Written by: Dwayne Myers

Is Drug or Alcohol Addiction a Problem?

Perhaps the easiest way to tell if a person needs detox is to determine whether they are struggling with drug or alcohol addiction. Individuals can be addicted to opioid prescription medications, heroin, cocaine, alcohol and countless other substances, but it is not always easy to tell from afar.

Addiction might be classified by an increased use of a particular substance, whether that is in frequency or in dosage. This happens because with addiction comes an increased tolerance. In order to feel the same buzz, euphoria or high, individuals will need to use addictive substances more often or in larger amounts.

Individuals may also be facing addiction if they continue use despite negative consequences. These consequences can be varied, but some of the most common include losing a job, breaking up a marriage, losing custody of children or facing bankruptcy. If substance abuse continues despite these consequences, then it is almost certainly a sign that a person requires intervention and detox in order to turn from the addiction.

Has Quitting Been a Problem in the Past?

Detox is the best solution for those who have tried quitting but have been unsuccessful in the past. This lack of success could be a result of inadequate accountability, proximity to temptations or uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

One of the most important aids in detoxing from drug or alcohol use is accountability. Detox takes an average of one week, and that week will typically be a serious challenge. In a detox facility, however, patients will be accountable and receive support throughout the process. This can often make them more likely to succeed with detox and keep moving on the path to lifelong recovery.

Those who try to quit drug or alcohol use at home cold turkey are often faced with tremendous challenges and temptations. To start, many people will be in an environment where their friends, partners or neighbors are still using substances. Having these temptations so close only makes it harder to detox, and in some cases it can be too much to handle.

It is also important to address the issue of withdrawal and how it can be an obstacle for those trying to detox. Without guidance and medical support, withdrawal can be dangerous as well as painful. In a medical detox, however, patients will get medications, resources, and support to ensure that the process is as comfortable as possible and sobriety is achieved.

Are Withdrawal Symptoms a Concern?

Unfortunately, some individuals who struggle with addiction don’t attempt sobriety because they are worried about unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. If these side effects are a concern, then remember that detox can offer solutions.

One of the ways that a detox mitigates discomfort is by administering prescription medications. These can range from ordinary painkillers to more potent sedatives that enable sleep. Most importantly, medical professionals in a detox center will understand the potential risks of these medications, and they will know which prescriptions are contraindicated for specific addictions or medical conditions.

In addition, some medical detox facilities can use weaning techniques, which involves replacing one addictive substance with a synthetic version. This is a temporary technique, and patients are then weaned from the synthetic drug as well. This can greatly reduce withdrawal symptoms, particularly for those who are struggling with opioid addictions.

Is There a History of Trauma or Mental Health Disorders?

Statistically, there is a high correlation between those dealing with substance abuse disorders and those with either a history of trauma or a mental health disorder. In detox, patients can receive better care and diagnoses for these conditions, which can be critical when working toward recovery.

Although patients may not receive a significant amount of behavioral therapy during detox, they can receive a diagnosis regarding mental health or trauma. This is key, because it can help patients see some of the factors leading to the development of their addictions. Furthermore, it can ensure that patients continue on from detox and receive appropriate treatment and therapy. Detox is just the first step, and dual diagnosis treatment may be necessary for lasting recovery.

Are There Physical Health Complications?

Quitting an addictive substance is a stressful process, and not just psychologically. It can also be physically stressful. As a result, individuals with any health conditions should quit taking drugs or alcohol only in a medical detox setting.

While less common, it is possible for patients in withdrawal to experience symptoms such as seizures or even cardiac arrest. Those with pre-existing health conditions or weakness may be at increased risk. In a detox facility, these health conditions can be addressed and patients will be closely monitored for emergency situations.

Is Lasting Sobriety the Goal?

Individuals may need detox if the ultimate goal is lasting sobriety. Without detox, achieving sobriety even in the short term will be challenging. With detox, patients will receive medical attention, support, therapy and recommendations for ongoing recovery and treatment.

One of the key ways that detox can aid in lasting sobriety is by including educational elements. Patients in detox will learn that moderation isn’t an option after struggling with addiction, for instance. Patients will also understand that addiction is an illness, not a choice or a flaw.

Detox can also help give patients recommendations for ongoing treatment or therapy. Getting professional opinions can ensure that patients make the right choices for their health and sobriety moving forward.

By answering these important questions, you can determine whether you need detox. These questions can also be applied to a loved one, ensuring they receive the help they need to fight addiction.

Identifying the Problem

The very first thing to be done when trying to overcome addiction is identifying and acknowledging the illness. Often, individuals who drink too much or too often have a difficult time translating that to alcoholism. However, personally admitting to that addiction is integral to comprehensive and successful recovery.

It may help to look at the signs and symptoms of an alcohol addiction. In doing so, it becomes impossible to ignore the reality of the situation. Alcoholism can manifest itself as the inability to stop drinking, an increased tolerance for alcohol or negative consequences that stem from excessive alcohol consumption. Individuals struggling with an addiction to alcohol may have obsessive thoughts about drinking, or they might face legal, financial and career problems as a result.

Individuals should also be ready to understand and acknowledge what addiction truly is. Addiction to alcohol is not a choice, a decision or a character flaw. It is an illness, and it must be treated and diagnosed like any other.

Exploring the Need for Professional Assistance

Alcohol and drug addiction recovery is not something that can be done solo. It requires professional assistance, including things like trained therapists, medical professionals and staff who can offer 24/7 accountability as well as support.

There are many steps of recovery from addiction that require medical attention. To start, it is common for alcoholism to create physical health problems, and those need to be addressed as quickly as possible for maximum healing. In addition, everything from detox to rehab may include a need for physical monitoring and medical attention.

Imagine, for a moment, that individuals are trying to recover from alcoholism alone. They may be severely dehydrated and in pain, but they won’t have the resources or medical support available. In a professional facility, however, staff will be ready around the clock to care for these needs and ensure that patients are as healthy as possible throughout the process.

Completing an Alcohol Detox

Committing to an addiction treatment program often means starting out with a detox from alcohol. This integral step of the recovery process involves the cessation of all alcohol consumption. It can create some withdrawal symptoms, but it will have the intended effect of freeing the body, the brain and the nervous system from a chemical dependence on a foreign, addictive substance like alcohol.

Typically, a detox from alcohol will last under 10 days. It should be mentioned, however, that the exact duration of a detox can depend heavily on things like the health and average alcohol intake of patients. Withdrawal symptoms can begin within hours of the start of the detox, but they tend to peak around 72 hours into the process. Thankfully, that peak marks the beginning of a gradual decline of symptom intensity.

Many prospective patients are concerned about the prospect of withdrawal and any unpleasant symptoms it may bring. While it is true that these symptoms can be uncomfortable, it is worth noting that professional detox centers can mitigate any pain or discomfort. Medications and hydration methods can cut down on pain while still helping patients break their physical reliance on alcohol.

Treatment Methods Used to Recover From Addiction

After a detox from alcohol is complete, patients can begin treatment to ensure that sobriety is maintained for life. Some of the many treatment methods that can be used in recovery are group therapy, dual diagnosis treatment, behavioral therapy and experiential therapy.

Behavioral therapy is also known as talk therapy, and it can include things like cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy. The objective of these types of  therapy is to help patients boost their self confidence and change their destructive patterns of behavior. It may also look to the past to deal with underlying issues like a history of trauma.

Group counseling, or group therapy, is a wonderful way for patients to communicate freely with their peers. It allows participants to share their experiences and learn from others who are going through a similar experience. It allows them to express themselves in a way that might not be possible otherwise, and it can help teach how to interact socially when sober.

Dual diagnosis treatment is treating mental health disorders at the same time as treating addiction. This is an increasingly popular and necessary approach, because there are staggering numbers of patients dealing with both issues simultaneously.

Experiential therapies are less evidence-based, but they can supplement recovery. Things like fitness and equine therapy have the potential to improve the health and happiness of patients, both of which can go a long way in preventing a future relapse.

Ongoing Support for Continuing Sobriety

Recovery from an alcohol addiction doesn’t end the day that patients leave rehab or treatment programs. To maintain sobriety, ongoing support and care is required.

To start, those struggling with alcoholism need to acknowledge that moderation can’t ever be a realistic approach. Complete abstinence from alcohol is necessary to prevent relapse moving forward.

In addition, many individuals can benefit from ongoing therapy. This could be one-on-one behavioral therapy, but it can also be ongoing group therapy. Programs like local 12-step meetings, for example, may have their place in continuing care for alcoholism recovery. Alumni groups for rehab patients can also be a great means of staying in touch and providing ongoing accountability in the years to come.

Finally, ongoing support can come through extended programs. Things like outpatient care or sober living, for example, may serve as transitional phases between residential care and a completely independent lifestyle.

Recovering from an alcohol addiction is no easy feat, and it may require commitment and support for a lifetime. However, that effort is well worth the health, happiness and sobriety on the other side.

Understanding Alcoholism

The term alcoholic is thrown around loosely in modern society, but the casual phrase can be damaging to those who suffer from an addiction to alcohol. Alcoholism is a long-term, often chronic disease where patients are chemically, physically and psychologically dependent on alcohol.

In years past, alcoholism was viewed not as a disease but instead as a defect. Those who were victims of alcohol addiction were considered to be morally bankrupt or lacking self discipline.

In reality, this could not be further from the truth. Alcoholism is not a choice, nor it is something that people can simply decide to end. Just like any other disease, alcoholism needs to be properly treated in order for patients to recover and begin healthy, sober lives.

Causes of Alcohol Addiction

It can be difficult to pin down the exact causes of an addiction to alcohol. For many individuals, alcoholism is a result of several factors that come together. Some of the leading causes of alcoholism include stress, trauma, genetic predisposition, isolation or mental health disorders.

There is a substantial amount of addiction research that points to genetic predisposition as the leading cause of alcoholism. Essentially, this means that some individuals are physically more likely to become addicted than others. While one person may drink alcohol regularly without problems, someone predisposed to alcoholism might become addicted.

It is also important not to ignore the tremendous impact that mental health can have on addiction. There is a significant correlation between alcoholism and mental health disorders, although it is not proven which causes the other. There is no denying that those who struggle with mental health conditions are more likely to become addicted to alcohol.

Some people are drawn to consuming alcohol in large amounts because of personal trauma. They might also drink frequently because of stress, because of feelings of loneliness or because of environmental and social factors that encourage excessive consumption. Over time, drinking alcohol for any of these reasons can lead to alcoholism.

Identifying Alcoholism

Many adults are able to consume alcohol without suffering from alcohol abuse or addiction. However, because alcohol is so frequently consumed by adults, it can be difficult to tell when consumption becomes addiction.

It is important to understand the key ways to identify alcoholism. When the common signs of alcoholism appear, loved ones can take action and help individuals struggling with addiction to get the right help for recovery. A few of the most common ways to identify alcoholism include the following:

• Increased tolerance and the consumption of greater amounts of alcohol
• Drinking alcohol in inappropriate settings
• Inability to avoid alcohol or cut back on quantity
• Inability to stop drinking once starting
• Drastic changes to behavior after drinking alcohol
• Depression or irritability, particularly when not drinking alcohol
• Withdrawal from family and social events
• Failures or problems in career or education

Side Effects of Alcoholism

Alcoholism is not a disease without symptoms. For those addicted to alcohol, the side effects can be devastating. Alcoholism can empty out bank accounts, ruin careers, break up relationships, tear apart families and cause untold physical damage.

Alcoholism can lead to the deterioration of health. Excessive alcohol consumption can reduce the effectiveness of the immune system, causing alcoholics to catch communicable diseases more often and have a harder time getting over them. Alcoholism can also cause liver damage, kidney damage, inflammation of the pancreas and even an irregular heartbeat. Alcohol addictions can lead to decreased fertility for both men and women, and it can cause development problems for babies of women who drink excessively during pregnancy.

Alcohol can also cause or exacerbate mental health problems. Things like depression, anxiety and paranoia are likely to develop or worsen among those who are struggling with an addiction to alcohol.

An addiction to alcohol will mean obsessive thoughts about the procurement and consumption of alcohol, sometimes to the detriment of all else. Personal relationships and family gatherings won’t get the attention they deserve, and careers or ambitions can fall to the wayside. In addition, alcoholism can lead to impaired judgment and risky behavior, potentially causing things like incarceration, sexually transmitted diseases, violence or drunk driving accidents.

Essential Elements of Alcohol Addiction Treatment

By defining alcoholism as an illness, it can be easier to understand the treatment. To effectively treat an addiction to alcohol, a comprehensive approach with a bedrock in evidence-based therapy is necessary.

A detox is often the place where patients begin their journey to sobriety. However, that initial phase is just the first step. Following detox, rehab is where patients can truly begin to make progress toward lifelong sobriety.

Behavioral therapy may be the key to addiction treatment. Individual therapy sessions can treat mental health conditions, reveal underlying trauma and help patients to understand how to prevent relapse from occurring in the future. Holistic therapies can complement evidence-based treatment and may include things like yoga or fitness therapy.

Ongoing Care for Alcoholism

Just like other chronic diseases, alcoholism isn’t something that can be eliminated entirely in a matter of days or weeks. Just as diabetes patients have to monitor their blood sugar levels, so too do alcoholics need to monitor their own sobriety and cravings.

Ongoing care may be necessary for those struggling with alcoholism. This may entail group therapy sessions, 12-step meetings or transitional care. Moderation will likely never be an option, so a commitment to abstaining from alcohol will be vital for lasting sobriety and a healthy life.

Alcoholism is a complex disease that impacts millions. While an addiction to alcohol can be disastrous, there is help. Through alcohol addiction treatment, sobriety and a renewed sense of health and purpose is entirely possible.

Rehab Delivers Accountability

An alcohol rehab program offers accountability to patients in both a physical sense and a medical one. A rehab facility is one that’s free from alcohol or drugs, which means that patients in a rehab center simply won’t have access to these substances. The physical limitation and separation from alcohol can make it mentally easier to resist temptations and cravings during rehab.

Rehab also delivers accountability through regular alcohol testing. This ensures that even for outpatients, there’s a strict adherence to the protocol and the necessity of sobriety. When patients know that there are frequent or even daily tests, they are far more likely to avoid temptation and continue with their goal of abstinence from alcohol.

Rehab Offers 24/7 Medical Supervision

During detox and rehab, 24/7 medical supervision is an advantage for patients. During alcohol rehab, it’s common for patients to deal with lingering withdrawal symptoms. While the timeline for alcohol rehabilitation often includes just a week for withdrawal, there can be a protracted withdrawal phase weeks or even months later. Some of the symptoms that patients could struggle with include the following:

• Headaches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Increased heart rate
• Increased blood pressure
• Insomnia
• Extreme sweating and dehydration

With proper medical supervision, the discomfort and potential health risks of these symptoms can be greatly reduced. Furthermore, medical care can make it easier to stick to the rehab program and enjoy longer periods of sobriety in a positive environment. Without medical supervision, quitting alcohol consumption cold turkey could come with substantial health risks and even the potential for death.

Rehab Treats More Than Just the Physical Aspects of Addiction

Alcohol addiction is an illness, just like diabetes or asthma. However, addiction can’t be treated as an exclusively physical condition. Through rehab, patients can receive comprehensive treatment for their affliction, which might include dual diagnosis treatments or therapy to address mental illness.

As many as half of those individuals who struggle with an alcohol addiction are also struggling with a mental illness. It isn’t enough, therefore, simply to treat the addiction. Through therapy or targeted medications, it may be possible to improve mental health, which could in turn limit the risks of future relapse and ongoing addiction.

Rehab is an Official Commitment to Sobriety

Through an alcohol rehab, patients will be formally committing to an attempt at sobriety. This is important for a number of reasons, but psychologically it can help to create a goal that needs to be met. Without the structure and format of an alcohol rehab, some individuals may not commit to abstinence from alcohol. Instead, they may make nonspecific goals about cutting back or limiting regular consumption.

Unfortunately, this may result in delaying the inevitable rather than tackling sobriety head on. Through rehab, patients are forced to confront their addictions and demonstrate a cessation of alcohol altogether. In many ways, this may be beneficial, and it’s more likely to result in lasting sobriety than a general plan to be weaned off of alcoholic substances slowly.

Rehab May Integrate Pharmacological Treatment

Self-treating an alcohol addiction with over-the-counter medications is ill-advised, but medical professionals in a rehab center can effectively prescribe pharmacological treatment to certain patients. In a medically supervised environment, led by medical professionals who are familiar with alcohol addiction, the use of certain medications can ease the discomfort of detox and the initial stages of rehab. Medications may also be helpful when treating mental illness, a contributing factor for addiction.

However, it can be dangerous for individuals to attempt to self-diagnose or choose their own medications from home. Patients who want to take advantage of the pharmacological benefits of treatment should head for an alcohol rehab program for the right help.

Rehab Can Integrate Family and Loved Ones Into the Recovery Process

When loved ones want to help alcoholics, rehab may be best answer, even if that means temporary separation. Friends and family with good intentions may want to help their loved ones who struggle with addiction, and they may feel that they can orchestrate an effective detox or rehab center at home. In reality, however, this will almost certainly be a mistake. There simply won’t be the right level of medical care for patients dealing with addiction, and it could result in ineffective care or even the risk for potential health damage.

Rehab Focuses on Relapse Prevention

Relapse is the biggest challenge to lasting sobriety, and alcohol rehab centers will spend a large portion of the program focused on how to prevent relapse from occurring. To achieve that goal of uninterrupted sobriety, patients may discuss relapse prevention in group therapy or individual therapy. They may also develop lifelong passions and habits that can eliminate stress and reduce tension.

Some of the therapies incorporated in rehab are designed to reduce the risk of relapse. These methods might include art therapy, yoga therapy or fitness therapy, among many others.

Rehab Offers Emotional Support to Patients Dealing With Addiction

Alcohol rehab is a comprehensive treatment program for patients who want to turn away from their personal history of alcoholism. One of its key objectives, as a result, is to offer emotional support to patients.

Many patients in rehab feel misunderstood, under-appreciated and victimized. Through group therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy, patients can overcome these strong feelings and better understand their worth and their productive place in society. Doing this, and feeling fulfilled and positive, is an incredibly beneficial tool in the fight for sobriety.

To end an addiction to alcohol, professional rehab at a reputable treatment center is a non-negotiable component of recovery. By focusing on physical health, relapse prevention, emotional health and mental health, rehab is designed to comprehensively improve the health and sobriety of patients.

Alcohol Detox

The first step in treating an alcohol addiction is typically a detox. This is a medically supervised program where patients cease all alcohol consumption. Generally, patients will experience withdrawal symptoms that range from mildly unpleasant to painful.

A detox can come in many forms, but the duration tends to be between seven and nine days for the average patient. Treatment facilities can opt to go natural for a detox, which means there are little to no pharmacological remedies offered, or they can opt for more prescribed medications and even sedatives to minimize discomfort. After the detox is complete, patients will be ready to explore their next options on the road to recovery, which will include a rehab program.

Short-Term Residential Rehab

Residential rehab, also known as inpatient rehab, is a 24/7 treatment option that includes virtually everything that a patient will need for the duration of the program. This will include accommodation in a sober environment where alcohol isn’t permitted, and it also includes meals, therapies and various treatment methods.

Although the exact duration of residential rehab can vary, short-term programs are the most common. These programs tend, on average, to last 30 days. This gives patients a foundation upon which they can create healthy habits and routines on their journey to recovery.

There are a number of different therapies and treatment methods that can be administered during a short-term residential rehab program. Individual counseling is often the bedrock of the curriculum, and it involves a one-on-one meeting between a patient struggling with addiction and a counselor, therapist or psychologist. Group therapy may also be included as a way to share experiences with others, learn from past mistakes and generally feel less isolated in the environment.

Long-Term Residential Rehab

In many ways, the format of a long-term residential rehab program will be the same as a short-term program. There will still be structure and accountability around the clock, and patients will still have all or most of their needs met right on the premises. However, long-term programs tend to last for six months or longer.

Long-term residential rehab programs can be beneficial for patients who struggle with a more severe alcohol addiction. They might also be recommended for people who have been through rehab several times in the past but need to make a serious time commitment to reshape habits, routines and perspective. Living in a controlled environment for an extended period of time can help to re-frame people’s worldviews, helping them to create coping strategies without the temptation of alcohol anywhere in the vicinity.

Partial Hospitalization Programs

Patients who have a stable living situation, and the support of family or roommates, may do well in a partial hospitalization program. This type of program allows for daily treatment in a facility that offers therapy as well as medical monitoring. There’s a daily accountability at play in this type of treatment, mandating that all participants retain their sobriety throughout the process. However, patients are free to go home each night after their 4–8 hours of curriculum is complete.

Partial hospitalization programs can be ideal for patients who need medical attention and a daily routine for structure. It’s also suited to those with families who don’t want to leave their spouse, their children or their parents for weeks or even months at a time.

Outpatient or Intensive Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient treatment programs for alcohol addiction are the primary alternative to residential programs. There’s no accommodation provided for patients in outpatient programs, so they spend each night independently in their own residence. During treatment, however, patients will participate in group counseling, individual therapy sessions and other treatment methods designed to help with their recovery.

The main difference between outpatient treatment and intensive outpatient treatment is the time commitment. Intensive outpatient treatment is the bigger commitment, often requiring patients to come in three or four days a week for several hours each time. Outpatient treatment, on the other hand, may only take place once or twice a week, and possibly in the evenings. Outpatient and intensive outpatient treatment may be best for those who need to take care of family during the day, attend school or maintain their careers while seeking sobriety.

Sober Living Facilities

Another option for alcohol addiction is sober living. When patients reside in sober living facilities, they are in a type of transition period between residential rehab and independent living. The environment is alcohol free, and residents are surrounded by other like-minded individuals with the goal of sobriety. Sober living facilities seek to eliminate temptations, and increase accountability, which makes it easier to stay on the right path and work toward a lifetime of sobriety.

Sober Companionship

An infrequent means of alcohol addiction treatment, but certainly an effective one, is sober companionship. This is the opportunity to have a sober counselor, or someone trained in addiction treatment and alcoholism, spend most or all of the day by your side or on call. This individual is someone that patients can talk to when they’re struggling with temptation to avoid falling into a relapse. Sober companionship can work best for those individuals who want to return to their careers quickly, but who don’t want to fall into old habits.

Alcohol addiction simply isn’t a condition that can be treated solo. Since there are so many different types of programs available, individuals struggling with an alcohol addiction can easily find a program or treatment method that fits their needs and their schedule.

Defining an Addiction to Alcohol

One of the difficulties in identifying and treating addictions to alcohol is defining them. In the United States alone, more than 71% of adults report that they have consumed an alcoholic beverage in the past year, but use certainly doesn’t imply addiction. Generally speaking, moderate alcohol consumption can be defined as two drinks a day for men or one for women.

Beyond moderate use is alcohol abuse, where excessive alcohol consumption becomes a barrier to a healthy, functioning existence. Alcohol consumption may be used to improve mood or alleviate stress, and it may begin to create legal issues, job performance concerns and even safety risks.

Beyond alcohol abuse is alcohol dependence, or addiction. This is the stage where individuals have no reliable control over their need for alcohol. Typical characteristics of someone addicted to alcohol include the inability to refuse a drink, to stop drinking once you’ve started and problems with going more than a day without an alcoholic beverage.

Searching for the Causes of an Addiction to Alcohol

There’s no one specific cause of addiction to alcohol, or any other substance. For this reason, there isn’t any one thing that a person can do to absolutely prevent addiction, beyond abstinence. That being said, there are certainly some factors that can contribute to the formation of an addiction to alcohol, as well as a few reasons why some individuals may be more prone to addiction than others.

There’s some evidence to suggest that addiction may, in some form, be genetic. It isn’t unusual for addiction to alcohol to be passed down through generations. Individuals with parents, grandparents or siblings who are addicted to alcohol may have a higher risk level themselves.

There may also be some psychological traits that make a person more susceptible to addiction. An impulsive personality or a need for approval are two things that could encourage the frequency and quantity of drinking, both of which can speed up the road to addiction. Individuals who are victims of abuse or trauma are also much more likely to be the victims of an addiction to alcohol.

The Role of Mental Illness in Addiction

There’s a staggering overlap between those who are addicted to alcohol and those who struggle with mental illness. This is called comorbidity, or a dual diagnosis, and it means that someone struggles with both a mental disorder and an addiction.

Some people consider mental illness and addiction to be a chicken-and-the-egg scenario. It isn’t clear whether people with mental illnesses are predisposed to develop addictions, or if those who are predisposed to addiction are more likely to end up with a mental illness as a result. Either way, it’s impossible to separate the two. Often, addiction itself is considered to be a mental illness.

Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to mood disorders such as depression, anxiety and paranoia. Trauma, such as being in a violent accident or growing up with an abusive parent, can also cause both mental illness and a predisposition to an addictive personality. While research may not be definitive, there’s no doubt that the two are closely intertwined and need to be treated together in order for individuals to achieve mental health and sobriety.

How Alcohol Addictions Impact the Nation

When someone you love is addicted to alcohol, or if this is something you struggle with, the addiction can seem intensely personal. It’s impossible to understate, however, the impact that alcohol addictions have on the country at large.

In the United States, alcohol is the fourth most common cause of preventable deaths, and it’s responsible for ending more than 88,000 lives each year. That is in addition to alcohol-induced driving fatalities, which kill another nearly 10,000 people annually.

If you look at alcohol addictions from a legal perspective, you can find it just about everywhere. More than five million adults who were convicted for a crime were under the influence of alcohol at the time the offense took place, and as many of half of those people either struggled with addiction or alcohol abuse. Alcohol misuse also costs the United States more than $249 billion each year, which is money that could be better spent on education, health services or infrastructure.

Treatment for an Addiction to Alcohol

An addiction to alcohol isn’t something that willpower can fix. Addiction is a physical and psychological disorder, and seeking the right help will be crucial for breaking the bonds that bind individuals to their addictions. To treat an addiction to alcohol, the best and most successful course of action will include detox, rehab and the right aftercare services.

Detox is the first step to treating an addiction to alcohol, and it involves the cessation of alcohol and the detoxification of the body from any alcoholic substances. This should be done in a medically supervised environment, and not done on one’s own, in order to best manage the withdrawal symptoms that have the potential to be dangerous and even life-threatening.

After detox, rehab programs offer the tools for individuals to combat addiction. This can involve physical therapy, counseling sessions, group therapy and a range of evidence-based treatment methods. For aftercare, ongoing 12-step programs as well as sober living facilities can be integral to lasting sobriety.

Alcohol addiction is a serious condition that impacts millions of people. By understanding the causes and implications of this addiction, it may be easier to treat.