Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol Abuse and Rehab Explained

Alcohol abuse is treatable, and you can recover. Get the help you deserve. Call 1-800-231-2950. The alcohol rehab programs at Lakeview Health are designed to help you recover from alcohol abuse with the specific treatment you need.

It is estimated that between 12 and 14 million adults in the U.S. suffer from alcohol abuse or are chronic alcoholics. Nearly 100,000 Americans die each year as a result of alcohol abuse, and alcohol is a factor in more than half of the country's homicides, suicides and traffic accidents. Alcohol abuse also plays a role in many social and domestic problems, from job absenteeism and crimes against property to spousal and child abuse. Alcohol abuse, though not a chronic disease like alcoholism, requires treatment in an alcohol rehab program.

Alcohol abuse can be defined as a pattern of drinking resulting in one or more of the following situations within a 12-month period:

• Continued drinking despite having ongoing relationship problems that are caused or worsened by the drinking
• Drinking alcohol in situations that are physically dangerous, such as while driving a car or operating machinery
• Failure to fulfill major work, school or home responsibilities
• Having recurring alcohol-related legal problems, such as being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or for physically hurting someone while drunk

Other Factors to Consider About Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol affects women differently than men. Women become more impaired than men do after drinking the same amount of alcohol, even when differences in body weight are taken into account. In addition, chronic alcohol abuse takes a heavier physical toll on women than on men. Alcohol dependence and related medical problems, such as brain, heart and liver damage, progress more rapidly in women than in men.

Alcohol Rehab

The type of treatment you receive depends on the severity of your alcohol abuse and your resources. Generally speaking, most people who suffer from alcohol abuse require an alcohol rehab program.

Alcohol rehab is a combination of group, individual, educational and family therapies. Most people remain in an alcohol rehab program for several weeks in an attempt to resolve many of the feelings that caused them to drink in the first place. While in alcohol rehab, each patient is generally seen by a psychiatrist who can rule out or address the possibility of any mental illness. The combination of alcohol abuse and a mental illness is termed "dual diagnosis"

Sometimes, outpatient alcohol treatment programs are recommended for people suffering from less severe cases of alcohol abuse. Understand that if you are looking to take the easier or softer way by enrolling in an outpatient program rather than an alcohol rehab, it can result in repeated relapse and a chronic alcoholic condition called alcoholism. A professional alcohol assessment should be sought.

If you are looking for an effective dual diagnosis treatment program or alcohol rehab for your alcohol abuse, call Lakeview Health Systems now at 1-800-231-2950. All calls are completely confidential and our staff is available to assist you 24 hours a day.