Since alcoholism or an alcohol use disorder is a chronic disease, people often require treatment to overcome it. If you live with an alcohol addiction, there is support available. There is not one single treatment approach that works best for everyone, so it is important to reach out to a treatment center to discuss options and develop a plan that works best for you. Chronic diseases are the top cause of disability and death in the U.S. and the leading contributor to the nation’s $3.5 trillion in annual health care costs. While no cure may exist, many chronic conditions can be managed or treated with lifestyle changes or certain medicines.

alcoholism can be cured

This broad category of alcohol consumption comprises a continuum of drinking habits including at-risk drinking, binge drinking, and AUD. Alcohol detox isn’t easy and not everyone can do it on their own. That is why alcohol detox and alcohol withdrawal treatment is administered by medical professionals.

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In her role, she oversees the clinical department as a leader, educator and mentor, designing programming and protocols for a diverse client population. Your treatment setting will depend on your stage of recovery and the severity of your illness. You may need inpatient medical , residential rehabilitation , outpatient intensive therapy or outpatient maintenance.

alcoholism can be cured

As a result, your breathing slows along with your heart rate. The Sinclair Method is the standard treatment protocol for alcohol dependence in Finland, the method is also used in the U.K., but the method has yet to catch on in the United States. As shown in COMBINE, no single medication or treatment strategy is effective in every case or in every person. People with severe liver problems should not take this medicine.

Managing alcohol cravings

Even after formal treatment ends, many people seek additional support through continued involvement in such groups. There are several approaches available for treating alcohol problems. Although severe alcohol problems get the most public attention, even mild to moderate problems cause substantial damage to individuals, their families and the community. 4 provides a summary of the medications with prescribing information, adverse effects, contraindications, and costs. With the Sinclair Method, people only take Revia or Vivitrol before drinking and never otherwise. Adding either Revia or Vivitrol or specialized alcohol counseling to medical management almost doubled the chance to do well.

However, certain food groups also have benefits when it comes to helping with the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms and detoxification. Medical providers can diagnose when alcoholism becomes a disease using sets of criteria established by experts to describe the signs and symptoms of alcoholism. Pharmacological extinction—if alcohol can alcoholism be cured drinking is a learned behaviour, the way to weaken and remove the response has been known since Pavlov’s time, with extinction of the reward. Therapy can help you identify the root causes of your alcohol use, repair your relationships, and learn healthier coping skills and how to deal with triggers that could cause you to relapse.

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) Treatment

Overall, including the detox process, the alcohol rehab total time usually lasts anywhere from one to three months, though the ultimate length depends on the individual. We’ve met several clients who initially worried about how long the process would take but are successful in their treatment and proud of their effort. If you’re struggling with alcohol use disorder, you can be successful with treatment. Partial hospitalization programs https://ecosoberhouse.com/ are outpatient programs that function much like inpatient programs but without the residential requirement. Clients in these programs participate in recovery-related programming during the day, including counseling, therapy, and even medication assistance, but may return home in the evenings. These programs are most effective for individuals who have the support necessary to remain sober outside of a rehabilitation setting.