Alcohol Addiction: Your Options for Treatment and Recovery

Social drinking is abundant everywhere we look, from happy hour with colleagues to a toast at a wedding, imbibing at a party or over dinner with family, to a way to unwind after a long day at work. But when alcohol’s role becomes a way to cope with stress, loneliness, unresolved trauma, or feelings, drinking can quickly mutate into addiction — however unintentionally. When that happens, finding an alcohol addiction treatment program is the best thing someone can do. 

Fewer than 10% of people suffering from alcohol use disorder received alcohol addiction treatment as of 2023, notes the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). This can be due to several reasons, from thinking they have no options to believing that alcohol rehab is ineffective or being afraid to enter alcohol addiction treatment programs. 

If alcohol substance abuse has become a problem in your life and some of these thoughts have discouraged you from seeking help, know that recovery is possible. Keep reading to learn some more about alcohol abuse, some of its effects, and the steps you can take to achieve sobriety and regain control of your life with rehab for alcoholics. 

What Is Alcohol Addiction?   

Alcohol addiction — also known as Alcohol Use Disorder — is a chronic condition marked by an inability to stop drinking despite its many adverse consequences. 

Like all addictions, it isn’t a sign of weakness or personal failing; it’s a disease that can develop due to a combination of reasons. Alcoholic drinks contain ethanol, a toxic ingredient that is known to lead to alcohol dependence. Drinking causes lasting changes to the brain, activating its reward system by releasing feel-good neurochemicals like dopamine.  

But over time, your system becomes accustomed to these effects, leading you to drink more to achieve the same effect as before. Once tolerance and dependency on alcohol develop, it can quickly spiral into a perpetual cycle of addiction, and it can be hard to quit on one’s own without experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms.  

“As individuals continue to drink alcohol over time, progressive changes may occur in the structure and function of their brains,” says the NIAAA. “These changes can compromise brain function and drive the transition from controlled, occasional use to chronic misuse, which can be difficult to control.” 

Risk Factors for Alcohol Addiction 

There are numerous genetic, psychological, and situational risk factors for developing alcohol use disorder, according to the NIAAA: 

• Starting drinking at an early age (younger than 15 years old) can increase your risk of becoming addicted to alcohol. 

• A family history of alcohol abuse can be passed down through the generations; hereditability, notes the NIAAA, accounts for 60% of genetic-influenced alcoholism.  

• Having a mental health condition (either diagnosed or untreated) can also influence one’s alcohol abuse since drinking is often a form of self-medication for people dealing with depression, anxiety, or past trauma. 

Is Alcohol Abuse a Problem? 

The global impacts of alcoholism are something we should all remain aware of. Nearly 29 million people suffer from alcohol use disorder in the U.S. (almost 17 million males and 12 million females). Worldwide, this number jumps to 400 million people living with the condition and 209 million people with alcohol dependency, according to the World Health Organization.  

Excessive alcohol consumption is also one of the leading causes of preventable deaths nationwide. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS), nearly 100,000 Americans die from the effects of alcohol abuse each year, with more than half due to chronic, long-term use.  

The NCDAS adds that alcoholic liver disease is the leading cause, attributable to more than 19% of annual alcohol-related deaths. Alcohol poisoning and suicide are also two alarming acute alcohol-related deaths, causing 32% and 22.5% of all incidents, respectively. 

What Are the Signs of Alcohol Addiction? 

Alcohol use disorder can exist on a spectrum of severity, from mild to moderate to severe, and often develops gradually, making it difficult to notice the signs in someone else or even oneself in the early stages. There are some symptoms to be mindful of that may indicate a problematic relationship with alcohol: 

• Drinking larger amounts of alcohol more frequently and spending longer recovering from alcohol use 

• Being unsuccessful in cutting down on your drinking or quitting despite numerous attempts 

• Experiencing strong cravings to drink 

• Failing to fulfill one’s responsibilities at home, at work, or at school due to a preoccupation with drinking 

• Maintaining an abusive relationship with alcohol, even when it causes harm to you physically, emotionally, or socially 

• Building a tolerance to alcohol, leading you to drink more just to experience the same effects as when you first started 

• Developing and experiencing withdrawal symptoms — nausea, sweating, irritability,y and more — when not drinking 

What Are the Long-Term Risks of Abusing Alcohol? 

Beyond the short-term effects of misusing alcohol, like getting too drunk or having a hangover the next day, the long-term effects of alcohol abuse are often overlooked. The truth is that frequent binge drinking can become chronic, heavy use and lead to severe health complications, including: 

• Liver disease: One of the body’s major organs that bears most of the brunt of alcohol abuse, our livers are responsible for metabolizing alcohol that passes through. However, over time, heavy drinking can lead to conditions such as steatosis (fatty liver), alcoholic hepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis. 

• Heart problems: Alcohol can also take its toll on the heart as excessive consumption increases the risk of high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy (stretching/drooping of the heart muscle), arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), stroke,e, and heart disease. 

• Brain damage: Neurological issues can arise from years-long drinking. Over time, alcohol, which impedes the brain’s communication pathways, according to the NIAAA, can impair memory, cognitive functioning, and motor skills. 

• Mental health issues: Alcohol abuse can worsen conditions like depression, anxiety,y or post-traumatic stress disorder. Conversely, these issues can also lead someone to drink, an example of a co-occurring disorder (when alcoholism and a mental health condition exist together). 

• Cancer risk: Alcohol use is closely linked to cancers of the head and neck, liver, esophagus, and colon. According to the National Cancer Institute, binge drinking — four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men in one sitting —has an increased risk of cancer. 

• Weakened immune system: Chronic alcohol use also reduces the body’s ability to fight infections and heal. “Chronic drinkers are more liable to contract diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis than people who do not drink too much,” says the NIAAA. “Drinking a lot on a single occasion slows your body’s ability to ward off infections — even up to 24 hours after getting drunk.” 

Levels of Care for Alcohol Treatment  

Treatment for alcohol abuse is available. It is effective, and it is possible for you to quit drinking and turn your life around. If drinking has begun interfering with life and you want to make a change, it’s natural to wonder, “What does alcohol rehab involve?” Rehab for alcohol abuse at an alcohol addiction treatment facility involves a few levels of care that follow a thoughtful pattern: 

Alcohol Detox 

Many people try to detox from alcohol on their own. Still, the severe withdrawal effects (including seizures and hallucinations) can be hard to manage alone, often leading to a return to drinking. Detoxing at a proper facility, on the other hand, means being in a safe, supervised environment where medical staff trained in substance abuse disorders can help you monitor, manage, and mitigate any alcohol withdrawal symptoms through medication and other methods.  

Think of detoxing as hitting a reset button, producing a clean slate for which you enable yourself to proper recovery from alcohol abuse. 

Inpatient Alcohol Addiction Treatment  

Alcohol addiction treatment should be immersive, meaning you should have the opportunity to devote your full, unfettered, and undivided focus to healing. Residential inpatient treatment for alcohol abuse follows detox. It offers the chance to live onsite at an onsite facility and participate in a structured daily schedule of therapy, skill-building activities, and group counseling (five hours a day, daily). 

Inpatient treatment enables you to recover away from distractions and triggers of everyday life that may lead you to drink — in an environment that fosters accountability with round-the-clock support. Although it is intensive, you’ll have time to recharge and relax. (At Royal Life Centers, guests have 24/7 access to snacks and beverages, three chef-prepared meals a day,y and Xbox gaming, fitness,s, and traditional board games.) 

Outpatient Alcohol Addiction Treatment  

Flexibility is one of the biggest advantages of outpatient treatment for alcohol abuse. Here, you have the best of both worlds: the opportunity to receive the same trusted care during scheduled sessions while continuing to live at home and maintain work, school, or family responsibilities. It’s ideal for those who are finishing an inpatient stay and need to continue treatment while now being able to go to the comfort of their own homes every night. 

Some of the features of outpatient alcohol rehabs include: 

• Individual, group, and onsite therapy sessions 

• On-site recoOnsiteetings 

• Life skills training 

• Job readiness and employment assistance 

Aftercare and Sober Living  

Completing an inpatient or outpatient (or both) program is a huge milestone — graduating from alcohol addiction treatment with a new, sober lease on life. However, the recovery journey often extends beyond formal care. In 12-week aftercare, your case manager will connect you with the resources you can take advantage of to avoid relapse and navigate the challenges of early sobriety, like local Alcoholics Anonymous and AA meetings. 

Likewise, Royal Life Center’s sober living homes offer a structured living environment where residents can practice accountability and establish routines — a safe space to practice sober behaviors while cultivating friendships within your recovery community. Sober living is the last transition to living independently, empowering you to own your own progress. 

Alcohol Addiction Therapy Options 

Finding the right help for alcohol abuse is always the best thing someone can do. The best alcohol abuse treatment centers offer both evidence-based and holistic therapy for a well-rounded approach to sobriety. 

Psychotherapy for Alcohol Abuse 

Since alcoholism is a brain disorder, it’s important to seek therapy that addresses how one’s thought processes inform their behavior. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one evidence-based practice utilized frequently by clinicians to help treat alcohol use disorder for this reason.  

Working one-on-one with a counselor, you’ll work to understand the nature of your addiction. Why do you drink? Why have you come to rely on it? What are your triggers? By starting to unpack and answer these questions, you’ll identify triggers, develop coping mechanisms, and reframe negative thought patterns. CBT, plus other therapies, provides the tools you need to build resilience and prevent relapse. 

Holistic Therapy for Alcohol Abuse 

Holistic means “whole,” and in holistic therapy, you work to heal your mind, body, and spirit, all of which can be negatively affected by alcohol abuse. Therapies such as yoga, meditation, and art therapy aren’t just a complement to traditional therapy — they work individually and in tandem to refocus your mind, live mindfully in every present moment, and help you achieve balance. These are skills so valuable to possess and work to master during those times following treatment when alcohol cravings or anxiety may surface. 

Co-Occurring Mental Health and Alcohol Abuse Therapy 

As mentioned before, sometimes mental health conditions and alcoholism go hand in hand. Someone may suffer from a mood disorder and begin drinking to self-medicate, or alcohol abuse may lead to mental health struggles. One issue may come first, but both problems exacerbate the other. This is why alcohol addiction treatment is so important; by receiving a dual diagnosis for both conditions, your therapist can address both problems simultaneously. 

Finding an Alcohol Rehab Center Near Me 

Alcohol addiction may be challenging, but the good news is it is treatable. Recovery requires courage, support, and the right resources, and it begins with the right treatment center that ticks all the boxes for your needs. Comprehensive alcohol addiction treatment programs, like those at Royal Life Centers, offer evidence-based care, compassionate staff,f and therapeutic programming that fits your needs. 

Imagine taking the leap and exploring your options for treatment and recovery, emerging clean and sober as you embark on that journey of recovery — something you might not have thought possible just a few months prior.  

You can change your life with one phone call, and we can help. If you have any questions after reading this article regarding your alcohol use or seeking health care at a treatment center, please reach out; we’re happy to hear from you.