for-alcohol-addiction/ that can raise your chances for success. Self-guided programs such as these can be added to an overall treatment plan led by a health care professional.