Alcoholism Treatment in Doylestown
Alcoholism is a disease characterized by an addiction to alcohol despite the problems it causes. Over time, alcohol abuse changes the way the brain functions, and alcohol becomes a necessity for feeling "normal."
Alcoholism treatment is essential for preventing the devastating health effects caused by long-term alcohol addiction, as well as repairing damaged lives and finding true peace and happiness. Available on an in-patient basis at an alcoholism treatment center or as part of an outpatient program, alcoholism treatment helps promote full recovery through a number of treatment components that address the mind, body, and spirit of the individual based on specific needs and underlying issues.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, only around 8 percent of the 17.6 million people who need alcoholism treatment receive it, and as a result, over 88,000 people die each year from alcoholism, not including an additional 10,000 traffic fatalities a year involving alcohol, which account for nearly one-third of all motor vehicle deaths. Do not let this disease manipulate the life of you or a loved one for one more day. Contact Drug Treatment Centers Doylestown at 215-383-2668 and explore your treatment options.
Alcohol Abuse vs. Alcohol Addiction
You can abuse alcohol without becoming addicted to it. Both someone with alcohol abuse tendencies and an alcohol addiction share an intense desire to drink, but those who abuse alcohol are able to maintain a relatively functional personal, professional, and social life; while those who are addicted continue to drink to excess even as their world is unraveling around them, and despite numerous attempts to quit.
Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Addiction
Signs of alcoholism are objective and observable conditions that others can see. Alcoholism symptoms are subjective conditions that the individual with alcoholism experiences.
Behavioral signs of the disease include observing an individual's loss of interest in activities once enjoyed and his or her inability to limit the amount of alcohol consumed or to remember conversations or appointments made while drinking. Physical signs include jaundiced skin due to liver damage as well as the swelling of the neck, fingertips, or tip of the nose. Legal problems, financial troubles, and deteriorating family relationships due to alcohol are other common signs that someone you know may have an alcohol addiction.
Symptoms of alcoholism include feeling an uncontrollable compulsion to drink, making a ritual of drinking, keeping alcohol hidden around the house, and gulping alcohol in an attempt to feel "normal" as quickly as possible.
Interventions save Lives
An intervention is a formal or informal meeting arranged by the family, friends, or co-workers of someone struggling with alcohol addiction. During the meeting, select individuals talk about how the disease has personally affected them. The goal is to avoid placing blame or speaking in anger or resentment, and instead focus on treatment.
A professional intervention specialist, addiction expert, psychologist, or other mental health professional can help arrange and guide the intervention to keep it productive and to help increase the chances that the individual will seek treatment.
Alcohol Treatment Starts with Detoxification
Treatment for alcoholism is a three-step process that starts with detoxifying the body of alcohol. Done at home without the supervision of trained medical personnel, detox can be highly dangerous or even fatal, and it's rarely successful due to the high incidence of relapse in an attempt to alleviate discomfort.
The most dangerous stage of detox is delirium tremens, which can set in after two or three days of not drinking. The body's ability to regulate blood pressure, body temperature, and breathing rate can lead to serious medical complications or, in the case of five to 15 percent of patients, death.
Medical detox is a method of detoxification that requires the supervision of a physician and involves administering medications like benzodiazepines to alleviate withdrawal symptoms, anticonvulsants to prevent seizures, and beta blockers to regulate the function of the heart. During the medical detox process, the patient's physical and mental health is evaluated to identify any underlying issues that need to be addressed in treatment. Medical detox can take place at an in-patient alcohol treatment facility or as part of a highly supervised outpatient rehab program.
Treatment
After the body is detoxed, treatment begins. Alcoholism treatment incorporates a number of components, each of which addresses a specific aspect of the addiction. These will include:
- Individual, group, and family counseling.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy to help the patient address various issues and learn to cope with stresses and situations that could lead them to relapse.
- Medications to control underlying physical and mental health conditions.
- Activities to address holistic health for optimal functioning and quality of life.
- Relapse prevention strategies
When you're ready to accept alcoholism treatment, contact Drug Treatment Centers Doylestown at 215-383-2668 for help finding drug treatment centers. Addiction does not need to dictate your happiness and well-being any longer.