Excessive Alcohol Use Harms Your Health
Approximately 95,000 people die from alcohol-related causes every year in the United States, as reported by the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention (CDC). Statistics compiled by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), over 14 million American individuals over the age of 18 receive a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder (AUD) annually.
With over 21% of residents between 18 and 44 drinking excessively, AUD is a major health problem in Arizona. Excessive drinking can lead to a wide range of short- and long-term problems, like medical or mental health issues.
If you or a loved one are battling alcohol, keep reading to discover crucial insights about the best alcohol rehabilitation programs for men in Tucson, Arizona.
Alcohol Use Disorders and Alcoholism
Although the terms alcoholism and alcohol use disorder are frequently used interchangeably, they refer to two different conditions.
Alcoholism is a condition where a person develops an unhealthy dependence on alcohol, despite the risk of issues with their physical and emotional health. However, alcoholism is not a medical diagnosis. Medical professionals prefer the phrases alcohol dependence and alcohol use disorder.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) from the American Psychiatric Association includes alcohol use disorder (AUD) among its recognized diagnoses. Depending on the degree of impairment, alcohol use disorders can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe.
The DSM-5 uses a set of 11 symptoms to make a diagnosis. The frequency with which these symptoms have occurred during the past year is a good indicator of the presence and severity of alcohol use disorder.
Heavy drinking and binge drinking are the two main classifications of excessive alcohol consumption.
Heavy drinking refers to a weekly drinking pattern that is higher above the safe limits set by health experts. For men under the age of 65, heavy drinking is defined as two or more alcoholic drinks per day or more than fourteen drinks per week. Heavy drinking is defined as more than one drink per day for men under 65 and more than seven drinks per week for women.
Conversely, binge drinking refers to consuming multiple drinks at once. This equated to more than three drinks for women and five or more for men in less than two hours.
Understanding What Alcohol Rehab Offers
If you or someone you love is dealing with alcohol abuse or addiction, you don’t have to suffer alone. A broad range of effective treatments can help you recover from alcohol addiction and restore your health and happiness.
Your recovery outcome may depend on several factors, including your medical history, support system, and personal motivation.
In a residential or inpatient rehabilitation center, patients can receive substance abuse treatment under the watchful eyes of medical professionals. The trained professionals at our facility are there to help you through every stage of addiction recovery, from detox to post-rehab aftercare.
Embracing Sobriety with Patience and Sober Support
It is crucial to know that recovering from alcoholism takes time. Less than half of people may relapse after one year of sobriety. After five years of abstinence, that percentage drops to below 15%.
After finishing an outpatient or inpatient treatment program, you must keep up with counseling and support groups in your area to ensure you have the best chance of staying sober. Investing in an alcohol treatment program is money well spent. This will improve your own life and the lives of your loved ones and friends.
Take the first step toward addiction recovery by contacting our treatment center immediately to find out more about our alcohol rehab program in Tucson, Arizona.
Alcoholism Treatment Methods
One of the most significant and life-changing choices you can make is to enter a treatment program for alcohol use disorder. It’s essential to learn about the various therapy options available to you before committing to one. A holistic approach takes into account more than simply an individual’s alcohol use while designing a treatment plan.
Most comprehensive treatment programs incorporate a blend of the following:
Alcohol Detoxification or Medical Detox
Alcohol detox is the first and maybe most challenging phase of alcohol addiction treatment.
Extremely unpleasant withdrawal symptoms can start within the first few days after you stop drinking. Therefore, alcohol detox is a process that you must take place in a medical setting.
Medicines to alleviate the severity of withdrawal symptoms are also available from the professionals providing treatment. Medication assisted treatment allows you to focus your energy on healing. You’ll be ready to go on to the subsequent recovery phase after completing detox.
Inpatient Rehab and Outpatient Treatment
Most people who are trying to recover from alcoholism find that the controlled environment of an inpatient rehab center is most helpful. These facilities often treat the most severe cases of alcoholism and require patients to live on-site for 30, 60, or 90 days of treatment.
Care is available around the clock from trained specialists who will help you adjust to life after treatment. You’ll also get advice on how to deal with potential relapse triggers, the value of continuing care programs, and other similar topics.
Addiction Counseling and Therapy
Regular sessions with an alcohol therapist or counselor are essential to effectively communicate and get guidance from a counselor during alcoholism treatment. Counseling can be a helpful way to talk through happy or sad moments.
Your therapist can help you address any personal, social, occupational, or environmental factors contributing to your drinking problem. You can gain insight into yourself and learn how to maintain physical and mental wellness through counseling.
What are the Stages of Treatment for Alcohol Abuse?
Although there isn’t a single best approach to treating alcoholism, most rehabilitation centers adhere to a set of standards. With them as a starting point, you can construct a complete recovery plan with the best possible odds of sustaining your sobriety.
Alcohol addiction treatment can be broken down into three phases:
Detoxification
Detoxification is the first stage on the road to recovery. It entails total abstinence from alcohol consumption. However, various potential withdrawal symptoms are associated with abruptly stopping all alcohol consumption.
After stopping alcohol consumption, the first 24 to 48 hours are often marked by the onset of the most severe withdrawal symptoms. Some of the symptoms might be mild, while others could be life-threatening. Your healthcare professional can prescribe pain medication to help lessen your agony.
Rehabilitation and Group Therapy
If you’ve already completed detoxification, you’re on the right track. The next step is rehabilitation.
Rehabilitation might include various approaches to therapy and treatment for overcoming drinking problems. You’ll be able to use what you’ve learned in recovery and apply it to life outside the facility.
Depending on the severity of your alcoholism and your doctor’s recommendation, you may undergo rehabilitation in an inpatient or outpatient setting.
Alcohol Rehab: Tucson Aftercare Programs
After completing the rehab program, you’ll start easing back into everyday life. It would help if you gave yourself some time to get back into the swing of things.
It is best to join a support group like Alcoholics Anonymous or Al-Anon, where you can get encouragement and guidance from people who have also struggled with addiction and from the group’s leaders and sponsors.
Get Relief from Alcohol with Pathfinders
Pathfinders Recovery Centers have licensed addiction treatment professionals and behavioral health specialists to help you regain control of your life. When you check into one of our rehabs, you can rest assured that you will receive cutting-edge addiction treatment approaches.
In need of alcohol rehab services for yourself or a loved one in Tucson, AZ? Get in touch with us at (877) 224-0761 to learn more about our substance abuse treatment clinic or to schedule an appointment.