Alcohol Addiction Treatment

Alcohol addiction can be explained as physical and mental dependence on alcohol and is both a serious and chronic illness amongst millions of Americans from all stages of life.

This chronic illness is classified by an intense urge to use alcohol even when the user has realized that using it has become a problem.  Other symptoms of alcohol addiction can include withdrawal periods that are intense and life-threatening if not treated properly.

The good news is that alcohol addiction can be treated by using various treatment options such as detoxification, medication, and relapse prevention therapy.

The Retreat of Atlanta’s physicians and nurses can cater to each individuals’ personal needs through stabilization and regular individual therapy sessions. If you need to detox from alcohol, opioids, prescription medication, or a combination of these substances, our team is available around the clock to ensure your wellbeing and comfort.

In this article, we are going to take a look at the signs and symptoms of alcoholism as well as how people who suffer from alcoholism can be treated to achieve long-term sobriety at our rehabilitation clinics.

Alcohol Addiction Fact: You Are Not a Bad Person

How you got into this helpless and uncontrollable point in your life no longer matters. What matters now is how you are going to free yourself from the grips of your addiction.

Alcohol abuse can affect a person’s ability to behave responsibly and appropriately due to its severe effect on mental ability when ingested in large amounts.

It is because of this that people who have alcohol disorders are sometimes seen as bad people who lack morals. This quite simply is not true as many underlying conditions contribute towards alcoholism.

The causes of alcoholism can be a combination of psychological, social, and even genetic conditions. These conditions are not the same in all people and medical specialists need to analyze each patient to treat the condition effectively.

The Symptoms of Alcholism

Alcohol addiction is a global problem and millions of people and families suffer from alcoholism every day.

How do you know if a loved one is addicted to alcohol?

• They prioritize alcohol over all other activities
• They have a continuous and urgent need to drink
• They use alcohol to alleviate withdrawal symptoms
• They have an increased tolerance to alcohol

Becoming addicted to alcohol is a gradual process and is caused by the overconsumption of alcohol regularly.

The time that it takes to become addicted to alcohol varies from person to person and those who are addicted will find it difficult to grasp or admit to their problem. In many cases, denial, and an unwillingness to admit to the problem can cause irreversible damage if not dealt with in time.

Lifelong abstinence is the only way to in which to make a complete recovery, and even a small return to alcohol can trigger a relapse that can bring back high-intensity alcohol cravings even after a patient has not drunk for a while.

How Is Alcohol Addiction Treated?

Treatment for alcohol addiction needs to be treated differently for every individual as no two people are the same.

The following circumstances need to be looked at before an individual treatment plan can be devised by a medical professional:

• The patient’s history of alcohol abuse
• Any medical and psychiatric conditions
• The individual’s choice when it comes to treatment options
• The severity of the patient’s dependency on alcohol
• The patients physical and social circumstances

Alcohol addiction treatment consists of three stages:

• The Detoxification Stage
• The Medication Treatment Stage
• The Therapy and Behavioral Modification Stage

Detoxification

The detoxification program is the first step to help treat the withdrawal symptoms of alcohol. This program is mostly performed in an inpatient treatment center.

The physical effects of alcohol withdrawal can become life-threatening, and medications administered by healthcare professionals can prevent some of the following symptoms:

• Shaking and Confusion
• Profuse Sweating
• Anger and Agitation
• Irritability and Restlessness
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Insomnia
• Rapid Heartbeat
• Hallucinations
• Convulsions
• Death

The Retreat of Atlanta drug and alcohol detox facility offers Alcohol Addiction Treatment for those individuals who struggle with alcohol abuse. While individuals stay at the Medical Detox offered at the Retreat of Atlanta, they will experience a serene and restful detox process under the care of our medical and nursing staff.

The Retreat of Atlanta is staffed 24/7 by professionals trained and experienced in alcohol detox and addiction treatment. The care team at the inpatient drug and alcohol medical detox will lessen any discomfort the alcohol-addicted individual will feel as they are weaned off their alcohol dependency.

Therapy and Behavioral Change

In most cases, you will be referred by your doctor to attend both one on one therapy as well as group therapy or counseling.

Therapy
Behavior Change
Benefits of Support Groups
Therapy

When you work together with a therapist, they can help you to talk about your feelings and behavior to try and get to the root cause of your addiction.

Therapy can also assist you to develop coping strategies, practice the art of self-awareness, and leaned how to create healthier lifestyle changes to curb your dependency on alcohol.

Behavior Change

Patients who are dependent on alcohol need to learn certain coping mechanisms to help them avoid alcohol once they start to live their normal lives in society again.

At Retreat of Atlanta, our Individual Therapy Program and the Group Therapy Program will teach alcohol-addicted individuals how to identify triggers, cope with cravings, develop a relapse prevention plan, and understand the underlying conditions behind their addiction to alcohol.

Benefits of Support Groups

Support groups can be extremely beneficial to those suffering from addiction. These support groups show patients that they are not alone, and they can connect with other people who have had similar experiences and challenges. Although support groups can provide encouragement and support, they may not be for everyone.

Once an individual can understand the contributing factors behind their alcohol abuse, they will be able to take steps to prevent relapse and maintain long-term sobriety. The alcohol detox offered at the Retreat of Atlanta gives individuals the resources needed to enable individuals to achieve a full recovery from alcohol abuse.

Medication Therapy

Several medications can be used to treat alcohol addiction, ease withdrawal symptoms, and help patients to maintain long-term sobriety.

Naltrexone

Naltrexone blocks the feel-good effect that alcohol has on the brain making the person feel less inclined to drink. Naltrexone is available in an oral or injection form.

DISULFIRAM

This drug works by making a person feel sick when they drink alcohol. This is because when it is combined with alcohol it can cause nausea, vomiting, and headaches. Unfortunately, the side effects of this drug can be extremely dangerous, and it does not work to address the core issues of alcoholism.

Acamprosate

This medication is used to curb alcohol cravings and restore the balance to certain chemicals in the brain.

How the Retreat of Atlanta Can Help

Once a person has developed a dependence on alcohol willpower alone is unfortunately not enough to get them through. Help and guidance from professionals is the best way in which to combat their addiction and stay in the recovery phase.

The Retreat of Atlanta is a stand-alone medical detox and inpatient hospital. You will feel at ease in our addiction treatment center location because we are neither a hospital nor a “lock-up” facility. In both our peaceful atmosphere and our evidence-based substance abuse treatment program, we support healing, rehabilitation, and long-term recovery.

Private quarters, fitness and leisure opportunities, delicious meals, and areas for you to relax and interact with others are only a few of the amenities available at our facility. If you or a loved one is ready to start the road to recovery, contact The Retreat of Atlanta right away.

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