Is There a Safe and Effective Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder?

While treatment options for a lot of health conditions are straightforward, recovering from an alcohol use disorder is not as simple. This is because alcoholism is a complicated disease and the effect it has on everyone can be very different. 

Many people have trouble understanding why some individuals can stop drinking heavily whenever they decide to do so while others struggle a lot. We still don’t have an exact answer to this question but we’re here to help explain the science behind alcoholism so we can best understand how to treat it.

Once we see how alcohol affects our bodies and our brain, it is easier to realize why there is no fail-proof cure for alcohol use disorder. However, just because we haven’t discovered a method that works for everyone all the time doesn’t mean there isn’t hope that recovery is possible.

For starters, alcohol use disorder is a condition that occurs when the body becomes too dependent on alcohol. What starts to happen is that it takes more and more alcohol to achieve the same level of intoxication. As you drink more alcohol, you can become so reliant on it to the point that you cannot control your intake. 

This can eventually lead to days of binge drinking, or consuming a large amount of alcohol in a short period of time. By regularly consuming this much alcohol, your physical and mental health can start to decline.

At this point, those without an alcohol use disorder would think that the “buzz” isn’t worth the negative consequences on their well-being and would merely stop. However, it is much harder for those that are dependent on alcohol to stop. 

Because of this, there is currently no cure for alcoholism but recovery with ongoing treatment can help. It’s all about figuring out how to manage the symptoms of an alcohol use disorder so you can return back to a normal life.

To effectively treat alcohol use disorder, you and your care provider will need to approach all the sides of the issue - the physical, the mental, and the social side. Each of these components is treated differently and so it’s important to discuss them one by one.

With that in mind, it’s important to realize that it’s a bad idea for a heavy drinker to suddenly stop drinking alcohol. If you reduce your alcohol intake too quickly, you can experience significant withdrawal symptoms. In some cases, these symptoms can lead to serious health problems or even death! Sometimes, those with alcohol use disorder are better off detoxing in a medical rehabilitation center that can provide medical assistance if physical symptoms develop.

Regardless, if you are a heavy drinker preparing to quit alcohol, do so slowly to avoid the negative effects on your physical health. Another way to treat the physical effects of alcoholism is to find other activities that light up the reward center in our brain. Activities, like exercising, creating something, and catching up with old friends, are all excellent ways to get those feel-good chemicals pumping without all the negative effects alcohol has on our bodies.

However, there is no denying that, while alcohol can make us feel better for a moment, it takes a toll on our health. If you are addicted to using alcohol as a coping mechanism, it may be better for you to talk to a professional counselor. If you want to be able to make stressful situations more peaceful, you will need to come to terms with the things that are bothering you the most. 

While there are physical and mental things that make us addicted to alcohol, it is also important to think about how our drinking is affected by social factors. Some people feel like they have to drink at parties because it is “weird” not to. Others start overconsuming alcohol because their friends encourage them to bring their “fun” side out. 

Those struggling with alcohol use disorder may be worried that giving up alcohol means giving up their social life. However, this is not true. You can still go out and have a great time with your friends without alcohol. 

If you are at a party or a social gathering, grab a soft drink before anyone has the chance to offer you an alcoholic drink. If your friends are encouraging you to “let loose”, share your intentions to not drink as much. If they do not agree with you trying to improve your health by reducing your alcohol intake, you may want to reconsider if they are a supportive person to keep in your life. 

In addition, get creative with the places you decide to hang out with your friends. You do not always have to spend Friday evenings in a bar. Think of some fun activities that do not revolve around alcohol and suggest those. If the opportunity to drink is not as obvious, you won’t feel the same amount of pressure to drink.

At the same time, it’s important to discuss your recovery goals with your loved ones. If they know what you are trying to achieve for yourself, they can help support you through this journey. They will be able to keep you motivated when you want to turn back to alcohol, stand up for you if people try to talk you out of sobriety and they will be there to celebrate your progress alongside you. 

Many people who have overcome alcohol use disorder say they owe a lot to the people in their support group. That is because, when the symptoms of alcoholism are overwhelming you, they are there to remind you why you started this journey in the first place and that the way you’re feeling won’t last forever. 

In this case, the first way to overcome these struggles is to expect them. If you prepare ahead of time for the rough patches in your recovery journey, you will have a plan for exactly how to handle them. For some, if being sad makes you feel the urge to drink, you might want to spend more time with your loved ones or begin talking to a counselor. 

If feeling bored makes you want to drink, prepare ahead and fill your schedule up with fun plans to keep you busy. Taking ownership of your mental health is so important to overcoming your alcohol use disorder. 

In addition, surrounding yourself with positive influences can help you stay on path and avoid situations that may make you want to drink. It might be a good idea to reach out to others in recovery or join a long term support group. After all, they more than anyone else will know exactly how you feel. As they go along their own journey of recovery, they may be able to share advice that has worked for them and helpful for you. 

While avoiding alcohol is important for staying in recovery, it is not a good idea to start using another substance to distract you from your urge to drink. Some people who self-medicate think they are effectively controlling their addiction but this is a slippery slope. Before you know it, you might be stuck with an entirely new addiction to work through alongside your journey to recover from alcohol use disorder. 

At the end of the day, the safest and most effective recovery strategy is to invest yourself in healthy habits, surround yourself with good friends, and continually remind yourself why you are better off without alcohol. While recovery from alcohol use disorder is a long journey, it is incredibly rewarding for, not only your health, but also your overall well-being. 

While these treatments can make recovery possible, we are actively seeking a safe and effective way for people to overcome their alcohol use disorder. You can be a part of our search for a treatment that will get us another step closer to finding a solution. While there may never be a cure, you can help add another tool to the toolkit for those still struggling.