Alcoholism is a serious issue. If you or someone you love is struggling with alcoholism it can seem really hopeless trying to find help. Alcohol dependency can result in serious long-term health issues and can impede one’s ability to live their life in a healthy way.
How can you help someone struggling with alcoholism?
Treatments for Alcoholism
When to Get Help
Sometimes it can be difficult to figure out when you really need help with your drinking. Some people can drink large amounts of alcohol without experiencing some negative effects, while others can have much less but have a serious drinking problem.
It’s time for someone to get help when their drinking is affecting their day-to-day life. If they’re spending most of their money on alcohol, spending too much time drinking or recovering from drinking, or missing work because of excessive drinking, it’s time to get help.
Types of Treatment
There are several different types of treatment for alcoholism. Depending on the severity of a patient’s dependence on alcohol, the well-known 12-step program or 28-day inpatient rehab program could be suggested. However, these aren’t the only options available.
Notably, many patients don’t think to simply contact their doctor. Talking to a primary care doctor can help a patient in a number of ways. Doctors can identify whether the drinking is a dangerously high amount, help evaluate the patient’s health and can even help with a treatment plan.
Another thing that many people forget, or simply don’t know, is that their doctor could even help them find if there are any appropriate medications they could take for their dependence.
Medications
There are several medications that can help patients overcome dependence on alcohol. In cases of physical dependence, these medications are often used in conjunction with in-patient rehab treatments. Likewise, in less extreme cases, the medications can be prescribed for use on their own without any accompanying rehab.
Support Groups
One of the most well-known treatments for alcoholism is the support group. A notable example of one such support group is the somewhat-controversial Alcoholics Anonymous. Support groups can be helpful for some alcoholics, as the community fostered by these groups helps with accountability.
It’s much harder to fall off the wagon of recovery when there are people counting on you to succeed. As such, people with few friends or family in their own lives tend to benefit the most from support groups.