Alcohol Awareness Month: Choosing A Treatment Facility
Alcohol Awareness Month is a time to bring awareness and understanding to the huge impact that Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) can have on a person’s life and those around them.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) researchers estimate that more than 178,000 people lose their lives in alcohol-related deaths. It makes alcohol one of the leading preventable causes of death in the United States. Additionally, more than 200 diseases and injuries are related to alcohol.
Alcohol Use Disorder is one of the most common substance use disorders. While drinking on occasion is not necessarily a sign of a problem, any type of binge drinking can lead to one.
Warning signs of Alcohol Use Disorder
- Using to cope with stress
- Increased binge drinking
- Developing a higher tolerance through overuse
Other effects of alcohol
Mental health disorders such as anxiety or depression may increase the use of alcohol but it’s also possible for alcohol to trigger these. It may seem to those drinking that it helps anxiety, but alcohol can actually increase it. Other health problems associated with alcohol are bone and liver disease, vitamin deficiencies, and many types of cancers.
A lot of people are surprised that alcohol can cause more types of cancer than just that of the liver. The biggest health risk is the different types of cancer: Mouth, throat, liver, and breast in women. The cancer risk increases with the number of drinks a person consumes. The reason is because alcohol causes the cells inside of a person’s body to grow out of control into a cancerous tumor. With each drink or each time a person binge drinks, it continues to increase these risks.
Help is available
There are many different options to begin the journey to recovery. Alcoholics Anonymous is very popular. Although each person’s experience is unique, it can be easier for people to feel emotionally supported by being around others who understand what they’ve been through. It also provides a network for those that might not have anyone to confide in. In addition, medication-assisted treatment and recovery (MAR) is highly effective. MAR uses medications to reduce withdrawal and cravings, or block the effects of alcohol. Other outpatient treatment services are available from individual and/or group therapy to peer counseling.
Tips to choose a treatment facility
When you choose a treatment facility for alcohol, it’s important to understand the details. When you ask the following questions, it will help you in your search.
- How are treatment plans developed?
- Will you have individual or group therapy?
- What qualifications to you require of your staff?
- How long has the facility been open?
- What support services are offered after treatment?
Treatment at Lifeline Connections
Lifeline Connections offers an integrated, holistic approach that includes therapy and case management. Contact us for a referral or find a therapist. Our team can work to design a custom plan for your journey to wellness.
