The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIAAA, reports that one in 13 adults in America---nearly 14 million people---either abuse alcohol or are alcohol dependent. Several million more drink in a way that puts them at risk for developing alcoholism. If you're not sure if you have a drinking problem, the CAGE Assessment questionnaire can help you determine if you should consider treatment.
Evaluation
Before determining an alcohol recovery plan and treatment goals, you will need to be evaluated by an addiction specialist. Although the CAGE Assessment questionnaire will determine if you have a problem, a counselor can establish whether you will need detoxification for alcohol withdrawal syndrome, AWS, whether you can start rehabilitation right away and if inpatient or outpatient treatment suits your recovery needs.
Detox
Depending on how much you drink and how long you've been drinking, you might not be able to stop without detox treatment. AWS is a serious condition with potentially dangerous psychological and physical symptoms. If your dependence on alcohol puts you at risk for having seizures or delirium tremens, you must take medications that help reduce and prevent symptoms. For mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, tremors and nausea, you might be on a symptom-triggered medication regimen. For mild withdrawal symptoms, you might only need to be monitored for a few days. Withdrawing from alcohol dependence can affect your respiratory system.
Rehabilitation
Anyone who has a drinking problem, whether you abuse alcohol or are alcohol dependent, getting treatment at an inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation facility can increase your chances of getting sober and staying clean, according to Caron Treatment Centers. Individual goals you begin working on in rehab are seeking out healthy relationships, eating nutritional meals, getting enough rest and exercise, and learning how to problem solve in a healthy way.
Recovery
Recovery from alcohol abuse and dependence is different than rehabilitation. Rehab is an educational experience, but recovery is a time when you put your education to practice. Alcoholism is a chronic, progressive disease with some relapse statistics as high as 40 percent to 60 percent, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIDA. Joining Alcoholics Anonymous or another self-help program will increase your chances of staying sober. Further, NIDA reports that in a review of 10,000 recovering alcoholics, 90 percent of those who attended at least one AA meeting weekly and participated in aftercare treatment were able to maintain abstinence for one year.
Medications
Medication is prescribed for most people detoxing from alcohol dependence. Those who experience high levels of anxiety or depression as a direct result of alcohol abuse might be prescribed an anti-depressant, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI. These medications work by reducing withdrawal symptoms, cravings and negative feelings associated with getting sober. After achieving sobriety, you might qualify for other medications that can help normalize brain functions that were damaged while you abused alcohol or medications that block the effect of alcohol on certain transmitters in the brain.
