Alcohol is the most widely used drug in North America so alcohol and alcohol abuse statistics are common. More than half of the adults 18 years or older in the U.S. are considered regular drinkers, consuming at least 12 drinks in the last year.

Alcohol Statistics - Binge Drinking

Binge drinking is rising and is one of the most dangerous patterns seen in alcohol use statistics. Alcohol abuse statistics reveal binge drinking (drinking too much alcohol) leads to, and is involved with, acute injury such as alcohol poisoning, domestic violence, sexual assault, traffic accidents, falls, drowning, burns and firearms injuries.^iv

Binge drinking is defined as:

• For women, 4 or more drinks on a single occasion (within a 2 hour period)
• For men, 5 or more drinks on a single occasion (within a 2 hour period)

Alcohol abuse statistics show the following about binge drinking:

• Although college students commonly binge drink, alcohol statistics show that 70% of binge drinking episodes involve adults age 26 years and older
• More men than women binge drink
• Binge drinkers are 14 times more likely to report alcohol-impaired driving
• About 75% of the alcohol consumed by adults in the United States is in the form of binge drinking

Alcohol Statistics - Heavy and Excessive Drinking

Heavy drinking is defined as:

• For women, more than 1 drink per day on average
• For men, more than 2 drinks per day on average

Excessive drinking includes heavy drinking, binge drinking or both. Alcohol abuse statistics show that approximately 92% of U.S. adults who drink excessively report binge drinking in the past 30 days. Men average about 12.5 binge drinking episodes per year; alcoholism statistics then, showing this average to be excessive drinking.

Alcohol Statistics - Health and Alcohol Use Statistics

Alcoholism statistics concerning health are shocking. In 2005, there were more than 1.6 million hospitalizations and more than 4 million emergency room visits for alcohol-related conditions. Alcohol statistics also indicate that there are 79,000 deaths per year in the U.S. attributable to excessive alcohol use.^v

Alcoholism statistics also show the following effects of alcohol:

• Miscarriage and stillbirth among pregnant women, and a combination of physical and mental birth defects among children that last throughout life
• Neurological problems
• Cardiovascular problems
• Depression, anxiety and suicide
• Multiple types of cancer
• Multiple types of liver disease
• 3.6% of all cancer cases worldwide are related to alcohol drinking, resulting in 3.5% of all cancer deaths
• Effects of alcohol on the brain

Alcohol Statistics - Violence and Alcohol Use Statistics

There is a long known correlation between alcohol use and violence. Alcohol abuse is a greater predictor of future violence than almost any other factor. In the case of family violence, alcohol statistics indicate:

• In cases of domestic partner or child violence, 35% of offenders were under the influence of alcohol
• Alcohol is associated with 2 out of 3 instances of intimate partner violence
• Alcohol abuse statistics also show that alcohol is a leading factor in child maltreatment and neglect cases, and is the most frequent substance abused among these parents

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Teen alcohol statistics show that although drinking alcohol under the age of 21 is illegal in the U.S., it is commonplace given that 11% of all alcohol consumed in the United States is consumed by those aged 12 to 20. By the end of high school, teenage alcohol statistics tell us that 72% of students will have consumed alcohol.^vi

And while teenaged alcohol drinking may be common, it's important to remember teen alcohol statistics stating that those who started drinking before age 15 are five times more likely to develop alcohol addiction or abuse later in life than those who begin drinking at or after age 21.^vii

Teenage alcohol statistics also indicate the following:

• About 90% of the alcohol consumed by youth under the age of 21 in the United States is in the form of binge drinking
• The proportion of current drinkers that binge is highest in the 18 to 20-year-old group (51%)
• In teens, 30.8% paid for the alcohol the last time they drank - including 8.3% who purchased the alcohol themselves and 22.3% who gave money to someone else to purchase it
• Among teenagers who did not pay for the alcohol they drank, 37.4% got it from an unrelated person of legal drinking age; 21.1% received it from a parent, guardian, or other adult family member

Teen Alcohol Statistics - Risks of Teen Alcohol Use Statistics

Teenagers who drink alcohol are more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as drinking and driving as well as getting in the car of a driver who has been drinking. Teen alcohol statistics show that risks are greater for those who binge drink.

Through teenage alcohol statistics, we know that teens who drink alcohol are more likely to experience:

• School problems, such as higher absence and poor or failing grades
• Social problems, such as fighting and lack of participation in youth activities
• Legal problems, such as arrest for driving or physically hurting someone while drunk
• Physical effects of alcohol, such as hangovers or illnesses
• Unwanted, unplanned, and unprotected sexual activity
• Disruption of normal growth and sexual development
• Physical and sexual assault
• Higher risk for suicide and homicide (read: alcoholism and suicide)
• Alcohol-related car crashes and other unintentional injuries, such as burns, falls, and drowning
• Memory problems (read: effect of alcohol on memory)
• Abuse of other drugs
• Changes in brain development that may have life-long effects
• Death from alcohol poisoning

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Alcoholism facts describe alcoholism is a chronic disease characterized by an overwhelming need to consume alcohol in spite of the problems resulting in the life of the alcoholic and those around them due to drinking. Alcoholics drink uncontrollably and continually increase the amount of alcohol they drink and are physically dependant on the alcohol.

Alcohol abuse is distinct from alcoholism. In alcohol abuse, while alcohol still plays a destructive role in the drinker's life, the drinker is not yet fully dependant on alcohol and can set some limits on their drinking. (read: alcohol abuse definition)

Alcoholism Facts - Alcohol Abuse Facts

Alcohol abuse, sometimes known as problem drinking, is very common in North America. Alcohol abuse facts indicate that 30% of Americans report having a drinking problem at some time in their lives. (See  alcohol use statistics) While those who abuse alcohol are not yet physically dependant on the drug, alcohol abuse facts suggest it can still drastically impact a person's life.

More alcohol abuse facts include:

• Alcohol consumption affects women cognitively more severely than men
• People who abuse alcohol are often annoyed when others ask them to stop
• Alcohol abusers will engage in risky behavior while drinking, such as drinking and driving
• Drinking will get in the way of family, work and life obligations
• Drinking is seen as a way to relax and de-stress, typically every day
• Abusing alcohol is a major risk factor in becoming an alcoholic
• An alcohol abuser can become an alcoholic due to stress or loss
• Binge drinking puts an alcohol abuser at greater risk for becoming an alcoholic
• Not all people who abuse alcohol go on to become alcoholics

Alcoholism Facts - Facts on Alcoholism

Alcoholism touches everyone as alcoholism facts indicate that 5% to 10% of men and 3% to 5% of women could be diagnosed as alcohol dependant. Facts on alcoholism show that alcoholism causes huge problems for the life and the health of the alcoholic.

Facts on alcoholism show:

• Alcoholics typically downplay their drinking and the effects of drinking
• Alcoholics continually increase the amount they drink as it takes more alcohol to produce the same effect (this is known as tolerance)
• Alcoholics require alcohol to function, sometimes first thing in the morning
• Alcohol is consumed to avoid feelings of withdrawal and alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
• Alcoholics may want to stop drinking but can't
• Alcoholics forfeit all other interests to drinking

A major alcoholism fact that people need to understand is: a person can be functional, have a career and family and still be an alcoholic. Alcoholism isn't about how much a person drinks or whether they have a high income, it's about the effect the alcohol is having on the alcoholic and their life.

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Because drinking alcohol is woven into so many aspects of society in the United States, alcoholism symptoms can sometimes be overlooked. It's easy to miss when a person goes from social drinking to heavy drinking and then into alcoholism, particularly when most people don't know what the warning signs of alcoholism are. It should be remembered that the absence of some alcoholism symptoms doesn't mean there isn't problem drinking; it may mean that the person abuses alcohol but is not yet fully an alcoholic.

This first of the warning signs of alcoholism that should be carefully noted is: Does drinking cause problems in your life? If the answer to this is yes, then you have a problem with alcohol and it may be an alcoholism symptom.

Alcoholism Symptoms - Tolerance as a Warning Sign of Alcoholism

Tolerance is one of the defining symptoms of alcoholism. Tolerance to alcohol is when more and more alcohol is needed to achieve the same effect. For example, if a person finds that alcohol relaxes them, one of the warning signs of alcoholism is that the person needs more and more alcohol to feel relaxed.

Alcoholism Symptoms - Withdrawal as a Warning Sign of Alcoholism

The second of the defining symptoms of alcoholism is the experience of alcohol withdrawal when not drinking. Withdrawal is negative physical symptoms that appear when not drinking alcohol. For example, one of the warning signs of alcoholism is when a person needs a drink first thing in the morning just to "get going". Alcoholism symptoms around withdrawl: may make a person extremely irritable, angry or depressed. Withdrawal is not the same thing as a hangover.

Other alcoholism signs and symptoms related to withdrawal include:ⁱⁱⁱ

• Anxiety or jumpiness
• Shakiness or trembling
• Sweating
• Nausea and vomiting
• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Headache

Alcoholism Symptoms - Compulsive Need to Drink One of Warning Signs of Alcoholism

Symptoms of alcoholism include behaviors around the compulsive need to drink. Alcohol addicts can't control their drinking and can't stop even if they want to. Compulsive drinking behaviors seen as one of the warning signs of alcoholism include:

• Being unable to control the amount of alcohol consumed (read: how much alcohol is too much?)
• Drinking in secret or alone
• Hiding alcohol
• Creating rituals around alcohol, always drinking at certain times and becoming irritated or angry if the ritual is disturbed
• Repeatedly drinking to the point of blacking out
• Drinking in spite of legal, financial, employment or personal problems caused by drinking

Other Alcoholism Signs and Symptoms

Alcoholism is a disease that consumes every part of a person's life. The alcoholism signs and symptoms can generally be seen at home, at work and in daily life. Alcoholism symptoms encompass any negative way in which drinking is impacting the alcoholic's life. Common warning signs of alcoholism include:

• Gulping drinks or ordering doubles to become intoxicated more quickly, to feel good or just to feel normal
• Giving up other activities such as sports or hobbies due to drinking
• Alcohol becoming the main focus of daily life and taking up a lot of time and attention

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Unfortunately, many people are unable to see the alcoholic symptoms within themselves and so the people around them must watch for the signs of an alcoholic. Alcoholic symptoms can typically be seen throughout the alcoholic's life such as at work, at school and with family. Those around the alcoholic may be reluctant to admit to the alcoholic signs and often make excuses for the alcoholic so they don't have to face the reality that their loved one is showing the symptoms of an alcoholic and likely has a problem.^viii

Alcoholic Symptoms - Behavioral Signs of an Alcoholic

Behavioral signs of an alcohol addict can be some of the easiest to notice but unfortunately also may cause some of the most damage to those around the alcoholic. Behavioral signs of an alcoholic may be seen by friends, family or even coworkers of the alcoholic.

Behavioral signs of an alcoholic include:

• Has legal trouble such as DUI, domestic abuse or assault
• Arrives for appointments, interviews, or meetings intoxicated, or misses them altogether
• Frequently goes "on and off-the-wagon"
• Behaves in an uncharacteristic, impulsive, or inappropriate manner
• Is increasingly angry or defiant
• Overreacts to ordinary circumstances and problems, advice and criticism
• Is uncharacteristically isolated and withdrawn
• Denies, lies, covers up or is secretive about behaviors and whereabouts
• Loses interest in hobbies and activities
• Takes unnecessary risks or acts in a reckless manner
• Has increasing financial problems (may borrow or steal from family and friends)

Alcoholic Symptoms - Mental Signs of an Alcoholic

Mental signs of an alcoholic can be more difficult to spot and are often noticed by those who live with the alcoholic. Mental symptoms of an alcoholic often indicate a severe worsening of the disease and should not be ignored.

Mental alcoholic signs include:

• Has difficulty concentrating, focusing, or attending to a task, needs help to complete a task
• Frequently appears distracted or disoriented
• Makes inappropriate or unreasonable choices
• Has difficulty making decisions
• Experiences short-term memory loss or blacks out (read: effects of alcohol on the brain)
• Often needs directions repeated
• Has difficulty recalling known details
• Is depressed or irritable (read: alcoholism and depression)

Alcoholic Symptoms - Physical Signs of an Alcoholic

Physical signs of an alcoholic are more difficult to pick up on then the behavioral signs of an alcoholic but once educated, alcoholic symptoms can be seen. Physical signs of an alcoholic are generally either caused by the drinking itself or by the withdrawal when the alcoholic is not drinking. (See physical effects of alcohol)

Physical symptoms of an alcoholic include:

• Smell of alcohol on breath
• Slurs speech or stutters, is incoherent, speaks slowly
• Has difficulty maintaining eye contact
• Has tremors (shaking or twitching of hands and eyelids)
• Appears lethargic or falls asleep easily
• Experiences sleep disturbances (e.g., insomnia, chronic fatigue)
• Exhibits deteriorating personal hygiene, grooming, and posture
• Exhibits impaired coordination or unsteady gait (e.g., staggering, off balance)
• Has frequent injuries or bruises without reasonable explanations
• Has chronic illnesses requiring doctors visits or hospitalization
• Experiences wide mood swings (highs and lows)
• Experiences general change in mood toward a more depressed and negative or critical outlook
• Panic attacks

Alcoholic Symptoms - Signs of an Alcoholic on the Job

Just as alcoholic symptoms affect home and personal life, signs of an alcoholic are also seen on the job. Family members may not be made aware of job performance issues before it's too late, but co-workers who are friends of the alcoholic can notice the signs of an alcoholic and possibly turn to the family or alcoholic themselves.

Signs of an alcoholic at work include:

• Makes frequent performance mistakes
• Gives questionable excuses or blames others for poor performance
• Has difficulty adhering to schedules
• Misses meetings and scheduled activities, is frequently late
• Lodges numerous complaints or grievances
• Uses excessive sick leave with poor excuses
• Takes long lunch hours and breaks
• Returns to work after breaks in a noticeably changed condition
• Avoids supervisors and coworkers
• Violates company policies and procedures

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How does a person know when they are drinking too much alcohol? How much alcohol is too much? These are questions that many people ask themselves when they take a look at their drinking habits, but the definition of too much alcohol is different for each person and each situation. Any time drinking causes problems in a person's life it is easy to say they are drinking too much alcohol, but if drinking isn't interfering with a person's life, how much alcohol is too much?

Drinking Too Much Alcohol - What is a Drink?

The first step in determining if a person is drinking too much alcohol is to define what "drink" is to see how many drinks a person consumes. A standard drink in the United States is:

• 12-ounces of regular beer or wine cooler
• 8-ounces of malt liquor
• 5 ounces of wine
• 1.5-ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits or liquor (e.g., gin, rum, vodka, whiskey)

Drinking Too Much Alcohol - How Much Alcohol is Too Much?

Alcohol is a drug and should always be consumed in moderation. Drinking too much alcohol can have long and short-term health consequences including high blood pressure, stroke, violence, suicide and cancer. (read: short-term and long-term effects of alcohol)

Drinking too much alcohol is defined by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and is defined differently for women and men.

• Women should have no more than one drink per day.
• Men should have no more than two drinks per day.
• Older men or women should limit themselves to one drink per day.

Men and women have different definitions for too much alcohol as studies have shown that women become more intoxicated than men after consuming the same amount of alcohol. This is likely due to differences in size, body fat ratio and an enzyme in the stomach that breaks down alcohol and is four times more active in men than it is in women.^ix

Drinking Too Much Alcohol - Any Alcohol is Too Much Alcohol

While most people can drink moderately, as defined above, safely, there are some people for whom drinking any amount is drinking too much alcohol. These people are in groups where any drinking is too much alcohol due to the risks involved.

One of the most important groups that need to understand that any alcohol is considered too much alcohol are women who are pregnant or women who plan on becoming pregnant. Drinking alcohol when pregnant can cause miscarriage, birth defects, fetal alcohol syndrome and is linked to lower IQ scores in children.^ix

Other people for whom any alcohol is too much alcohol include:

• People who cannot limit alcohol intake including those who abuse alcohol and alcohol addicts
• Anyone under the legal age of consumption
• Anyone planning on operating heavy equipment such as a vehicle
• Individuals on medications, including over the counter medications
• Individuals with certain medical conditions such as liver disease or some mental illness

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Learning how to deal with an alcoholic is something no one is taught in school. Dealing with an alcoholic isn't even something people think about until they find themselves caring about, or living with, an alcoholic. But alcoholism is a chronic disease that left untreated, will continue to hurt the alcoholic and those around them and learning how to deal with an alcoholic can improve the alcoholic's chance for successful recovery.

How to Deal with an Alcoholic - Stop Alcoholic Denial

Denial is a term used to indicate the unwillingness or inability of a person to admit to some truth, in this case alcoholism. For example, an alcohol addict may vehemently disagree with concerns of those living with the alcoholic that he is drinking too much, in spite of the fact that he has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol three times in one month.

But denial is not just something seen in the alcoholic, denial is also common in those living with an alcoholic.

One of the reasons alcoholics continue to function while drinking and stay in denial is because the family and friends refuse to admit to dealing with an alcoholic. Because there is stigma attached to the term "alcoholic," loved ones want to deny that they are living with an alcoholic. However, admitting to a problem is the only way to start dealing with an alcoholic.

Ways to Remove the Denial Around Living with an Alcoholic:

• Admit that you are living with an alcoholic and that it is a problem.
• Clearly look at the behaviors, emotions and physical symptoms of the alcoholic. Admit that they are due to alcoholism and not another ailment.
• Do not deny the destructive actions of the alcoholic.
• Shed the guilt and shame associated with living with an alcoholic - the alcoholic's disease and actions are not your fault.
• Do not get rid of the alcohol and pretend it wasn't there.
• Understand there is nothing you can do to stop alcoholic behaviors - alcoholism is a disease and not a character flaw or poor judgment on the part of the alcoholic.

How to Deal with an Alcoholic - Admit to the Effects of Living with an Alcoholic

A huge amount of harm comes from living with an alcoholic. Refusing to deny the alcoholism also means admitting to the effects that living with an alcoholic, or caring for an alcoholic, has on you and your family. Dealing with an alcoholic also means dealing with alcoholism's effects in an honest way.

How to deal with the effects of living with (or caring for) an alcoholic:

• Admit that living with an alcoholic is hurting you and your family.
• Acknowledge the effects alcoholism is having on the alcoholic and those around them.
• Talk about how you feel about the alcoholic's behaviors. Allow others to do the same.
• Be honest about your feelings with respect and do not threaten, bribe or make overly emotional appeals which may increase the alcoholic's guilt.

How to Deal with an Alcoholic - Stop Enabling the Alcoholic

The term "enabling" is used to refer to any action used in support of the alcoholic's behavior. Dealing with an alcoholic may seem impossible when the alcoholic denies there is a problem and it may seem easier to just give the alcoholic what they need to go on with the day, but enabling will never stop alcoholic behaviors. The alcoholic must make their own choices and face the consequences of those choices without the help of those living with the alcoholic.

Dealing with an alcoholic by not enabling the alcoholic in the following ways:

• Do not make excuses for the alcoholic.
• Do not take over the responsibilities of the alcoholic.
• Do not cover up the actions, or the consequences of the actions, of the alcoholic.
• Do not supply the alcoholic with alcohol.
• Do not drink with the alcoholic.
• Do not argue with the alcoholic when he is intoxicated.
• Do not allow the alcoholic to pull people into his drama. For example, if the alcoholic is arrested for drinking and driving, do not try to get him out of it. The alcoholic created the problem and the alcoholic has to find a solution.

How to Deal with an Alcoholic - Get Help for Yourself and Those Living with an Alcoholic

There are many families living with an alcoholic who refuses help. In these cases, it's useful for the family members to seek their own help when dealing with an alcoholic.

People who can help those living with an alcoholic include:

• Therapists
• Social workers
• Support groups, like Al-Anon or Alateen
• Trusted friends or members of a faith community

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Once you've admitted that alcoholism is a problem for your loved one, or once your loved one is getting help for their alcoholism, the next question is: "how to help an alcoholic?" Before the alcoholic is in recovery, the focus of helping an alcoholic is on getting the alcoholic treatment; once the alcoholic stops drinking, helping an alcoholic involves supporting the alcoholic through the recovery process.

Start helping an alcoholic by helping yourself first. Learn how to help an alcoholic by contacting local addiction agencies, support groups or web sites to educate yourself on alcohol abuse and alcoholism.

How to Help an Alcoholic - Helping an Alcoholic Get Treatment

You cannot make an alcoholic stop drinking. Only the alcoholic can do that for himself. However, you can help an alcoholic seek treatment. Seeking treatment is the first step in recovering from alcoholism.

Most alcoholics are in denial in that they will not admit they have a problem with alcohol. One way of helping an alcoholic is trying to make them see the harmful effects their drinking is having in their lives. When the alcoholic is sober, help an alcoholic by discussing as calmly and rationally as possible, their actions and their consequences. Helping an alcoholic involves using specific examples of actions and how they affected others.

The alcoholic may not agree that these behaviors are due to drinking, but addressing problem behaviors is still helpful. In helping an alcoholic, it is important to make clear that you still love the alcoholic.

Helping an alcoholic then involves making an action plan to address their behaviors and the negative consequences. It may help the alcoholic to be given an ultimatum or time limit. For example, "if you do not agree to treatment I will move out on the 13^th." Any ultimatum made needs to be real and needs to be stuck to in order for it to help the alcoholic.

Ideally, this will help an alcoholic accept treatment for alcoholism but an alcoholic can only accept treatment when he admits there is a problem.

How to Help an Alcoholic - Helping an Alcoholic in Recovery

Once an alcoholic begins the process of recovery through treatment, helping an alcoholic turns to supporting the alcoholic's recovery. Education on alcoholism treatment and recovery is the first step in helping an alcoholic through the recovery process. Make sure to attend all recovery-related meetings or appointments whether the alcoholic attends or not.

Helping an alcoholic in recovery may also include:

• Removing all alcohol from the home
• Not serving alcohol at social gatherings
• Not drinking in front of the alcoholic
• Asking the alcoholic what he needs
• Getting your own counseling or support for the effects alcoholism has played in your life
• Doing something for yourself rather than obsessing over the alcoholic's drinking

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Alcoholism is a progressive illness that can destroy the life of the alcoholic and those around him. When someone abuses alcohol to the point of becoming an alcoholic, specific treatment for alcoholism is often necessary. Alcoholics can almost never get better without some form of directed alcohol addiction treatment. Alcohol abuse treatment and alcoholism treatment programs can take several forms.

• A professional rehabilitation program
• A self-help alcohol addiction treatment
• Alcohol abuse therapy

No matter which treatment for alcoholism is chosen, support from those around the alcoholic is critical for successful treatment of alcoholism.

Alcohol Abuse Treatment - Alcoholism Treatment Rehabilitation Programs

Alcoholism treatment rehabilitation programs (sometimes simply called rehab) are formal programs that can be done on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Alcohol treatment rehab is typically done in an addiction treatment center or in a hospital and the alcohol addiction treatment is generally done by doctors, nurses and other certified individuals. Often many of the people in rehab treatment for alcoholism are people in recovery themselves.

Alcoholism treatment rehabilitation programs are available in these formats:

• Inpatient - in a hospital
• Outpatient or partial hospitalization - Sometimes called day treatment
• Residential - where the alcoholic lives at the addiction treatment center

No matter what kind of rehabilitation treatment program for alcoholism is chosen, these steps are common:

• An in-depth assessment is conducted in order to fully understand the alcoholic and the alcohol addiction treatment that would be best for him. This assessment is done by a doctor or a substance abuse counselor and may include information given by the family and friends of the alcoholic.
• An alcoholism treatment plan is created that outlines problems, treatment goals and the ways to meet those goals. This may also include treatment of health issues besides addiction such as a mental illness.
• The next step may be medical care during the initial alcochol withdrawal period, known as detoxification or simply detox. Medical care during detoxification depends on the specific alcoholic's drinking pattern and risk factors for adverse events during detox. Medical care may also be necessary as medication needs to be given during alcohol detox and recovery.
• Alcohol therapy, including group and individual counseling, will occur during the treatment for alcoholism. Types of counseling vary by alcohol addiction treatment program.
• Education about alcoholism and alcoholism treatment will occur, sometimes including books to read, written assignments and behaviors to initiate.
• Life skills are generally also taught during alcohol abuse treatment to help put into place healthy ways of dealing with issues that were previously dealt with by drinking.
• The alcoholic may be tested for drug and alcohol use during alcohol addiction treatment.
• Relapse prevention techniques are often taught during rehabilitation to help prevent future drinking.
• Self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous are introduced.
• Family education and counseling services are provided or coordinated by the alcohol addiction treatment program to help the family through the problems and behavioral patterns caused by the problem drinker. (read: living with an alcoholic)
• Follow-up care may be provided by the alcoholism treatment program or may be provided by associated health systems.

Alcohol Abuse Treatment - Self-Help Alcohol Addiction Treatment

Self-help alcohol addiction treatment may include a number of self-paced resources such as websites, books and support groups. Common alcoholic treatment and support groups include Alcoholics Anonymous and SMART (self-management and recovery training) Recovery and Secular Organizations for Sobriety.

The alcohol addiction treatment provided by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) places importance on working through 12 predefined steps to achieve and maintain recovery. Also central to AA is the concept of a sponsor. The sponsor is a recovering alcoholic chosen by the alcoholic seeking treatment to guide the alcoholic through the 12 steps, as well as provide support to keep the alcoholic from drinking. Alcoholics Anonymous requires members to attend meetings which are always free.

The treatment for alcoholism provided by SMART Recovery is a set of tools and skills used by the alcoholic to attain and maintain recovery. SMART recovery offers free in-person and online meetings. This alcohol abuse treatment focuses on these four points:

• Motivation to abstain from drinking
• Coping with the urge to drink
• Problem solving skills to manage thoughts and behaviors
• Lifestyle balance for short-term and long-term pleasures

Alcohol Abuse Treatment - Alcohol Abuse Therapy

Alcohol abuse therapy is often included in alcoholism treatment rehabilitation programs and is sought out by those using self-help alcohol addiction treatment as well. Alcohol abuse therapy may be individual, group, couple or family counseling. Alcohol abuse therapy may be based on a prescribed method such as cognitive behavioral therapy or more unique to the individual such as psychotherapy.

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Alcoholism rehabilitation, known as rehab, can take self-directed forms, but if someone has full-blown alcoholism it's likely time to seek out an alcohol treatment center. The more a person drinks and the longer the person has been abusing alcohol, the more necessary it is to seek an alcoholism treatment center.

Detoxification in an Alcoholism Rehab Center

Alcoholics are physically addicted to alcohol and when they stop drinking they go into withdrawal. The immediate process of getting the alcohol out of the body is known as detoxification, or detox. Those who need acute medical detox do so in an alcohol treatment center which may be standalone or part of a hospital.

Detox may be inpatient at an alcohol treatment center or may be outpatient with day monitoring at the alcohol treatment center in less severe cases. Medications may be prescribed to make the detox process easier. The more a person has been drinking and the longer they have been drinking, the more critical it is to do detox through an alcohol treatment center to avoid possibly lethal complications like delirium tremens (DTs).

Alcoholism Rehab and Alcoholism Treatment Center Programs

Programs at alcoholism treatment centers are specifically designed to recover alcoholics and to maintain their recovery. Alcoholism treatment center programs are generally the best chance an alcoholic has at quitting drinking.

Types of alcoholism treatment center programs:

• Partial hospitalization - ongoing medical supervision while living at home. This program usually meets at the hospital 3 - 5 days per week, 4 - 6 hours per day.
• Residential or inpatient programs - Intensive live-in treatment usually lasting from 30 - 90 days.
• Outpatient (day) program - ongoing treatment while living at home. This program usually meets at least 3 days per week for at least 2 - 4 hours per day.
• Counseling - additional therapy is typically added to any of the above treatments.

Is It Time for an Alcoholism Treatment Center?

While making the decision to enter into an alcoholism treatment center is personal, here are some questions to ask yourself to see if an alcoholism treatment center may be right for you:

1. Have you previously tried to stop drinking and failed?
2. Do you find the idea of quitting drinking overwhelming?
3. Do you have no idea how to quit drinking?
4. Do you have, or suspect you have, a mental illness?
5. Do you have any additional medical complications?
6. Have you been addicted to alcohol for longer than one year?
7. Do you have insufficient people in your life to offer recovery support

The more questions you answered "yes" to, the more likely it is you need an alcoholism treatment center.

What to Look for in an Alcoholism Rehab Program

All alcohol treatment centers are not created equal and some are better suited to certain types of people. While price and amenities are obviously concerns for many, treatment quality, certification and aftercare are crucial aspects of an alcohol treatment center program that can be the key to the success or failure of recovery.

Things to consider when looking for an alcohol treatment center:

• Is the program credited and licensed by the state it's in?
• Are the people running the program and providing treatment trained, licensed mental health professionals and addiction specialists?
• Is the alcoholism treatment effective? What are their success rates?
• What type of clinical assessment will be done as part of treatment?
• What type of aftercare do they provide? How much does it cost?
• What type of treatment is available for the family of the alcoholic? How much does it cost?

How Much do Alcoholic Treatment Centers Cost?

Alcoholic treatment center costs vary widely between alcoholic treatment centers and types of treatment. Because of the medical supervision required, alcohol detox will often cost the most followed by inpatient and then outpatient treatment.

Paying for an Alcoholic Treatment Center

While the costs of attending an alcoholism treatment center are high, the costs of not going are even greater when the outlook of the alcoholic is considered. Where would the alcoholic be in one year, or five years without the help of an alcoholic treatment center?

That being said, there are many ways of paying for, or reducing the cost of alcoholism rehab:

• Insurance companies may pay some or all of the costs of attending an alcohol treatment center. This may be only available once in the lifetime of the policy.
• Some alcoholic treatment center programs offer sliding-scale or reduced scale payment
• Some states have alcohol treatment centers offer beds to specific people such as pregnant women or others in special circumstances
• The Veterans Administration offers some alcohol treatment center program coverage

Contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for more information on affordable alcohol treatment centers. 1-800-662-HELP (4357) http://www.samhsa.gov/

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