Alcohol accounts for almost half of all admissions to rehab facilities in the US. It is the most frequently abused substance in the country, and it is a huge threat to younger people. Those that engage in underage drinking have the highest incidence of drunk driving crashes, and they also have a high likelihood of ending up in treatment for an alcohol problem by the time they turn forty.

Alcohol treatment should be started at the first sign of a problem, and the treatment program should be chosen carefully. If a person tries and fails repeatedly to detox and eliminate their alcohol addiction, their alcohol dependency could even be made worse. Alcohol causes permanent changes within the brain, and withdrawing from alcohol suddenly can cause painful and debilitating withdrawal symptoms like hallucinations and delirium tremens.

If you think you need alcohol treatment, you should research a few different programs. There are many to choose from, but every one is a bit different. Not every treatment facility is just for alcohol treatment. A good alcohol treatment and rehab program include detoxification and management of withdrawal symptoms, whether it’s on an outpatient or residential basis. Medication may also be given to reduce cravings and minimize the chance of a relapse.

For alcohol treatment to be successful, the alcoholic must get counseling to address the underlying issues that drove them to drink in the first place.

According to SAMHSA’s 2006 survey on alcohol treatment, almost 25% of all admissions involved people under 25. Most of the young people in alcohol treatment were referred through the criminal justice system. However, this early treatment can stop the young person from developing a lifelong alcohol addiction.

Alcohol treatment is often defined by the length of time that the person has been abusing alcohol. Among those who were admitted to rehab for an alcohol problem, those that said that they did not drink every day were likely to get treated on an outpatient basis, while those who drank to excess every day were more likely to be placed in a residential alcohol treatment program. Early treatment is usually cheaper, and it can save a person’s health, job, and social life. For an alcohol treatment to be successful, the drinker needs support from friends and family, as well as counseling.

Most people seek alcohol treatment more than one time before they are able to quit drinking for good. Relapse is always a possibility, and hardened alcoholics may need some kind of alcohol treatment for the rest of their lives. There are some medicines that can be given to either reduce the urge to drink, or even make the person ill when they do drink.

As we mentioned, the earlier a person gets alcohol treatment, the less likely they are to end up with a lifelong alcohol addiction. If you or someone you love is an alcoholic, you should get help as soon as you can, before the cravings take over and you no longer have the desire to quit drinking.

Drug Enforcement Agnecy (DEA) – http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/index.htm
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) – http://www.samhsa.gov/
National Institue of Health (NIH) – http://www.nih.gov/