The types of alcoholism treatment are many and varied. The correct approach varies widely from case to case. It has a lot to do with how long the alcohol addiction has existed and how severe, or incapacitating and all-consuming, that addiction has become. A person’s decision may also be largely influenced by their willingness to accept outside help or their determination to do it with as little help as possible.

Some people like to go it alone, commonly called “quitting cold turkey,” but this option does not involve any real treatment. This can be dangerous during the detoxification phase – especially for hard-core, long-term alcoholics. During the detox phase, a recovering alcoholic’s body can exhibit some quite severe withdrawal symptoms. These might include headaches, body aches, fever, chills and even hallucinations.

At least one medical expert should always be on hand during the difficult detox phase to handle any physical issues that may arise. As far as relief during detox, some alcoholism treatment centers offer safe, harmless medicine to lessen the severity of withdrawal symptoms. Other facilities might take a more natural, medicine-free approach to detox with the use of saunas and other techniques. Either way, detox is considered a pre-treatment routine, and is important in preparing the body for recovery from addiction.

Alcoholism treatment facilities can differ in ways other than how they handle detox. Facilities can operate from a philosophy that addiction is a choice. This typically indicates that the facility offers more behavioral treatment with counseling and life skills classes. Alternatively, the facility can operate from the perspective that addiction is a disease. This typically lends itself toward more of a medicinal approach to treatment. Some facilities are very relaxed and spa-like. Others are very clinical.

The duration of time spent in alcoholism treatment facilities can vary widely as well. It could be a few hours several days a week, which might be a more common scenario at an outpatient facility. There, recovering alcoholics can visit and receive treatment during the day, but return home at night. Alternatively, a person could stay at the facility for several weeks or months at a time. This is more typical in an inpatient or long-term care facility, where patients reside around the clock. The appropriate amount of time is largely determined by how far the addiction has progressed.

Self-help groups, or 12 step groups, are another type of alcoholism treatment. Participants may remain anonymous in these meetings, which are a venue for expression of frustration, challenges, encouragement, hope and successes in the alcoholism treatment journey. Participation in these groups may be combined with visits to an alcoholism treatment facility, perhaps participation might begin after the visits to the facility have ended. Counseling and therapy should also continue after a stay in an alcoholism treatment facility. This is part of aftercare, the process of professional monitoring to ensure that the recovering alcoholic is adjusting capably to a life of sobriety.

Alcoholism recovery lasts a lifetime. Anyone doubting that fact can hear the facts straight from someone who has gone through the process. It involves a constant awareness of one’s temptations and limits. In many cases, old temptations are still tempting after years and years have gone by. It can be very enticing to revert back to the way life was before alcoholism recovery, but this would be very detrimental to the alcoholism recovery goal. Relapses make it even more difficult to get sober again because of the guilt and shame and the sense of failure. Relapses do not equal failure, however, and they can be overcome.

One cocktail with friends after work, one beer at the big game or one glass of wine at a wedding can start a person back down the slippery slope of alcohol addiction. Then, before a person even realizes what has happened, he or she is drinking one glass, then another, in the privacy of their own home. They may only drink on the weekends at first, then most evenings, then during the daytime. The effects of the alcohol and the fact that they have relapsed can make them feel overwhelmed with guilt, depression and despair. Those with an addictive personality must be extra careful to avoid making small allowances that could lead to big trouble later on. That is not to say they can never again enter an environment where alcohol is being consumed. They may be strong enough for that, but they must remain accountable for their own behavior.

Accountability partners can be part of the solution for this, as both people are enduring similar experiences and can share encouragement and advice with each other. It is also a good idea to admit to oneself, from the very beginning, that alcoholism recovery is going to be a lifelong process. Refusing to admit that would be the equivalent of preparing for massive disappointment and discouragement. Admitting that alcoholism recovery is a lifelong process is essentially an admission of individual weakness. This enables a person to be more open to leaning on another source of strength, like religion, friends or family, to achieve success.

Alcoholism recovery will also alter your circle of friends in life. Especially in the beginning, the recovering alcoholic will be particularly susceptible to temptation and will need to avoid hanging around the old crowd of drinking buddies. It will be better in the early stages of recovery to associate with others who are going through similar predicaments and are making similar life choices. Then, later on, the recovering alcoholic may be mentally strong enough to associate with those friends again without falling back into the drinking lifestyle. However, chances are good that by that time, the recovering alcoholic will not even miss the alcohol-centered social gatherings with those particular friends. Getting a fresh start after alcoholism recovery may entail getting away to a new job, new school or even a new town to have a chance to develop a new, alcohol-free image.

Alcohol is one of the most mind-altering legal substances in existence. It makes people believe that they are fine and in control. It is why intoxicated people will often be fully convinced that they are capable of driving and those in the grips of alcoholism will be fully convinced that they do not have a problem. This deluded mentality is why intervention is often needed in the form of alcohol addiction treatment. If treatment is postponed or avoided altogether, the alcoholism could escalate to the point of complete incapacitation.

There are two primary, very divergent, approaches to alcohol addiction treatment. Basically, some alcohol addiction treatment professionals believe addiction is a disease, while others believe it is the result of a series of poor decisions or negative life circumstances. The first approach treats addiction medically and the second approach treats addiction with a more complete approach, involving life skills education, therapy and counseling. There may also be some medical intervention with the latter treatment option during the detox phase, when certain medications can help alleviate the side effects of initial withdrawal from drugs.

The first step of alcohol addiction treatment is admitting that the drinking has gotten out of control, it is a problem that has to stop, and help is required in order to make it stop. Once that decision is made by the individual who is addicted, treatment can begin in an effective and healthy manner. Without that admission, there is a great likelihood that the patient will remain hostile and skeptical throughout the process and the alcohol addiction treatment will essentially be ineffective.

Detoxification is typically the first step in alcohol addiction treatment, after admission. This phase requires abstinence from all alcohol, with help from counselors, group support meetings and possibly some safe drugs to help wean the addict off alcohol with as few side effects as possible. Some alcohol addiction treatment centers prefer a drug-free approach to detox, with all-natural treatments like massages and detox saunas. Either way, medical professionals should be involved.

Alcoholism addiction treatment is also about identifying the root causes of the addiction and ridding one’s life of the emotions or influences that were encouraging it. There are often co-occuring disorders that may be contributing to – or resulting from – the addiction. These might include things like severe depression or an eating disorder, and should be treated completely independently of the alcohol addiction itself. The causes might also include past life trauma, guilt, fear, or regret. Counseling and therapy, both individually, and in family and group settings, are available in alcoholism addiction treatment.

The treatment process might also offer education on things such as financial management, relationship and parenting tips, and overall physical and emotional health. These can help ease the transition into society after treatment is over. That process is also eased by the aftercare many treatment centers provide. Aftercare is ongoing follow-up care with things like counseling and home visits to smooth the process of adjusting to a sober life. Essentially, the end goal of alcohol addiction treatment is to help the person heal their whole person – mind, body, soul and emotions.

Alcohol has been – and continues to be – one of the biggest hot-button issues in society. It is loathed by some and loved by others. It is a divide within many religious groups, causing some religious devotees to consume alcohol behind closed doors while rebuking it publicly. It dates back to the days of prohibition, when alcohol was made illegal in the United States and thousands of Americans darted around finding (or making) the illegal substance on the black market.

In looking at the broader picture, one can see that America is relatively conservative in its approach to alcohol consumption. It is common for European children to consume alcohol with parental permission in social settings. In the United States, this practice is not only forbidden by law, it is socially stigmatized. Some parents do provide alcohol for their children in the home, for parties with friends, for example. However, this is usually done without the knowledge and permission of other parents. The issue has been at the center of more than one fight amongst parents of high schoolers, as studies have linked alcohol consumption early in life to alcoholism later in life.

Social acceptance of alcohol consumption depends upon the circle of friends. Some are responsible, always designate a sober driver, use alcohol as a complement to dinner or a celebration and could really take it or leave it. Others never socialize without alcohol, their gatherings center largely around alcohol, they regularly drink until inebriated and aren’t always the most careful about designating a sober driver. The chances are good that there is at least one person in that group who is in the grips of alcoholism, or is well on their way.

To the opposite extreme, some social circles abstain from alcohol completely for various reasons. Sometimes the death of a loved one due to an intoxicated driver is traumatic enough to make a person choose lifelong sobriety. Alternatively, it might be for health reasons, religious convictions or because of alcoholism recovery. Sometimes people in this category can associate with people who drink, and sometimes they just won’t. Alcohol consumption – or at least one’s acceptance of another person’s alcohol consumption – goes a long way in determining social circles.

The fierce debate over alcohol consumption stems from the harm it can cause, particularly when it develops into alcoholism. One night of partying can lead to intoxicated driving, which can lead to death or serious injury of oneself or another. Alcohol consumption lowers inhibitions and increases the incidents of child abuse and violence, both domestically and publicly. It also lowers sexual inhibitions, which can lead to regrettable sexual encounters and unplanned pregnancies or sexually transmitted diseases. These become social issues that weigh on society as a whole, in terms of healthcare and taxes, to name a few. If a person’s alcohol consumption escalates into alcoholism, their family, job, friends, material possessions and basic life needs will all be pushed to the background. It is an all-consuming addiction that destroys families and increases unemployment – two issues that, once again, place a tremendous burden on society.

Alcoholism has a drastic effect on a person’s physical appearance. It can make people look older than others their age, and it can also make people feel older physically. Heavy and prolonged alcohol use can lead to a wide variety of serious physical afflictions. It can become quite difficult for an alcoholic or frequent alcohol abuser to fall asleep and stay asleep. It can also cause more serious, life-threatening conditions like serrhosis of the liver.

Alcoholism drastically reduces the amount of blood flow to the liver, kidneys and organs. With less blood flow, the functionality of those organs are slowed. Excessive alcohol consumption can also wear down the lining of the stomach and throat. This can increase heartburn and indigestion problems.

Because restlessness and insomnia are increased by alcohol, an alcoholic will often feel tired and distracted throughout the day. This can affect a person’s work ethic, job performance and, ultimately, their employability. Continuous headaches and muscle aches are also symptoms of alcoholism, but these will subside if the level of alcohol consumption lessens or stops altogether. If alcohol use continues at high levels, it can progress into drug use – particularly in teens. Even more than alcohol, most drugs have very serious and immediate physical consequences. However, drug use is largely determined by social affiliation. Since many alcoholics reach a point where they stop socializing, the chances of being socially pressured to try drugs are practically nil at that point.

Alcohol has been linked to increased blood pressure, hypertension and dehydration. If an expectant mother drinks alcohol, it puts the fetus in her womb at risk of fetal alcohol syndrome. If the fetus does develop that very serious disease, it can cause serious birth defects and possibly even cause the fetus to die. Therefore, expectant mothers have a special responsibility to take care of themselves for the sake of their unborn child. If they have never before lived as an adult without relying on alcohol, pregnancy is a good time to start.

Scientific research has shown a link between the human mortality rate and the prevalence of depression. Alcoholism drives its sufferers ever further into depression. This obviously increases the risk of personal harm, whether self-inflicted or not. In light of this, it becomes clear why drug rehab includes treatment for several co-occurring disorders, physical, mental and emotional. Paranoia, panic attacks, manic behavior and delusional behavior have also been linked to alcoholism.

Alcohol numbs the brain and decreases its connectivity with the rest of the body, which can cause a whole host of dangerous behavior. Alcoholism can cause increased physical aggression or lewd behavior. This can lead to public fighting, increased domestic violence, child or pet abuse incidents. It can also lead to public indecency, more carefree sexual behavior and regrettable, casual sexual encounters. Drinking in public without a designated driver or plan to call a taxicab can result in intoxicated driving, which could result in an accident with injuries or fatality. Of course, many of these incidents can lead to arrest, which creates a whole new set of issues.

Alcoholism is a debilitating condition. It involves the continual, gradually increasing use of alcohol to the point of obsession. That obsession pushes aside all cares and concerns for family, work, life obligations and anything else other than a desire for more alcohol.

Alcoholism can begin with social pressures, whether it be a party atmosphere that encourages drinking or merely as a stress reliever from job troubles. It can also originate from a desire to numb the pain from past life issues, like child abuse, a job loss or a failed marriage. If alcohol is consumed often enough, the body will become tolerant to its effects. A person trying to numb pain or forget about stress will need to consume ever larger amounts of alcohol to achieve the same “buzzed,” happy feeling that previously may have been achieved with only a couple drinks.

Social drinking, like a beer after work with friends or champagne at a wedding celebration, seems harmless enough. However, some people have addictive natures. Other people have good self-control, but socialize often in circles where nobody values self-control. The alcohol consumption becomes so great that it spirals out of control.

An alcoholic might see new problems arise in their life, like inability to pay for basic living costs, which could be a direct result of the large amount of money they are spending on alcohol. Alcoholism can also create tensions and violence in the workplace and home. These problems will be drowned out by alcohol, which will then create more problems. Before a person even realizes it, they can get caught in the cycle of alcoholism.

With alcoholism, the body experiences withdrawal symptoms like headaches, nervousness and irritability when unable to have access to alcohol. Alcoholics might require alcohol to prepare their nerves for socializing at parties or family gatherings. They will thus often drink alcohol at home before going to such events, even if they plan to drink more alcohol at the actual event.

Alcoholism causes many physical and psychological side effects. It can create feelings of lethargy, apathy, hopelessness and depression. It can create a multitude of disorders with the heart, liver and other internal organs. Alcohol consumption creates a sense of invincibility and fearlessness, which explains why so many people choose to drink and drive. They believe themselves immune to the effects of the alcohol. Alcoholics in particular may have developed a reputation for being able to “hold their liquor,” and may believe themselves to be immune to the damage alcohol can cause to the body. This is not the case, however, and they may not realize it until it is too late.

Alcoholism inspires selfishness that alienates family members and friends. It is an ugly battle that is intensely personal and occasionally horiffically public. Alcoholism is reversible, however. Just as there are drug rehabs for drug addicts, there are also alcoholism treatment centers. The professionals working there are experienced with alcoholism and can provide the needed help and guidance to achieve a better standard of living.

Alcoholism affects people from all walks of life. Addiction is not selective when choosing its victims. Alcoholism can affect anyone from doctors, lawyers and Ivy League professors to the homeless members of society. In fact, alcoholism is a common cause of homelessness. A person may be going along fine, with a lovely family, well-paying job, and living in a great neighborhood. But if that person succumbs to alcoholism, which is often accompanied by depression and apathy, the family can leave, the job can be terminated and the house can go into foreclosure. If they do not have the willpower to fight for their quality of life, they can end up homeless, which then affects society as a whole.

Within the family, the parents, siblings, spouse and children are affected just as much – if not more so – by alcoholism. Addiction makes people act selfishly and care only about their next cocktail, their next beer, their next shot. It hurts family members to see their loved one turn away. Sometimes these strained relationships can last a lifetime, but sometimes they will simply end. The breakup of the family can also have an effect on society, because the spouse and children may need government assistance to survive.

Within the workplace, alcoholism in one employee can affect bosses who may consequentially be unable to meet quotas or mandates handed down by supervisors. Alcoholism also affects co-workers who may be forced to pick up the slack caused by one employee’s unreliable performance. Ultimately, alcoholism in one employee or a few employees can affect overall morale and performance within the organization, particularly when someone who is in a leadership position is alcoholic.

This applies to a broader realm as well, if someone is in a leadership position within the community. They may be involved in local leadership, like schools or government. They may be involved in national leadership, like a congressman. If a person fails to appear for votes or meetings to represent their constituents, it can have an obvious effect on the laws and ordinances affecting communities. If a person is a public role model to young people, like a sports athlete, they have additional responsibility. If they are convicted of a charge of driving while intoxicated, it can have a drastic effect on the psyche of their young, impressionable fans.

Ultimately, alcoholism has the most significant effect on the alcoholic. It creates a state of apathy and disinterest in life. An alcoholic might lose interest in personal hygiene, hobbies, family activities and social outings. The addiction becomes an all-consuming obsession. It affects their heart and liver, among other things, but they don’t care. Alcoholism is a monster that turns people into an unrecognizable force. A person may become angry when drunk, which can contribute to home problems like domestic violence or child abuse. A person may become more flirtatious when drunk, which can lead to extramarital affairs or meaningless and regrettable casual sex. Even if a person chooses to sober up and live a healthier life, the things that occurred during the time of alcoholism can leave emotional and psychological scars that last a lifetime.

Friends are among some of the most significant influences on a person’s behavior. If a person values what their friends think about them more than anything else, they will align themselves with similar behavior and beliefs as those friends. This can be detrimental when the beliefs in question are harmful to oneself or others.

When your friends are drinking too much, too often, they are alcoholics, or frequent alcohol abusers at the very least. Only they can make the choice whether to turn it around or whether to allow their addiction to continue taking a toll on their life. You, however, control what kind of effect they will have on you. Even if you recognize that their behavior is troubling, it does not mean the friendship has to end. If, however, you feel yourself being tempted to lead that same kind of unhealthy lifestyle, it is time to avoid that group of friends.

You cannot drink to excess at every social gathering. It will inevitably have serious consequences. Whether it is an arrest, injury accident or fatal accident, or regrettable words or actions, alcohol will make you do things you would not have done when sober. There is a reason it is referred to as “liquid courage” – it is a false courage that causes all kinds of heartbreak.

So you may have reached a point where you are uncomfortable with the amount of alcohol your social circle is consuming. It may bother you that your friends drink so much all the time, you tire of being the designated driver and want to actually enjoy a sober conversation with them. You can protect yourself by choosing to associate with your friends individually instead of in groups, where there may be stronger peer pressure to start drinking. You can socialize with them during the day in non-alcoholic settings like shopping or playing sports. Then you are not exposing yourself to that temptation to fall into that lifestyle, but you are also not alienating your friends just because they are alcoholic. You love them and would like to help rather than judge them. Make sure you have established plenty of other relationships with healthy individuals who do not abuse alcohol, so you will have alternative social outlets.

If the time comes when one of your friends approaches you about their alcoholism and asks your advice or opinion, there are some key things to keep in mind. If you initiate the conversation, do it individually and not in a social setting. All involved parties should be sober and not hung over, if at all possible. Your words should be rehearsed, because sometimes things come out sounding different than you originally intended. Educate yourself on the signs of alcoholism, because it is common for alcoholics to deny the problem when confronted. Also educate yourself on possible solutions such as a drug rehab, so you can have a constructive conversation. Challenge them to really think about how their drinking has affected their life in a negative way or perhaps kept them from doing things they would like to do. Above all, be firm yet loving. Avoid an accusatory, judgmental tone – focus on the actions, not the person.

Alcoholics take time to develop. Alcoholism is a point that is often reached long before the alcoholic even realizes it. The alcoholism may be completely evident to everyone but that person for a long, long time. By the time a person recognizes the alcohol issue and the need to correct it, it has often already caused much havoc and strained relationships in life. It will leave them wondering, “How did I get to this point?”

A person’s peers can have a drastic effect on their life choices. When a person hangs around social circles that place high value on alcohol, then there is pressure to drink more and more as the body becomes tolerant to alcohol and its effects. There is pressure to get and keep a “buzzed” feeling because everyone else is doing it.

For some people – especially those with addictive tendencies – it can be easy for the alcohol consumption to gradually seep over into everyday situations. It might be social anxiety, work or relationship stress, grief or guilt over past life events, etc. Whatever the case, alcohol becomes the number one way to ease the tension and pain. They drink alone and often, in large quantities, sometimes even during the work day. This is when alcohol consumption starts to cross the line from social drinking into alcoholism.

Social drinkers
• Drink their alcohol more slowly, sipping them while they talk. Ultimately, they drink less as a result.
• Usually order mixed drinks, as opposed to hard liquor.
• Will generally not have more than 12 drinks in a four-hour period.
• Will not typically be inclined to drink before arriving at a social event.

Alcoholics
• Alcoholics gulp their drinks – particularly the first few to get a buzz going.
• Alcoholics drink to get drunk.
• Alcoholics tend to prefer hard liquor straight, often followed by several beers.
• Alcoholics consume twice as much as social drinkers.

Alcoholism stems from increased levels of tolerance and withdrawal. Tolerance is essentially how long the body takes to begin feeling buzzed. The more often a person drinks, the more desensitized the body becomes, requiring larger amounts of alcohol each time to get that buzzed, carefree feeling. Commonly referred to as being able to “hold your liquor,” consuming large quantities of alcohol is also a trait found often in alcoholics.

Withdrawal refers to how dependent the body is on alcohol. Essentially, what sort of bodily reactions occur when the body goes without alcohol for an extended period of time. If a person finds the absence of alcohol very irritating and uncomfortable, they are demonstrating behavior often associated with alcoholics. Mixing up social circles and activities, or finding new social circles altogether, can reduce and eliminate the frequency of alcohol consumption and thus the body’s dependence on alcohol. However, for some, that step may simply not be enough to end the addiction. A person may also find it necessary to seek professional help at a drug rehab to eliminate, or at least curb, their alcohol consumption.

It can be difficult to identify an alcoholic in some cases. There are some people who hide their addiction very, very well. They are experts at cover-up and deception, though they deceive themselves most of all. They believe themselves to be perfectly capable of living life as before, and are completely blind to the destruction and havoc the addiction is causing in their own life and to the ones who love them. The following are some signs of alcoholism. If you or someone you love is displaying any or all of these behaviors, contact a drug rehab facility immediately for help.

• An alcoholic will often drink throughout the day. Alcohol will be smelled on their breath and person. They may become cranky, moody and distracted when circumstances prevent them from consuming alcohol. They may even drink at home before a social event, where they might drink even more. When drinking socially, they will often keep drinking alcohol after others have stopped and begin before anyone else as well.
• An alcoholic will often forget about basic social obligations, like work meetings or childcare commitments. They will often run late or perhaps miss work completely. They may be evasive and even flatly dishonest.
• An alcoholic will typically have dysfunction within the family, often as a result of their alcoholism. They may be suffering from severe depression or other psychological or mental afflictions. These co-occuring disorders, sometimes intertwined with the alcoholism, can contribute greatly to family dysfunction. For that matter, the family dysfunction itself can be a contributing cause of the alcoholism as much as a result of it.
• An alcoholic will often sneak around, hiding alcohol in various places that are easily accessible, yet private. These may include a purse, vehicle or desk drawer. It may go beyond their being ashamed to let people see them drink. These kinds of hiding places point to the possibility of drinking during the day, which is one of the signs of alcoholism, as aforementioned. A person will hide their secret from others out of fear that someone will confront them about their excessive drinking. It may also be that they have personal or legal interests in keeping their alcohol secret on the down low. They may be on probation, on the brink of a divorce or in the midst of a custody battle, for instance.
• An alcoholic will often live in denial of their problem. When confronted, they may even go so far as to become hostile and confrontational. They may blame other people or life circumstances for their alcohol consumption, called the “transfer of blame.” Alcoholics may also simply start pointing out the faults of the people encouraging them to get help.
• An alcoholic will also typically be very self-centered, and have a victim mentality. For instance, they will identify something in the past – childhood abuse, for instance – as a contributing cause to their alcoholism. They will find it so much more difficult to deal with the pain than to bury it in excessive alcohol consumption. They will become so hung up on avoiding dealing with that issue, because of the pain it will cause them, that they will be oblivious to the pain they are causing their own children by being an alcoholic.