Many of us enjoy an alcoholic drink from time to time, and that is perfectly acceptable. However, for a small number of people, for a variety of different reasons, social drinking can become problem drinking, which if left unchecked can easily become alcoholism.
Once someone becomes an alcoholic, or even if they are on the road to alcohol addiction, intervention and treatment is required to help them to rebalance and to live a normal life.
Fortunately, there are a number of different alcohol treatment programs that are available for individuals. However, getting an alcoholic to admit that they have a problem and then finding the correct treatment for them can be a challenge, although help is available.
What Is Alcoholism?
It is important to understand what is meant by alcoholism and what we understand by defining or labelling someone as a alcoholic, as these are not always easy terms to pin down with a simple definition.
Alcoholism is usually defined as an inability to control the impulses and actions around the consumption of alcohol. There may be drinking at unusual or inappropriate times, for example at work, excessive drinking, hiding drinking so that family members and friends do not see the extent of the problem, or using drinking as a way of coping with societal pressures, feeling the need to have a drink just to get through the day.
Alcoholism is also sometimes known as alcohol use disorder, which can be classified as mild, moderate or severe according to the person and the situation. It is the misuse of alcohol that is an issue, either relying on it as a crutch and unable to manage without a drink, or the excessive use of it that can lead to a physical addiction and considerable health problems.
There is some debate in professional circles whether someone who struggles with alcohol issues should be called an alcoholic, or someone who suffers from alcohol use disorder, with the latter being preferred among health professionals and the former among those who have the problem.
Either way, a significant first step is getting the person with the problem to admit that the problem exists, as they are more likely to engage with alcohol treatment programs if they agree that there is a problem, than if they resist the help that they are offered.
Alcohol Treatment Programs
When it comes to receiving help for alcohol use disorder through an alcohol treatment program, some considerable care should be given to what is best for the individual.
Factors will include:
- How long has their drinking been a problem?
- How significant (in terms of mild, moderate, severe) is the issue?
- What support networks do they have that can help them?
- Is there a family history of alcoholism?
It is important also to understand any background factors that may have influenced the individual’s route towards alcoholism. These may include issues in their personal life, grief, loss, anxiety, depression, etc., that may have contributed to the misuse of alcohol. These will also need to be dealt with along with the alcoholism.
In very mild cases, the support of family and friends, with help from a doctor or therapy/counselling may be sufficient. However, in many cases, more significant treatment may be the way forward.
Depending on the severity of the alcohol addition, appropriate treatment programs can include:
- Therapy & counselling
- Medical treatment for specific issues related to the alcoholism
- Support groups, for example Alcoholics Anonymous
- Rehabilitation (rehab) centers
Most of these treatments will involve the individual staying in their own home surrounded by their own support networks, although perhaps with the help of external agencies. This may be beneficial to the individual to be surrounded by friends and family. However in some cases, especially in extreme cases where the issue is severe or access to alcohol remains a significant issue or temptation, then a rehab center is appropriate.
When an individual with alcoholism attends a rehab center, they will usually go there for a period of time, away from family and friends (for the most part) and away from alcoholic temptations. Typically, such visits may last for a month, or even longer, and during this time the individual will undergo a number of treatments such as:
- Individual therapy & counselling
- Group therapy & counselling
- Medical interventions (if appropriate)
- Learning new hobbies & activities
This can be a very difficult time for a individual with alcoholism, but deliberately so as they confront the physical and/or psychological damage that they have done to themselves and others, and as they start to make amends for their deeds. Group sessions with Alcoholics Anonymous often have a very similar focus, in looking back at the life of the person with alcohol use disorder and the impact that there has been on others and themselves.
Lists of rehab centers are freely available on the Internet, as well as other more localized treatment programs, and your local doctor or healthcare provider will almost certainly be to discuss your needs with you and recommend suitable alcohol treatment program options.
Getting the Most Out Of a Treatment Program
An important part of alcohol treatment programs is that they shouldn’t just deal with the problems and issues of the past and what is going on in the present, but whatever treatment program the individual undergoes should also look forward to the future.
An effective program will put plans in place with regards to how the person with alcohol use disorder can minimize the chance of falling back into old habits. This will look at how the person can improve relationships with family; friends, work colleagues etc., and provide more positive responses to the triggers that have caused the person to drink in the past.
Summary
Although alcoholism can be a destroyer of lives, the availability of a wide range of different alcohol treatment programs that can be personalized to the needs of the individual, mean that there are a variety of choices for someone with alcohol use disorder that can help to treat the issues and help them to rebuild a positive, health life.
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