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Accepting the fact that help is needed for an alcohol problem may not
be easy. But keep in mind that the sooner you get help, the better are
your chances for a successful recovery.
Any concerns you may have about discussing drinking-related problems with
your health care provider may stem from common misconceptions about alcoholism
and alcoholic people. In our society, the myth prevails that an alcohol
problem is a sign of moral weakness. As a result, you may feel that to
seek help is to admit some type of shameful defect in yourself. In fact,
alcoholism is a disease that is no more a sign of weakness than is asthma.
Moreover, taking steps to identify a possible drinking problem has an enormous
payoff—a chance for a healthier, more rewarding life.
When you visit your health care provider, he or she will ask you a number
of questions about your alcohol use to determine whether you are having
problems related to your drinking. Try to answer these questions as fully
and honestly as you can. You also will be given a physical examination.
If your health care provider concludes that you may be dependent on alcohol,
he or she may recommend that you see a specialist in treating alcoholism.
You should be involved in any referral decisions and have all treatment
choices explained to you.
The type of treatment you receive depends on the severity of your alcoholism
and the resources that are available in your community. Treatment may include
detoxification (the process of safely getting alcohol out of your system);
taking doctor-prescribed medications, such as disulfiram (Antabuse®)
or naltrexone (ReVia™), to help prevent a return (or relapse) to
drinking once drinking has stopped; and individual and/or group counseling.
There are promising types of counseling that teach alcoholics to identify
situations and feelings that trigger the urge to drink and to find new
ways to cope that do not include alcohol use. These treatments are often
provided on an outpatient basis.
Because the support of family members is important to the recovery process,
many programs also offer brief marital counseling and family therapy as
part of the treatment process. Programs may also link individuals with
vital community resources, such as legal assistance, job training, childcare,
and parenting classes.
Virtually all alcoholism treatment programs also include Alcoholics Anonymous
(AA) meetings. AA describes itself as a “worldwide fellowship of
men and women who help each other to stay sober.” Although AA is
generally recognized as an effective mutual help program for recovering
alcoholics, not everyone responds to AA’s style or message, and other
recovery approaches are available. Even people who are helped by AA usually
find that AA works best in combination with other forms of treatment, including
counseling and medical care.
Although alcoholism can be treated, a cure is not yet available. In other
words, even if an alcoholic has been sober for a long time and has regained
health, he or she remains susceptible to relapse and must continue to avoid
all alcoholic beverages. “Cutting down” on drinking doesn’t
work; cutting out alcohol is necessary for a successful recovery.
However, even individuals who are determined to stay sober may suffer
one or several “slips,” or relapses, before achieving long-term
sobriety. Relapses are very common and do not mean that a person has failed
or cannot recover from alcoholism. Keep in mind, too, that every day that
a recovering alcoholic has stayed sober prior to a relapse is extremely
valuable time, both to the individual and to his or her family. If a relapse
occurs, it is very important to try to stop drinking once again and to
get whatever additional support you need to abstain from drinking.
If your health care provider determines that you are not alcohol dependent
but are nonetheless involved in a pattern of alcohol abuse, he or she can
help you to:
• Examine the benefits of stopping an unhealthy drinking
pattern.
• Set a drinking goal for yourself. Some people choose
to abstain from alcohol. Others prefer to limit the amount
they drink.
• Examine the situations that trigger your unhealthy
drinking patterns, and develop new ways of handling those
situations so that you can maintain your drinking goal.
Some individuals who have stopped drinking after experiencing alcohol-related
problems choose to attend AA meetings for information and support, even
though they have not been diagnosed as alcoholic.
Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism |
