Understanding Alcohol Abuse - Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol use disorder, more commonly known as alcohol addiction or alcoholism, is a serious problem that requires serious treatment. Discovery Transitions in Los Angeles offers practical and clinically tested methods to safely and comfortably treat alcoholics of all types and any issues surrounding alcohol addiction.

Discovery understands that many people shy away from alcohol addiction treatment due to both shame and intimidation of the detox and treatment process. To help the process not seem as scary, let’s discuss how Discovery Transitions treats alcoholism and the five major components for a healthy and productive alcohol rehab program.

Table of Content

Medical Detox
Medication-Assisted Treatment
Behavioral Therapy
Relapse Prevention
12-Step Programs
Discovery Transitions and Alcohol Addiction

Medical Detox

You can’t be focused on treatment if you’re painfully working alcohol out of your system. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that can affect every part of the body. Consequently, a proper detox is important for the health and safety of the patient. When chemically dependent alcoholics quit drinking, their dependent brain goes haywire. As a result, individuals suffer from mild to severe consequences known as alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol withdrawal can present mild symptoms like trouble sleeping and shaky hands, but chronic alcoholics can suffer severe withdrawal symptoms like seizure, heart attack, coma, and death.

Similarly, alcohol affects your brain as well. However, low-dose benzodiazepines like Valium or Librium are given to alcohol detox patients to avoid the most severe symptoms and discomfort. Withdrawal medication is weaned away until the patient is 100% sober without major issues. Before anything begins, patients will sit down with medical staff to discuss their history of abuse and determine the best possible detox methods and treatments.

Medication-Assisted Treatment

Alcohol addiction is baffling because it’s considered both a physical and psychological medical condition. Most heavy drinkers and people with mild drinking problems can be treated with guided counseling or group therapy but alcoholics who are chemically dependent on alcohol need further help.

Medication-assisted alcohol treatment programs (MAT) utilize medication along with counseling and other techniques to help improve the chances of long-term sobriety for chronic alcoholics. Benzos can be used to reduce symptoms of acute and later stage withdrawal, Antabuse can be used to keep alcoholics from drinking during early recovery, and thiamine can help rebuild the natural brain pathways damaged by alcohol abuse.

Different medications are used during different portions of the treatment, but they’re all prescribed to help the alcoholic keep their head up and stay on the wagon.

Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing (MI) are popular for alcohol addiction treatment. In addition, both have been used successfully for several decades.

Behavioral therapy programs help alcoholics examine and recognize their negative thought processes (cognition). Then, they help change their way of thinking for more positive outcomes (behavior.) By learning to recognize the negative thought patterns or struggles that typically lead an alcoholic to the bottle, they can change their mindset and follow through with healthier actions. Behavioral therapy is not required to treat addiction, but it’ll be difficult for an alcoholic to achieve long-term sobriety without the tools and techniques of behavioral therapy.

Relapse Prevention

Relapse prevention is arguably the most important step in a well-crafted treatment plan. After all, relapse is considered both an outcome and a transgression of long-term recovery. However, it’s still the ultimate enemy to a happier and healthier life. There are many factors in relapse, including emotional relapse. Emotional relapse begins before an alcoholic is aware they’re in danger of falling off the wagon.

Relapse prevention

highlights the alcoholic’s unique challenges
helps them become aware of unique triggers
teaches them how to create healthy boundaries
daily tasks the alcoholic can do to help deal with stressful life events
how to recognize the thoughts that might lead to relapse

Relapse prevention is taught during primary treatment. It is also an important part of follow-up and aftercare.

12-Step Programs

Alcohol abuse treatment and relapse prevention utilize the 12-steps of Alcoholics Anonymous to keep the alcoholic sober and growing after they leave treatment. The 12-step program subscribes to the disease model of addiction. It also encourages alcoholics to give up selfish control, learn how to cope with life and its challenges, and more. The 12 steps have been used for several decades to keep alcoholics from going back to the bottle. In addition, the fellowship and understanding felt in the rooms of AA can increase the chances of long-term sobriety.

Alcoholics leaving alcohol addiction treatment are strongly encouraged to find a home group and a sponsor. These assets can help lead you on your journey through the steps.

Discovery Transitions and Alcohol Addiction

The more tools you use against alcohol abuse the more successful you’re likely to be. Discovery Transitions believes in several clinically tested treatment techniques including medical detox, medication therapy, relapse prevention, 12-step programs, and more. Don’t wait another day while alcohol addiction derails your life. Call Discovery Transitions found in the Los Angeles area today to start immediately with one of our certified alcohol addiction counselors.

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