Our Alcohol Rehab Center Has Answers About Alcoholism
Alcohol addiction is more than a personal problem. According to the CDC, alcohol use is responsible for nearly 90,000 deaths each year. Of those who die as a result of their own or someone else’s drinking, these lives were cut short by an average of three decades. Alcohol addiction is also a social problem, one that imposes an estimated $249 billion burden on the American economy.
Understanding Alcohol Addiction Treatment
Misinformation about alcohol addiction and treatment is widespread. Getting the facts goes a long way toward overcoming the barriers that individuals may face as they seek help for their alcohol problem. Those who do seek treatment will start their time in detox before advancing through an individualized rehab program and ultimately maintaining long-term sobriety with the help of an aftercare program.
This alcohol addiction resource is designed to help you understand what to expect from alcohol treatment, what the full scope of potential health consequences are and how to protect your family from the toxic nature of alcoholism.
What Are the Dangers of Alcohol Abuse and Withdrawals?
A binge-drinking episode can lead to withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, anxiety, trembling and possibly hallucinations. These symptoms usually begin six to eight hours after the last drink. Of course, someone who routinely drinks will require more of the substance to feel buzzed or drunk, and drinking heavily and frequently can lead to dependence.
Alcohol can even cause some life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. People who routinely abuse the substance may experience the following dangerous symptoms during acute withdrawal:
Irregular heartbeat
Extreme anxiety
Overwhelming sense of fear
Seizures
Extremely high blood pressure
How Long Does It Take to Detox from Alcohol?
Alcohol dependence leads to major changes in the body’s chemistry. Eventually, an individual who abuses alcohol needs to keep drinking to simply stabilize their mental faculties and stave off severe physical symptoms like vomiting, physical pain, and shakes.
In worst-case scenarios, the body will shut down without alcohol present, putting a person at risk for death if they are cut off from drinking without medical supervision. That’s why the detox process is so important.
During professional detox treatment, patients undergo medically supervision. This may involve taking medication to get through their withdrawal symptoms safely, and the start of therapy to help them stop drinking for good.
The acute withdrawal process range in length anywhere from three to 10 days. Several factors determine how long an individual will stay in detox before moving on to a recovery program. These factors include:
Diet and fitness
Mental health
Pre-existing complications
Current medical prescriptions
Illegal drug use
How long and heavily the individual has been drinking
Keep in mind that post-acute withdrawal symptoms may sporadically arise for several months to one year after the initial withdrawal phase.
In some cases, severe or deadly withdrawal symptoms can set in within a few hours of an individual’s last drink. That’s why it’s wise for families to make arrangements for detox and treatment before confronting a loved one about their substance abuse problem.
What Do I Need in an Alcohol Treatment Program?
The types of therapies, accommodations and amenities available in a recovery treatment center will vary widely from facility to facility, so families are encouraged to perform a thorough search before committing to one program.
Generally speaking, however, alcohol recovery treatment programs will offer some combination of the following benefits:
Individual therapy with a counselor
Group therapy with fellow patients
Education on addiction, alcohol’s impact on the body, healthy relationships, etc.
Workshops dedicated to addressing and avoiding addiction “triggers”
Therapy sessions incorporating family members
Life skills training
Through this mixture of therapies, good nutrition and abstinence from alcohol, individuals can replenish their strength, both mentally and physically.
How Long Does Alcohol Treatment Take?
Similar to the detox process, how long an individual needs in formal rehabilitation varies from person to person. Thankfully, there are many program lengths available among rehab facilities across the country.
Patients can expect most programs to fall within one of the following categories:
30 Days or Fewer
Programs that last a month or less are the most common. Many individuals prefer these programs because it allows them to get back to their lives or into a more flexible outpatient program as quickly as possible. These programs are most often covered by health insurance plans.
60 to 90 Days
Many studies show that seeking treatment for up to 90 days can actually improve a person’s chances for making a full recovery. Likewise, patients dealing with an extended detox process, co-occurring mental health issues and other unique circumstances may be better off taking their time during the recovery process. The more education and practice they receive during treatment, the more prepared they will feel as they transition back into their regular lives.
120 Days and Beyond
There are times where patients seek treatment beyond the three-month period. This approach works for many, but spending such an extensive amount of time in a dedicated rehab program may be cost-prohibitive. That’s why most begin an aftercare program and move home rather than continue living in an inpatient facility or sober home after 90 days.
The Relationship Between Alcohol Addiction and Health
Alcohol addiction is just like any other. The person struggling with this psychiatric disorder needs help and support to move forward, especially once they’ve become physically dependent on the substance of their choice.
When that substance is alcohol, however, recovery comes with its own unique challenges. That’s because alcohol is not an illegal substance or a prescription medication. As a result:
Alcohol is widely and easily accessible.
Alcohol use is not socially prohibitive.
Alcohol addiction is easier to disguise.
Alcohol is often served in professional settings.
Alcohol is part of several holidays and traditions.
Alcohol abuse is often dismissed as “not a problem.”
Those who abuse alcohol face a number of unique health threats as well, even more so if they are taking other drugs in addition to alcohol. The following sections explore the life-threatening health complications associated with alcohol addiction.
How Common Is Alcohol Abuse Compared to Other Substances?
Much of the national conversation on drug addiction is focused around the opioid crisis and other illegal drugs, but the reality is that alcohol addiction poses a much greater health risk than all of the illegal drugs combined.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, just under 27 percent of the population reported participating in binge drinking within the last month.
Comparatively, just over 9 percent of the population currently struggles with an illegal drug problem, as reported by National Institute on Drug Abuse.
But it isn’t enough to simply acknowledge that alcohol affects more Americans than street and prescription drugs. These trends are related, emphasizing the importance of treating alcohol addiction before it evolves into an even more dangerous problem.
For example, a University of Florida study indicated that alcohol is the leading “gateway drug” when it comes to students developing an illegal drug habit. More than 72 percent of high school students who used alcohol went on to try other substances like cocaine, LSD and amphetamines.
In addition to emphasizing the need for effective and early alcohol treatment, these trends show the importance of a more nuanced dialogue surrounding substance abuse treatment. It doesn’t make sense to chase catch-all solutions when the challenges of substance abuse are so multifaceted
How Prevalent Is Alcohol Abuse Treatment
When it comes to alcohol addiction treatment, here’s a look at how common it is in the U.S, as reported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA):
Treatment admissions for alcohol only routinely beat out individual drugs like heroin, cocaine and marijuana each year.
In 2014, more than 20 percent of all substance abuse treatment admissions were for alcohol only. Furthermore, alcohol was cited as the primary substance of addiction in more than 36 percent of all substance abuse admissions that year (counting people who were admitted for addiction to more than one substance).
If you count people who were admitted for treatment with alcohol listed as a secondary or tertiary form of addiction, then alcohol was cited in more than 50 percent of all addiction-related admissions cases in 2013.
Do Any Serious Illnesses and Diseases Stem from Long-Term Alcohol Use?
Beyond alcohol’s relationship with other drugs, alcohol abuse poses a long list of considerable health risks to any individual who has developed a dependence on the substance. A comprehensive understanding of these health consequences is crucial for multiple reasons:
Understanding the health risks of alcohol abuse can be a wakeup call for those struggling with their drinking.
Recognizing the visible physical changes that occur because of alcohol abuse can help loved ones spot a problem.
Early awareness is key to getting treatment in time to avoid advanced, life-threatening symptoms.
Take a look at the following lists of common short-term and long-term health consequences of alcohol abuse. Staying vigilant in watching for these symptoms can mean the difference between a life of addiction and a full recovery.
Short-Term Effects
Long-Term Consequences
Increased chance of violence and accidents
Multiple increased cancer risks
Unsafe sexual behavior and higher risk of STDs
Heart, lung and liver failure
Greater risk during pregnancy
Increased chance of mental health disorders
Alcohol poisoning
Cognitive deterioration
Adverse reactions with other drugs
High blood pressure
As you’ve probably gleaned by now, routine alcohol use can damage several organs in the body, particularly the liver and the brain. Someone who has suffered permanent brain damage from alcohol abuse has what is called Wet Brain Syndrome, a type of dementia.
How Does Addiction and Relapse Affect Families?
By the time an individual is ready to attend treatment for alcohol, their addiction has already has had a significant impact on their entire family. In some cases, these interactions are extremely toxic or even deadly.
The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence noted that alcohol is a factor in 40 percent of violent crime in the United States, including cases of domestic violence and child abuse. That’s why it’s important to learn the complex ways that this addiction can impact the entire family.
Alcohol Addiction Impacts Everyone Involved
Remember that alcohol addiction is classified by medical experts as a mental health disorder. After prolonged exposure to alcohol, the brain begins to change and the individual’s decision-making process is altered to revolve around alcohol.
Many describe a loved one with an alcohol problem as turning into “another person” in their need to keep drinking. From a psychological level, this isn’t too far removed from the truth.
Those struggling with alcohol tend to act in unexpected, unhealthy and intentionally manipulative ways. Family members must be on guard against the toxic dynamics that may be at work because of a loved one’s alcohol problem.
Here are a few examples of how these problematic dynamics may play out between loved ones.
Parents
The parents of a loved one struggling with alcohol often blame themselves for their child’s behavior. This can make them defensive and reticent about dealing with the problem, or it can encourage them to enable their children and put off treatment. Both outcomes put the individual with an alcohol problem at greater risk.
Children
The children of those struggling with alcoholism often are not fully aware of the situations at play in the household. This may lead to them being used as pawns against family members if an alcoholic believes this approach will help him or her avoid treatment. Meanwhile, the family’s children are exposed to risks of emotional and physical harm.
Siblings
Sibling rivalries can sometimes turn into major roadblocks to recovery. It’s not uncommon for an individual to work against a loved one’s success in recovery, often out of jealousy or because of another unresolved conflict. Families must be on guard to stop internal drama from slowing down the recovery journey.
Extended Family
Addicts often turn to grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins when in need of money or support. That’s why communication between extended family members is so important when dealing with alcohol addiction in one’s household. When engaged early on, extended family members can actually help get loved ones into treatment as quickly as possible.
What Are the Risks and Signs of Alcohol Addiction Relapse?
The journey to a full recovery from alcohol addiction doesn’t come to an end once treatment is finished. It will be up to those in sobriety to stay on track, remember their education from treatment and put their full effort into staying away from alcohol.
That being said, many who complete treatment for their alcohol addiction fall back into patterns of relapse. The longer an individual abused alcohol, the more likely he or she is to start drinking again in the future. One of the most common factors influencing relapse is accountability. Individuals and family members who catch signs of a relapse early on are in a much better position to correct the behavior before it evolves into a full blown addiction problem (again).
Here are the most common signs and symptoms of a relapse and how to spot them:
Racing Thoughts and Unpredictable Emotions
Relapse “triggers” are events or feelings that encourage individuals to fall back into old habits. One of the most rampant triggers is feelings of anxiety and depression. Part of the recovery process is learning life skills to manage symptoms of anxiety like racing thoughts and mood swings, which can lead a person into making a bad judgment call that leads to relapse.
When these early warning signs hit, individuals must recognize the trigger for what it is and seek help from a professional, a loved one or a recovery peer.
Overconfidence About Treatment
Addiction recovery for many is a lifelong process. More often than not, several years or decades will pass by before a person is truly comfortable in most facets of their new life. That reflects how powerful alcohol addiction is when it comes to damaging the human body and psyche.
It’s a huge red flag when an individual begins to act flippant about their recovery or engage in high-risk behaviors. Intervention is necessary before an individual’s overconfidence leads them into a dangerous scenario.
High-Risk Social Engagements
Bars, parties with alcohol, and other scenarios where drinking is involved should more than likely be off limits to those recovering from alcoholism. These scenarios may seem innocent in nature, such as a work event where champagne is served, but the risk they pose to recovering addicts is very real. It should be a cause for concern if recovering alcoholics find themselves in these situations on a regular basis.
Dishonest or Defensive Behavior
Most people react poorly to being questioned or managed by others. This is even truer if that person feels guilty or like they have something to hide. Therefore, it’s not surprising when individuals who are teetering on the brink of relapse may begin to show signs of dishonesty or defensiveness.
Chances are that a loved one showing defensive tendencies has alcohol on the mind and is already struggling with their desire to break from their sobriety. Reaching out to loved ones with grace and understanding is the easiest way to help them lower their guard and refocus their attention on staying sober.
Holistic Alcohol Treatment Methods
Addiction of all types affects a person’s physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. In order to recover from alcohol addiction, it is important to address all three components during treatment.
At Maryland Recovery, our treatment program includes a holistic, all-encompassing approach. We show you how to nurture your body through improved diet and yoga therapy. We also offer unique holistic services such as drumming therapy and auricular (ear) acupuncture to round out your treatment.
By integrating a holistic methodology into our alcoholism treatment process, Maryland Recovery has built a strong track record of helping individuals calm their alcohol addiction and stay sober for years to come.
"Maryland Recovery gave me the tools and counseling to accept my past and forge a new future for myself. Life today has a hope and brightness to it that had not experienced before. I got a job and an apartment with the help of Maryland Recovery. I am able to be part of my family’s life again."
— Robert M
"I am certain that this program helped save my life. I was provided with an opportunity to learn how to live a sober life. I learned to be responsible and accountable for my behavior. When practicing the principles of the program and remaining willing to grow on this journey, I experience a freedom I never knew, but always wanted."
— Morgan S
"The only things that I knew when I arrived at Maryland Recovery (MR) was that I was broken: spiritually, emotionally, and physically broken and that my way of doing things had gotten me there. The people at MR understood who I was better than I did. They assured me that I was not alone, with that came a glimpse of hope and some relief."
