If you are wondering what the best course would be for alcohol rehab, then a combination of medication-assisted therapy and counseling would be best. However, it's important to get expert medical help for the withdrawal process, despite any stigma associated with it.
Alcohol use can become a serious challenge when it starts interfering with your relationships, career, and health. According to the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 27.9 million people aged 12 and older (9.7%) had Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in the past year.
If you feel like you are part of this statistic and are looking to make changes in your life this year, then it's time to get outside help. There are many different kinds of therapies available now that can help you get over your addiction. One to consider is medication-assisted therapy, which can support your recovery process.
What Is Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)?
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is when an individual drinks excessive amounts of alcohol despite dealing with enormous negative consequences. This disorder exists on a spectrum, meaning it affects every person differently and varies in seriousness from person to person.
One person, for example, might drink excessively after work and be unable to control their drinking. Another might have immense cravings for alcohol throughout the day and not be able to reduce consumption.
The primary thing to remember here is that alcohol abuse isn't about a lack of willpower. There are dozens of factors affecting a person's risk for AUD, including:
- Stress
- Trauma
- Genetics
- Mental health challenges
- Patterns of alcohol use
There are many ways to go about getting assistance with AUD; the most popular means is Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and its 12-step program.
How Does Medication-Assisted Therapy Work?
Going cold turkey when trying to quit alcohol is usually not the best course of action. Medication-assisted treatment is one way that you can help yourself when trying to quit drinking.
There are many addiction recovery options out there, but Naltrexone is the most prescribed option. It blocks certain opioid receptors involved in the rewarding effects of alcohol, potentially reducing cravings and making drinking less reinforcing. It is available in oral and extended-release injectable forms.
There are also Acamprosate and Disulfiram. These medications all work differently in the body to assist the person in reducing and eventually quitting drinking alcohol.
It's important to have physician-guided support to quit drinking, rather than trying to go at it alone. There are lots of factors involved in quitting excessive alcohol use, especially the withdrawal aspect of it, which can be dangerous to health.
The Best Course Is to Combine Medication and Counseling
If you are really serious about quitting alcohol use, then it's time to go about it the right way. The best course of action is to combine medication-assisted outpatient alcohol treatment with counseling.
Medication addresses the neurological and physical challenges associated with AUD, and counseling can help with the behavioral and emotional patterns.
For example, you might have certain emotional triggers that cause you to drink excessively, and unless you deal with these triggers, no matter how much medication you are on, you will still end up drinking.
It's important to approach evidence-based recovery from all sides, so you are more likely to succeed. Counseling can help individuals:
- Identify situations that trigger cravings
- Develop healthier coping strategies
- Address underlying concerns that may contribute to drinking
Instead of running off to drink every time you have a stressful situation, you can instead develop more healthy coping strategies. Having support groups on your side, like Alcoholics Anonymous, is also a great way to avoid drinking as a way of getting over negative situations.
Get Expert Help Despite the Stigma
There is a lot of negative stigma around getting help from mental health professionals for alcohol recovery, but it's important to get over these stigmas and get the help you need. It can be extremely difficult for laypeople to quit drinking after years of alcohol abuse on their own.
Family members can also play an important role by offering encouragement without criticism. Listening, respecting personal boundaries, and helping someone access qualified treatment services can make the process feel less overwhelming.
You don't know what your loved one is going through as they go through this process, so it's important to offer as much support as possible while not harming your own mental health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is the Withdrawal Process in AUD Dangerous?
When you have been drinking alcohol excessively for a long while, your body is adapted to that influx of alcohol and its remnants. If you suddenly stop drinking, the withdrawal can result in severe symptoms, some of which might even be dangerous.
Alcohol withdrawal may cause symptoms such as:
- Sweating
- Shaking
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Difficulty sleeping
Severe withdrawal can lead to seizures or delirium tremens, a potentially life-threatening condition.
That's why it's crucial to have medical supervision in place when going through alcohol withdrawal.
How Can Family Members Support Loved Ones Going Through Alcohol Rehab?
The main thing that family members can do to support their loved ones while they go through withdrawal or the alcohol recovery process is to be supportive. Be there for your loved one as much as you can, and encourage them to get medical help and counseling rather than trying to do it all on their own.
Do not judge them as mentally weak or lacking willpower, as AUD isn't about that. There are so many reasons one person in the family might be dealing with alcohol abuse, and the other is successful and doing well.
Modern Alcohol Therapy Options to Consider
You are not alone in this journey towards an alcohol-free life. Consider medication-assisted therapy as the most important tool in your recovery, along with counseling and medical help during the withdrawal process.
Get support from AA and other support groups, and also from family members who are on your side and don't judge you for your predicament.
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