Alcoholics Anonymous® (also known as “AA”) and other 12-step programs provide peer support for people quitting or cutting back on their drinking. Combined with treatment led by health care providers, mutual-support groups can offer a valuable added layer of support. The severity of alcohol addiction can vary, ranging from mild to severe, and can develop over time. Someone may begin drinking socially or to cope with stress, but over time, their alcohol consumption can increase, leading to a tolerance that requires more alcohol to achieve the same effects. As their tolerance grows, they become more dependent, eventually leading to a full-blown addiction where alcohol becomes a central focus of their life. Addressing alcohol consumption during treatment is crucial, as it helps manage cravings and supports individuals in achieving or maintaining abstinence.
How Does Chemical Dependency Lead to Addiction?
Emerging research also suggests that computer-based behavioral approaches (especially cognitive–behavioral treatment) may be effective either as a substitute for or augmentation of person-to-person treatment (Carroll et al. 2008). It is likely that various combinations of computer-based and personal behavioral treatments will emerge, further increasing the options available to people who need help. Most seek no help at all and yet eventually are able to overcome their compulsive drinking either through abstaining or cutting back to low-risk drinking (Moss et al. 2007). They typically suffer, however, for a period of years, and, although their lives do not fall apart, their excessive drinking may be a matter of significant concern for them and their loved ones.
The Effects of Alcoholism on Different Members of the Family
Long-term treatment requires a commitment can alcoholism be cured to change, and individuals need to recognize that managing alcohol addiction will be a lifelong process. Most drugs affect the brain’s “reward circuit,” causing euphoria as well as flooding it with the chemical messenger dopamine. A properly functioning reward system motivates a person to repeat behaviors needed to thrive, such as eating and spending time with loved ones. Surges of dopamine in the reward circuit cause the reinforcement of pleasurable but unhealthy behaviors like taking drugs, leading people to repeat the behavior again and again.
- However, with the right treatment and support, individuals can learn to manage their addiction and live a fulfilling life in recovery.
- Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences.
Understanding Addiction
Despite being aware of these harmful outcomes, many people who use drugs continue to take them, which is the nature of addiction. As a person continues to use drugs, the brain adapts by reducing the ability of cells in the reward circuit to respond to it. This reduces the high that the person feels compared to the high they felt when first taking the drug—an effect known as tolerance. These brain adaptations often lead to the person becoming less and less able to derive pleasure from other things they once enjoyed, like food, sex, or social activities. I have come to believe that an uncompromising “abstinence-only” model is a holdover from the very beginnings of the recovery movement, almost 100 years ago, and our understanding has greatly evolved since then. The concepts of addiction and recovery that made sense in 1935, when Alcoholics Anonymous was founded, and which have been carried on by tradition, might not still hold true in the modern age of neurochemistry and functional MRIs.
Combined with medications and behavioral treatment provided by health care professionals, mutual-support groups can offer a valuable added layer of support. Based on the current understanding of the nature of the disorder, some principles seem relatively straightforward and resemble those for Halfway house treating other severe chronic disorders. For example, treatment should continue as long as needed and not be stopped at some arbitrary point.
Do you have a Personal Story of Dual Recovery?
- Remarkable progress has been made in the treatment of alcohol use disorders (AUDs) over the past 40 years.
- Usually, this is due to the way that they started out having a few drinks because they were feeling depressed or anxious over a situation.
- These take time– in fact, most professionals and recovering addicts and alcoholics believe that recovery from the disease of chemical dependency is a life-long process.
- A recent study led by Dr. Kyle G. Mertens demonstrated that semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, significantly reduced alcohol consumption and binge-like drinking in a rodent model of alcohol misuse.
- Challenges may arise during and after rehabilitation, including the risk of relapse and the need for ongoing support.
- The journey towards long-term recovery requires individuals to develop coping strategies, implement relapse prevention techniques, and find purpose and meaning in life.
Support networks, including self-help groups and community resources, provide essential encouragement and accountability. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Helpline is one such resource, offering free, confidential https://ecosoberhouse.com/ help to those seeking support in their recovery journey. While addiction cannot be cured outright, effective management combining therapy, medication, and long-term support can lead to successful, fulfilling lives free of substance use.
Common mental health conditions that co-occur with AUD are depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma- and stress-related disorders, other substance use disorders, and sleep disorders. Studies show that people who have AUD are more likely to suffer from major depression or anxiety over their lifetime. When addressing drinking problems, it’s important to also seek treatment for any accompanying medical and mental health issues. While addiction may not have a definitive cure, the goal of treatment is to empower individuals to overcome their addiction, improve their quality of life, and maintain long-term recovery. With the right treatment approaches, support systems, and a commitment to self-care, individuals can manage their addiction effectively and lead fulfilling lives.