Treatment for alcohol use disorder can vary, depending on your needs. Treatment may involve a brief intervention, individual or group counseling, an outpatient program, or a residential inpatient stay. Working to stop alcohol use to improve quality of life is the main treatment goal.
Medications
Although the exact cause of alcohol use disorder is unknown, there are certain factors that may increase your risk for developing this disease. Recognizing the early signs and risk factors for AUD can help you seek early treatment and intervention to break alcohol misuse patterns. Health professionals sometimes prescribe medications to reduce the symptoms of withdrawal. Other medications can help you quit drinking by suppressing alcohol cravings or making you feel sick when alcohol enters your body. If you have a history of withdrawal symptoms, see a health professional before quitting. You should also see a professional before quitting alcohol if you have other health conditions.
Duration of Alcohol Use Disorder
For more information about alcohol and cancer, please visit the National Cancer Institute’s webpage “Alcohol and Cancer Risk” (last accessed June 6, 2024). A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Many people addicted to alcohol also turn to 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). There are also other support groups that don’t follow the 12-step model, such as SMART Recovery and Sober Recovery. Unlike cocaine or heroin, alcohol is widely available and accepted in many cultures.
Can People With Alcohol Use Disorder Recover?
This is of particular concern when you’re taking certain medications that also depress the brain’s function. Treatment may involve standard therapies used to treat other mental illnesses, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is commonly used to treat depression, among other disorders. The brain experiences the effects of alcohol right away, resulting in changes in mood, behavior, and judgment.
- You and your community can take steps to improve everyone’s health and quality of life.
- When is it common in society, it can be hard to tell the difference between someone who likes to have a few drinks now and then and someone with a real problem.
- The American Medical Association recommends a two-drink daily limit for people assigned male at birth (AMAB).
It’s important that each person get involved in a recovery program that will support long-term sobriety. This could mean an emphasis on therapy for someone who is what is liquid marijuana drink depressed, or inpatient treatment for someone with severe withdrawal symptoms. Many people with alcohol use disorder hesitate to get treatment because they don’t recognize that they have a problem. An intervention from loved ones can help some people recognize and accept that they need professional help.
Binge drinking refers to drinking more than five drinks on a single occasion, although they may not drink every day. Be prepared to discuss any problems that alcohol may be causing. You may want to take a family member or friend along, if possible.
Excessive alcohol use can harm people who drink and those around them. You and your community can take steps to improve everyone’s health and quality of life. To learn more about alcohol treatment options and search for quality care near you, please visit the NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator. When is it common in society, it can be hard to tell the difference between someone who likes to have a few drinks now and then and someone with a real problem. In some people, the initial reaction may feel like an increase in energy. But as you continue to drink, you become drowsy and have less control over your actions.
Some people drink heavily all day, while others binge drink and then stay sober for a while. Alcohol addiction, also known as alcoholism, is a disease that affects people of all walks of life. Experts have tried to pinpoint factors like genetics, sex, race, or socioeconomics that may predispose someone to alcohol addiction. Psychological, genetic, and behavioral factors can all contribute to having the disease. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a health condition that is best assessed and treated by a health professional. In this section, learn more about AUD, the professional treatment options available, and why different people may take different routes to recovery.