Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Denton, TX
Alcohol addiction occurs when a person is physically and mentally addicted to alcohol. They will experience strong cravings to drink alcohol when they aren't drinking and will have withdrawal symptoms if they go too long without drinking. Ultimately, a person who is addicted to alcohol will lose control over their relationship with alcohol to the point where they can't dictate how much they will drink. When this occurs, a person should seek alcohol addiction treatment in Denton. Through alcohol addiction treatment, they can receive focused services that allow them to get sober as well as prevent alcohol use relapse.
There are a number of services offered for alcohol addiction treatment in Denton. Examples of these treatments include:
- Detoxification: Detoxification or withdrawals is the process by which a person breaks the physical hold a person has over the person. Usually, a person will start to experience symptoms within six to 12 hours of stopping using alcohol. Because alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be severe and sometimes even life-threatening, a person should always seek alcohol withdrawal treatment at a professional facility.
- Rehabilitation: Following the medical detox in Denton, a person can begin to further break the mental and psychological hold that alcohol has on them. Examples of steps in the rehabilitation process include taking medications, such as disulfiram (Antabuse), a medication that will make a person feel ill if they drink. Taking this medicine can deter a person from drinking again. Other services involved in the rehabilitation phase can include group and individual counseling.
- Maintenance of sobriety: In the maintenance phase, a person's goal is to prevent relapse. They may attend 12-step meetings, such as Alcoholics Anonymous or continue counseling.
Addiction of any kind is a chronic condition that causes a person to experience episodes of relapse in many instances. Just like a chronic health condition, alcohol abuse must be a condition that is constantly managed for a lifetime. However, through alcohol addiction treatment programs in Denton, a person can become sober and remain sober.
Alcohol Addiction Signs and Symptoms
Recognizing that a loved one has an alcohol addiction problem can be difficult. Sometimes a person can be very good at concealing what and how much they drink. There is also a fine line between drinking to have a good time and alcohol abuse for some individuals. Some signs that a person may have a drinking problem include:
- Experiencing strong cravings when not drinking
- Continuing to drink, even though drinking has caused relationship and/or career problems
- Wanting to drink less, but finding themselves unable to
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not drinking
- Building a tolerance to alcohol such that a person has to drink much more to achieve the same effect they once did.
Alcohol withdrawals can cause a number of problems for a person. These include increased short-term risks for accidents, falls, and trouble with the law. They can also have long-term problems, such as increased risk for some types of cancers and damage, hepatitis, and scarring to the liver, known as cirrhosis. Alcohol abuse can take years off a person's life, either due to risks for injury or because of long-term health complications.
Why Should I Enter an Alcohol Addiction Treatment Center?
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, an estimated 33 percent of people who undergo treatment for alcohol problems are still sober one year later. Because alcohol addiction is so difficult to overcome, seeking alcohol addiction recovery help can help a person's chances for staying sober. A person may share many reasons why they do not want to or fear seeking alcohol addiction rehab. These include the belief that they can quit anytime they want as well as denial that they have a problem in the first place.
As mentioned above, alcohol withdrawals can cause a life-threatening syndrome that is known as the delirium tremens or DTs. Symptoms associated with the DT's include seizures, rapid heart rate, too-warm body temperatures, and hallucinations. According to WebMD, the DTs have a mortality rate of 10 percent. This is why it is very important that a person struggling with alcohol abuse seek alcohol addiction rehab.
In addition to the protective benefits of seeking alcohol addiction treatment in Denton, a person can receive medications during the withdrawal process that can reduce symptoms whenever possible. Examples include medications known as benzodiazepines that reduce the likelihood a person will experience seizures as well as reducing anxiety and promoting sleep. Anti-nausea medications can also be administered to reduce the incidence of nausea and vomiting. Call us now for more information (877) 804-1531.