What is the Treatment for alcohol addiction?

After being asked a few times on what is treatment? I found this article which describes treatment

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What is the treatment for alcohol addiction?BACK TO TOP

If you are having problems with alcohol, it doesn’t mean that you are weak or unable to change. Reducing the negative effects of your drinking by cutting down or quitting often takes more than willpower or good intentions. There are many effective resources and treatments that can help you quit. Veterans of all ages, backgrounds, and eras have gotten treatment for alcohol problems—and treatment works.

“Until I went in and talked to someone, I had no idea just how many areas of my life were being affected by booze. I feel so much more in control of my life now – almost everything was very repairable.”

Your doctor may decide you need detoxification (detox) 

before you start treatment. Alcohol detox uses medicine to help you safely stop drinking and manage the symptoms of withdrawal.

One of the most effective forms of treatment for problems with alcohol is therapy, either alone with a therapist or in a group, and sometimes in conjunction with anti-addiction medications. Therapy can help you maintain your motivation to seek a better life, avoid occasions that may trigger abuse of alcohol, manage your cravings, and strengthen your relationships. Medications can help manage withdrawal symptoms and reduce your desire to drink. You and your doctor will work together to determine what combination of treatment strategies will work best for your situation.

Treatment doesn't just focus on alcohol; it also addresses ways to improve other parts of your life. Having satisfying relationships, work environments, and physical wellness can help you stay sober.

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Drug addiction treatment and recovery 2: Explore your treatment options

Once you’ve made the decision to challenge your drug addiction, it’s time to explore your treatment choices. As you consider the options, keep the following in mind:

• There’s no magic bullet or single treatment that works for everyone. When considering a program, remember that everyone’s needs are different. Drug addiction treatment should be customized to your unique problems and situation. It’s important that you find a program that feels right.
• Treatment should address more than just your drug abuse. Addiction affects your whole life, including relationships, career, health, and psychological well-being. Treatment success depends on developing a new way of living and addressing the reasons why you turned to drugs in the first place. It may have been because of an inability to manage stress, in which case you’ll need to find healthy ways to handle stressful situations.
• Commitment and follow-through are key. Drug addiction treatment is not a quick and easy process. In general, the longer and more intense the drug use, the longer and more intense the treatment you’ll need. But regardless of the treatment program’s length in weeks or months, long-term follow-up care is crucial to recovery.
• There are many places to turn for help. Not everybody requires medically supervised detox or an extended stint in rehab. The level of care you need depends on your age, drug use history, and other medical or psychiatric conditions. In addition to doctors and psychologists, many clergy members, social workers, and counselors offer addiction treatment services.

As you seek help for drug addiction, it’s also important to get treatment for any other medical or psychological issues you’re experiencing. Your best chance of recovery is through integrated treatment for both the substance abuse problem and the mental health problem. This means getting combined mental health and addiction treatment from the same treatment provider or team.