Alcohol Statistics
For individuals addicted to alcohol, it can be hard to differentiate between “normal” drinking habits and problematic drinking patterns. With family members involved, it can be very difficult to discuss addiction problems, let alone live with someone struggling with alcohol abuse. According to a SAMHSA study released in 2020, approximately 370,000 people experienced alcohol use disorder in Massachusetts from 2017-2019. In this article, we will discuss the common symptoms of alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction treatment options.
What Are The Signs To Look For
It’s imperative to acknowledge that successful recovery typically comes from self realization and outside support. Some of the most common signs and symptoms that one has alcohol use disorder includes:
- Deceiving others about the extent of your alcohol consumption
- Continued use of alcohol despite negative consequences at work or home (or other environments where you spend your time)
- Engaging in risky behaviors such as drinking and driving
- An intention to stop drinking without much success
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms such as cravings, shaking, nausea, sweating, etc)
- Decline in liver function
- Requiring more alcohol over time to meet the desired effects (i.e. increased tolerance)
Alcohol Treatment Options
The most common resources for individuals experiencing acute withdrawal symptoms from alcohol include a detox facility or traditional rehab facility. For individuals who heavily consume alcohol, withdrawal symptoms can be severe and possibly fatal. If you or a loved one is looking for support, please consider a detox center or treatment facility that has the resources and experience to help you safely withdraw from alcohol.
Once someone has detoxed from alcohol, they have a few addiction treatment options to help them maintain long term sobriety. The first level of care is a partial hospitalization program (PHP), which is the next step down from a 30-90 day traditional rehabilitation facility. This program includes multiple hours of group therapy per day for 5 days per week. Following this is an intensive outpatient program (IOP), which usually consists of group therapy for 2-3 hours, 3 days per week. Both IOP and PHP usually include individual therapy once per week and sometimes medication management. When considering either of these options, it is encouraged that you ask about the therapeutic curriculum and any additional amenities the program offers.
The lowest level of care is an outpatient program (OP), which consists of less than 9 hours of therapy per week. OP usually includes individual therapy, medication management and typically provides the client access to other amenities offered by the facility. An additional consideration for people seeking addiction treatment is sober housing. These programs offer a supportive living environment for as little as a few months to a year or more and are intended to be used in addition with one of types of care previously mentioned. Sober living environments have wide ranging additional costs and amenities offered to their clients.