How to Get the Help You Need for Alcohol Use Disorder

If you are concerned that you have a problem with alcohol, you’re not alone. According to a 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 28.9 million people ages 12 and older had an alcohol use disorder (AUD) in the past year.

The good news is that many treatment options are available for alcoholism, and recovery is possible. By reaching out for help, you can start your journey toward a better, sober life.

Signs That You Have an Alcohol Problem

An AUD is defined as the inability to stop or control drinking despite its negative consequences. If you’re unsure about the seriousness of your struggle with alcohol, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recommends asking yourself the following questions.

• Have you had times when you drank more or for a longer period than you intended?
• Have you tried and failed to quit or control your drinking more than once?
• Have you spent a long time drinking, being sick from drinking, or recovering from drinking?
• Have you wanted a drink so badly that you could not think of anything else?
• Has drinking or being sick from drinking affected your ability to take care of your home or family, or affected your job or school?
• Have you continued to drink in spite of it causing issues with family or friends?
• Have you given up or reduced activities that you enjoy?
• Have you engaged in dangerous activities while drinking?
• Have you continued to drink even though it made you depressed or anxious, caused a health issue, or caused a memory blackout?
• Do you need to drink more than you used to in order to get the same effect?
• Have you had withdrawal symptoms when the effects of alcohol wore off? (Such as trouble sleeping, shakiness, restlessness, nausea, sweating, a racing heart, fatigue, or a seizure)

If you answered yes to two or three questions, your AUD would be considered mild, four to five yeses would be considered moderate, and six or more indicates a severe AUD.

Treatment Options

No one size fits all treatment for alcoholism exists. The best treatment for you depends on the severity of your AUD and the length of time you’ve been suffering with it. The first step in your treatment should be an evaluation by a professional.

For example, at Health Service Alliance, we do a multi-level assessment to determine the extent of your AUD and to determine if you have any underlying mental health disorders, such as anxiety or depression, that also need to be treated. Then we recommend a personalized treatment plan. You can also go to your primary care doctor to seek advice and recommendations. Sometimes your doctor is the best first step because they know your health history.

Often, a 28-day inpatient program is the best option, particularly if you experience withdrawal symptoms. Inpatient programs start with a period of medically supervised detox to keep you safe and comfortable during the withdrawal period. Inpatient programs also involve intensive individual and group therapy, education, and sometimes treatment with medication.

One alternative to an inpatient treatment program is a partial hospitalization program (PHP) which you attend four to six hours per day for four to six weeks.

Another option is an intensive outpatient program (IOP) that involves two to three hours of therapy three to five days a week for six weeks or sometimes longer. These programs are sometimes held in the evenings so that you can still go to work or school during the day.

Often, it’s recommended that you go through an inpatient program, followed by PHP and IOP.

For some people, attending support groups for alcoholics, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, can be effective. However, for many people, this is not recommended as a standalone treatment, but a source of ongoing support after receiving treatment in a professional setting instead.

Effective Therapies

In any professional treatment program, you may receive several types of therapy.

The most common and effective is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). In CBT you learn how to recognize your negative thoughts so that you can reason through them to come to better conclusions. For example, if you think “I can’t stop drinking completely,” you learn to turn that thought around to something like “I don’t need alcohol to enjoy my life, and without it I can be more present in the moment.”

Another type of therapy you might receive is motivational enhancement therapy in which you build motivation to stop drinking, often through goal setting. You also gain confidence in your ability to recover and learn the skills necessary to do so.

Contingency management therapy may also be involved, which uses positive reinforcement for positive behaviors, such as attending all therapy sessions.

Additionally, group therapy, which is critical in the recovery process, will be part of any treatment program. In group therapy, you’ll find support from peers, sharing your experiences, feelings, and strategies for coping. Often in group therapy, you’ll form relationships that will last beyond treatment.

Take the First Step

The alcohol addiction treatment process can seem daunting, but you have options that can lead to a better life. The first step is to talk to your primary care doctor, or to call a treatment provider like Health Service Alliance. You’ll learn about specific treatment programs, and what steps to follow to start your recovery journey.

Remember that help is always available, and recovery is possible. You’ll find that the rewards of sobriety are well worth the time it takes to make that first call and follow the treatment path that’s right for you.