The Most Important Things You Can Do To Help an Alcoholic

At Synergy Recovery Services, we see many clients and patients who are alcohol dependent. According to the National Council on Drug and Alcohol Dependence,one in 12 peopleare addicted to alcohol, which is about17.6 million people. Alcohol is the third-leading “lifestyle” cause of death, meaning it’s a preventable disease attributed to lifestyle choices, rather than accidents, genetic or environmental factors.

This learning process is essential to encouraging necessary body activities, like eating and sex, that are needed for struggling with alcohol addiction survival. The difference comes in the speed, intensity, and reliability with which the brain releases dopamine.

Getting Help for Alcohol Addiction

After the employee’s return to duty, there will be some type of follow-up care such as a 12-Step program or other group meetings, therapy, EAP sessions, or any combination of the foregoing . These sessions should cause only minimal disruption to the work schedule. The EAP counselor can explain the importance of the follow-up program to the employee’s continued sobriety.

When an intervention is planned with care and offered with understanding, the individual is more likely to be open to treatment. Make sure the intervention does not become a negotiation, a trial, or an airing of grievances. Also, be sure to make a distinction between the individual as a person and the addiction. But an intervention does not have to resemble a firing squad.

Tips for Selecting Treatment

Alcohol addiction doesn’t discriminate by gender, race or economic status. However, you may have an increased risk of becoming addicted to alcohol if someone in your family is addicted to drugs or alcohol. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence states that genetics makes up about 50 percent of an individual’s risk of alcoholism. Although some people think that wine or beer is safer than hard liquor, your body doesn’t care where it gets alcohol from. Wine does provide some antioxidants, but you can obtain similar health benefits from grape juice or cranberry juice. The amount of alcohol in a serving defines its effects, with higher proof alcoholic beverages producing stronger effects without having to drink the same amount. Before talking with them, it may be helpful to speak with a healthcare provider who specializes in addiction to obtain guidance on how to get help for alcoholism.

It might be helpful to rehearse this or at least go over the documentation with the EAP counselor. It is generally a good practice to notify any employee who is being counseled for a performance or conduct problem about the availability of the EAP. However, it is crucial to make a referral to the EAP in the case of an employee with a known alcohol problem. You may feel hurt by your friend’s past actions or behaviors. So it’s important to take responsibility for your feelings, too.

Types of Behavioral Treatments

Today to speak with an admissions navigator about treatment options for your loved one in order to help with their drinking problem. There’s no obligation to make any decisions right away and all calls are 100% confidential. After a rehabilitation program has been successfully completed, aftercare is an important part of the recovery process. Alcohol.org is a subsidiary of American Addiction Centers , a leading provider of addiction treatment services across the U.S. The admissions navigators at AAC are here to answer your questions about treatment 24/7 and all calls are confidential. Continuing to drink alcohol no matter the negative effects it has on your life.

• You may know people with alcoholic family members who will never touch a drop of alcohol.
• A drinking relapse doesn’t mean you’re a failure or that you’ll never be able to reach your goal.
• You don’t have to suffer from alcohol addiction in silence.
• Many people who struggle with alcohol addiction find it difficult or impossible to quit without the help or support of others.
• Why does an alcoholic continue to drink despite the known facts about the disease and the obvious adverse consequences of continued drinking?
• For example, an employee may become intoxicated while on duty or be arrested for drunk driving.

The social acceptance of drinking can often lead to denial — and, if left untreated, severe consequences. Functional alcoholics may seem to be in control, Benton says, but they may put themselves or others in danger by drinking and driving, having risky sexual encounters, or blacking out. Drinking too much – on a single occasion or long-term – can take a serious toll on your health. Some effects of alcoholmay have a minor effect on your health, while others can be severe or life-threatening. Consuming alcohol can provide some people a break from reality. It offers a sense of relief from underlying issues your mind may be trying to escape from. However, continual alcohol use to get through the day or week can turn into a serious drinking problem.

Don’t Take It Personally

AA is not really a formal organization as it has no leaders. In the workplace, there is likely to be little or no obvious impact on the alcoholic’s performance or conduct at work.

Financial problems, a bad breakup, or the death of a close friend or relative are some of the situations that can push you to seek relief or escape with drugs or alcohol. Your friends may encourage you to join them in using drugs. Many people succumb to peer pressure for fear of losing friends or a desire to fit in. Whether you are early in your career or a seasoned professional, McLean has resources to support you through a lifetime of helping patients succeed. The 11 factors mentioned above address the psychological and physical components of an AUD.

Though not all steps would be appropriate in all situations, most would be applicable. The employee may also be absent from his or her duty station without explanation or permission for significant periods of time. Even though you must not try to diagnose the problem, there are many signs that may indicate a problem with alcohol, and should trigger a referral to the EAP. Referring employees to your agency’s Employee https://ecosoberhouse.com/ Assistance Program . If the person states that there is definitely not a problem, ask to talk again at some point in the future. Your goal is not to convince the person that there is a problem, but to let them know that you believe there is one and that your belief is based on observable behaviors. Create a two-way dialogue so the person doesn’t feel lectured or badgered and use open-ended questions.

• Sometimes a direct, heart-to-heart conversation can start the road to recovery.
• Think about how it is affecting your friend as well as others.
• He could even be a high achiever or in a position of power.
• But experts believe that any number of programs can lead to success – if the person is willing to accept help from others and invest energy in working on recovery.