Where is alcoholism a problem

How to help someone else. If you are concerned that you or someone you care about has a problem with alcohol there is a lot of help available. Here you can find useful links and phone numbers to get the support you need. Arming yourself with strategies and tips can help you or a loved one take small steps towards big results.

Specialist Treatment. Home Facts Health effects of alcohol Mental health Alcoholism. Alcoholism: signs, symptoms and treatment Are you concerned that you or someone you know may be an alcoholic? On this page. What is alcoholism? What are the signs or symptoms of alcoholism?

How to treat alcoholism In many cases, the first step of treating alcoholism is acknowledging there is a problem. A doctor will diagnose alcoholism when three or more of the following have been present together in the past year 1 : An overwhelming desire to drink An inability to stop or to control harmful drinking Withdrawal symptoms when stopping drinking Evidence of alcohol tolerance Pursuing the consumption of alcohol to the exclusion of alternative pleasures Continuing to drink despite clear evidence of harmful consequences There are different treatments available for people diagnosed with alcoholism but a key stage of treatment is detoxification.

Ongoing treatment generally falls into one of two main camps: Psychological Psychosocial Psychological and psychosocial treatments can involve counselling to help you understand and change your attitude towards drinking. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy CBT can also be offered to help change negative thought patterns which lead to drinking. Mutual help such as AA help partly because of the new network of support a person gains and also because people adjust their thinking and their attitudes to themselves and others.

Pharmacological treatments i. What do I do if I think someone is an alcoholic? Some are surprised to learn that there are medications on the market approved to treat alcohol dependence. The newer types of these medications work by offsetting changes in the brain caused by AUD. All approved medications are non-addictive and can be used alone or in combination with other forms of treatment. Learn more about these approved treatments.

Also known as alcohol counseling, behavioral treatments involve working with a health professional to identify and help change the behaviors that lead to heavy drinking. Behavioral treatments share certain features, which can include:. Cognitive—Behavioral Therapy can take place one-on-one with a therapist or in small groups. The goal is to change the thought processes that lead to alcohol misuse and to develop the skills necessary to cope with everyday situations that might trigger problem drinking.

Motivational Enhancement Therapy is conducted over a short period of time to build and strengthen motivation to change drinking behavior. Marital and Family Counseling incorporates spouses and other family members in the treatment process and can play an important role in repairing and improving family relationships.

Studies show that strong family support through family therapy increases the chances of maintaining abstinence stopping drinking , compared with patients undergoing individual counseling. Brief Interventions are short, one-on-one or small-group counseling sessions that are time limited. After the client receives personalized feedback, the counselor will work with him or her to set goals and provide ideas for helping to make a change. Ultimately, choosing to get treatment may be more important than the approach used, as long as the approach avoids heavy confrontation and incorporates empathy, motivational support, and a focus on changing drinking behavior.

Certain medications have been shown to effectively help people stop or reduce their drinking and avoid relapse. The U. Food and Drug Administration FDA has approved three medications for treating alcohol dependence, and others are being tested to determine whether they are effective. Disulfiram blocks the breakdown metabolism of alcohol by the body, causing unpleasant symptoms such as nausea and flushing of the skin.

Those unpleasant effects can help some people avoid drinking while taking disulfiram. It is important to remember that not all people will respond to medications, but for a subset of individuals, they can be an important tool in overcoming alcohol dependence.

Scientists are working to develop a larger menu of pharmaceutical treatments that could be tailored to individual needs. As more medications become available, people may be able to try multiple medications to find which they respond to best.

These medicines are designed to help manage a chronic disease, just as someone might take drugs to keep their asthma or diabetes in check. Progress continues to be made as researchers seek out new and better treatments for alcohol problems.

Ideally, health professionals would be able to identify which AUD treatment is most effective for each person. NIAAA and other organizations are conducting research to identify genes and other factors that can predict how well someone will respond to a particular treatment.

These advances could optimize how treatment decisions are made in the future. Certain medications already approved for other uses have shown promise for treating alcohol dependence and problem drinking:. The anti-smoking drug varenicline marketed under the name Chantix significantly reduced alcohol consumption and craving among people with AUD.

Gabapentin, a medication used to treat pain conditions and epilepsy, was shown to increase abstinence and reduce heavy drinking. Those taking the medication also reported fewer alcohol cravings and improved mood and sleep. Professionals in the alcohol treatment field offer advice on what to consider when choosing a treatment program.

Overall, gather as much information as you can about the program or provider before making a decision on treatment. If you know someone who has first-hand knowledge of the program, it may help to ask about his or her personal experience. What kind of treatment does the program or provider offer?

It is important to gauge whether the facility provides all the currently available methods or relies on one approach. You may want to learn if the program or provider offers medication and if mental health issues are addressed together with addiction treatment. Is treatment tailored to the individual? Matching the right therapy to the individual is important to its success. No single treatment will benefit everyone. It may also be helpful to determine whether treatment will be adapted to meet changing needs as they arise.

What is expected of the patient? You will want to understand what will be asked of you in order to decide what treatment best suits your needs. Is treatment success measured? By assessing whether and how the program or provider measures success, you may be able to better compare your options. How does the program or provider handle relapse?

Relapse is common, and you will want to know how it is addressed. For more information on relapse, see Relapse Is Part of the Process. When seeking professional help, it is important that you feel respected and understood and that you have a feeling of trust that this person, group, or organization can help you. Remember, though, that relationships with doctors, therapists, and other health professionals can take time to develop.

Inpatient facilities tend to be more intensive and costly. Your healthcare provider can help you evaluate the pros and cons of each. Cost may be a factor when selecting a treatment approach. Evaluate the coverage in your health insurance plan to determine how much of the costs your insurance will cover and how much you will have to pay.

Ask different programs if they offer sliding scale fees—some programs may offer lower prices or payment plans for individuals without health insurance. Regular alcohol use is different from moderate drinking. There is usually a higher emotional attachment to it. A moderate drinker might pair a glass of wine with a meal, while a regular drinker uses alcohol to feel good in general.

As increased drinking continues, you become more dependent on alcohol and are at risk of developing alcoholism. Frequent, uncontrolled alcohol abuse eventually leads to problem drinking. You may become more depressed, more anxious, or start losing sleep. You may start to feel sick from heavy drinking, but enjoy its effects too much to care.

Many drinkers at this stage are more likely to drink and drive or experience legal troubles as a result of their drinking. Alcoholism has two facets: dependence and addiction. Dependence forms after the problem drinking stage.

At this point, you have an attachment to alcohol that has taken over your regular routine. Alcohol dependence also means that you have developed a tolerance to drinking. Increased drinking has more damaging effects on the body. Another characteristic of dependence is withdrawal.

As you sober up, you may feel undesirable symptoms such as:. The final stage of alcoholism is addiction. At this stage, you no longer want to drink just for pleasure. Alcohol addiction is characterized by a physical and psychological need to drink. People with alcohol addiction physically crave the substance and are often inconsolable until they start drinking again. They may be addicted to other drugs as well.

Compulsive behaviors are prominent in addiction, and people with alcohol addiction often drink whenever and wherever they desire. Learn more: Alcohol addiction ». Any stage of alcoholism is problematic. Identifying problems with alcohol early can help prevent dependence and addiction. Medical treatment may be necessary to detoxify the body of alcohol and to obtain a fresh start. Since many people with alcoholism endure psychological problems, individual or group therapy may help in overcoming addiction.