Alcohol Abuse Disorder and its Treatment

Alcohol Abuse Disorder and its Treatment

Many people drink alcohol every day without experiencing any problems. The majority of them know their limit, so they are capable of stopping anytime when they feel enough. We call this moderate alcohol consumption, and it’s not considered to be alcohol abuse. 

Alcohol abuse is essentially defined as compulsive drinking, loss of control over alcohol use, and negative emotions when not drinking, and it’s the second most common form of substance abuse in the United States. 

• According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, binge drinking is a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration levels to 0.08 g/dL or higher (4 or more drinks for a woman or 5 or more drinks for a man in about 2 hours).
• Binge drinking is consuming 5 or more alcoholic drinks for males or 4 or more alcoholic drinks for females on the same occasion (i.e., at the same time or within a couple of hours of each other) on at least 1 day in the past month, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
• According to the Monitoring the Future survey, binge drinking is a having 5 or more drinks in a row in the past 2 weeks.

Alcohol abuse affects all aspects of people’s lives. Most importantly, it can cause serious health complications, affecting some organs in the body, including the brain. It can also damage emotional stability, finances, career, and relationships. Finally, alcohol abuse always has an impact on family members, friends, and the people around.

There are different symptoms of alcohol abuse. Binge drinking and excessive use of alcohol have a wide range of consequences, from nausea and headaches from a hangover to severe liver problems from chronic drinking. In addition, it can cause memory loss, anxiety, insomnia, slurred speech, trouble concentrating and even breathing problems. 

Alcohol addicts experience physical withdrawal when they stop drinking. Shakiness, difficulty sleeping, nausea, sweating, fever, seizures, or hallucinations characterize the withdrawal. In some severe forms, alcohol withdrawal can also cause delirium tremens, anxiety, and disorientation. Once the withdrawal happens, it’s very dangerous and difficult for an individual to go through alone.

Treatment for alcohol abuse and addiction

Most treatment programs for alcohol addiction begin with detoxification, the process of eliminating the alcohol from the body. This procedure should be done under the control of health professionals. Medically monitored detox programs keep an eye on someone’s vital signs while they go through withdrawal to ensure their safety. 

Right after detox treatment with therapy and possibly medication should follow. Treatment centers provide support in the form of individual therapy, group therapy, and educational classes, where patients can explore the reasons behind their excess alcohol consumption, as well as what they can do to overcome their abusive behavior.

Inpatient treatment allows patients to receive care in a structured, controlled environment. It’s very beneficial since the home environment often supports alcohol abuse in some way. The inpatient treatment plan is individualized and combines therapies, nutrition, and counseling for a well-balanced approach to recovery.

At Hathaway Recovery, we will ensure your safety during alcohol detox and treatment with 24/7 monitoring from an experienced staff of licensed professionals.

So, if you feel like going through alcohol detox is something that you need to get onto the road of sobriety, Hathaway Recovery is the best choice for you.

Hathaway Recovery is an industry leader in Addiction & Dual Diagnosis Treatment. A doctor-operated facility that offers 24/7 care, monitoring & support. Hathaway Recovery has a team of professionals who constantly strive to offer the most innovative and effective care and therapy.

Contact us today for more information on dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and addiction treatment.