Vivian Marlowe
Alcohol use disorder (AUD), commonly known as alcoholism, is a prevalent medical condition that significantly impacts the health and well-being of individuals and their communities. It is characterised by an inability to control alcohol consumption, even when it causes health issues, safety risks, and relationship problems. AUD affects millions of adults in the United States, and approximately one in ten children live with a parent struggling with this disorder. To address this pressing issue, various public health programs and initiatives have been developed to prevent and treat AUD. These programs aim to reduce alcohol-related harms and support individuals and families affected by this disorder.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Treatment options | 12-step programs, 28-day inpatient treatment, counseling, medication, behavioural therapy |
| Support for teens with alcoholic parents | Yes |
| Support for family members | Yes |
| Support for mental health issues | Yes |
| State-funded treatment programs | Yes |
| Sliding-scale fees | Yes |
| Insurance coverage | Yes |
| Confidentiality | Yes |
| Treatment for alcohol-related health issues | Yes |
| Alcohol-related harm reduction | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
National Helpline for Mental Health, Drug, Alcohol Issues
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a common medical condition. People with AUD are unable to stop drinking, even when drinking negatively impacts their health, safety, and personal relationships. AUD affects not only the drinker but also those around them. Millions of adults in the United States have AUD, and approximately 1 in 10 children live in a home with a parent who has AUD.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) provides an online tool called the NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator, which helps individuals find the right treatment for them in their local area. The Navigator offers a three-step roadmap to finding highly qualified professional treatment providers. It is important to evaluate the coverage offered by your health insurance plan and to ask different programs about their fees and payment plans. Some programs may offer lower prices or payment plans for individuals without insurance.
There are many treatment options available for AUD, including medication and behavioral therapy. All medications approved for treating AUD are non-addictive and are designed to help manage the disorder in the same way that someone might use medication to manage asthma or diabetes. Behavioral treatments aim to change drinking behavior through counseling.
SAMHSA's National Helpline provides a free, confidential treatment referral and information service for mental health, substance use, and alcohol issues. The helpline is available for individuals with these issues, as well as their family members. Trained information specialists answer calls, transfer callers to state services or other appropriate intake centers in their states, and connect them with local assistance and support. The helpline does not provide counseling. If you have no insurance or are underinsured, the helpline will refer you to your state office, which is responsible for state-funded treatment programs, or to facilities that charge on a sliding fee scale or accept Medicare or Medicaid.
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Alcohol-related problems and AUD
Treatment for AUD aims to reduce drinking or achieve abstinence through medication and behavioural therapy. Behavioural treatments involve counselling to change drinking behaviour, while medications are used to manage the disorder, similar to how asthma or diabetes is managed. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment, and different programmes and providers offer varying approaches. The NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator is an online tool that helps individuals find qualified treatment providers and offers a three-step roadmap for seeking higher quality, science-backed treatment.
Various public health programmes and resources are available to support individuals with AUD:
- National Helplines: The SAMHSA National Helpline for Mental Health, Drug, and Alcohol Issues provides confidential support and referrals to treatment facilities and state-funded programs for individuals with or without insurance.
- 12-Step Programs: These programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, provide a structured framework for recovery and peer support.
- Inpatient Treatment Centres: Short-term inpatient programs lasting around 28 days offer intensive treatment and support for individuals seeking to detox and begin recovery.
- Outpatient Therapy: This involves regular individual or group therapy sessions with a therapist or counsellor specialising in substance use disorders.
- Support Groups: Groups such as Al-Anon and Alateen provide support for family members, teens, and friends affected by a loved one's drinking.
- Family Therapy: Family therapy sessions can help address the impact of AUD on the family system and promote healing and recovery.
- Community Resources: Local community health centres and non-profit organisations often offer low-cost or sliding-scale fee treatment options for individuals with substance use disorders.
It is important to note that treatment should be tailored to the individual, and a healthcare provider can help assess symptoms and determine the best course of action. Seeking help is a crucial step towards recovery, and with treatment, most individuals can successfully manage their drinking or achieve abstinence.
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Treatment options for AUD
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a common medical condition. People with AUD are unable to stop drinking even when drinking negatively affects their health, safety, and personal relationships. Treatment options for AUD include medication and behavioural therapy. There are currently three medications approved for AUD in the United States: Naltrexone, Acamprosate, and Disulfiram. Naltrexone helps reduce the urge to drink and is available as a pill or injection. Acamprosate decreases the negative symptoms associated with alcohol abstinence, making it easier to maintain abstinence. Disulfiram discourages drinking by causing unpleasant symptoms when alcohol is consumed.
Behavioural treatments for AUD aim to change drinking behaviour through counselling. This may involve seeking support from a 12-step program or therapy. Exercise is also recommended as a way to manage stress and cravings. It is important to know your triggers and to have a support system in place to help you through your recovery journey.
There are also free and confidential helplines available for individuals and families facing AUD and substance use disorders, such as the SAMHSA National Helpline in the United States. These helplines provide referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. Additionally, online tools like the NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator can help individuals find qualified treatment providers near them.
When considering treatment options, it is important to evaluate the coverage provided by your health insurance plan and whether the program offers sliding-scale fees or payment plans. It is also crucial to understand the type of treatment offered and whether it addresses mental health issues alongside alcohol treatment. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for AUD treatment, and individuals should choose the option that best suits their needs and circumstances.
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Alcoholics Anonymous and 12-step programs
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a fellowship that follows a 12-step program for personal recovery from alcoholism. Founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith (known as "Bill W." and "Dr. Bob" within the fellowship), Alcoholics Anonymous has helped millions of people worldwide recover from alcoholism.
The 12 steps, first published in the 1939 book *Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism*, are as follows:
- Admitting we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable
- Coming to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity
- Making a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God, as we understood Him
- Making a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves
- Admitting to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs
- Readiness to have God remove all these defects of character
- Humbly asking Him to remove our shortcomings
- Making a list of all persons we had harmed and becoming willing to make amends to them all
- Making direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others
- Continuing to take personal inventory, and when we are wrong, promptly admitting it
- Seeking through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him
- Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, trying to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs
The 12 steps have been adapted to address a wide range of alcoholism, substance abuse, and dependency problems. Over 200 mutual aid organizations, often known as fellowships, have adopted and adapted AA's 12 steps and 12 traditions for recovery.
While AA and 12-step programs are a popular approach to treating alcohol use disorder (AUD), there are many other treatment options available. These include medication and behavioral therapy, with scientists working to develop a larger menu of pharmaceutical treatments that could be tailored to individual needs.
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CDC Alcohol Program
Alcohol use disorder (AUD), or alcoholism, is a common medical condition. People with AUD are unable to stop drinking, even when drinking negatively affects their health, safety, and personal relationships. AUD is a significant public health issue in the United States, with about 178,000 deaths from excessive alcohol use each year. The CDC Alcohol Program aims to address this issue by reducing excessive alcohol consumption and related illnesses, injuries, and deaths.
The CDC Alcohol Program works to prevent and mitigate the impacts of excessive alcohol use through public health surveillance, partnerships, and applied research. The program measures the effects of excessive drinking and develops resources to help individuals and communities drink less and create healthier environments. This includes providing states and communities with proven strategies to prevent alcohol-related harms and sharing clear information about how reducing excessive alcohol consumption improves health and well-being.
The CDC-funded organizations work to lower rates of excessive alcohol use by starting or expanding state alcohol programs, coordinating efforts with advisory groups, and partnering with community coalitions to share data for public health action. They also combine efforts to reduce excessive drinking with other public health priorities, such as cancer prevention or drug overdose prevention. Additionally, these organizations study and present findings on the impacts of excessive alcohol consumption.
The CDC Alcohol Program provides resources and support for individuals seeking to reduce their alcohol intake. The program encourages people to drink less to improve their health and life through initiatives like "Drink Less, Be Your Best." The program also offers a quiz to help individuals decide if they want to drink less and provides information on proven strategies to reduce alcohol consumption and related harms.
Overall, the CDC Alcohol Program plays a crucial role in addressing the public health impacts of excessive alcohol use in the United States. By providing resources, sharing information, and partnering with communities, the program aims to reduce excessive alcohol consumption and improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities.
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Frequently asked questions
There are a variety of public health programs available to alcoholics, including:
- 12-step programs
- 28-day inpatient treatment centers
- Behavioral treatments aimed at changing drinking behavior through counseling
- Medication-assisted treatment
- Youth support groups such as Alateen
You can contact your state office or SAMHSA's National Helpline for Mental Health, Drug, and Alcohol Issues to be connected with local assistance and support. You can also visit the NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator online to find a qualified treatment provider near you.
Yes, there are youth support groups such as Alateen that provide emotional support and resources for teens with alcoholic parents.
