According to the National Institutes of Health, alcohol addiction statistics indicate that nearly 17.6 million adults in the United States are alcoholics or have alcohol problems. Addiction to alcohol may be harder for some people to acknowledge, as many think they can tolerate alcohol and can consume it in moderation. Instead, these people are often dealing with alcohol addiction, which, like drug addiction, can affect a person’s mental and physical health, as well as that individual’s relationships, career, and general well-being.
Alcohol addiction facts show that children of alcoholics or drug abusers have a greater chance of becoming alcoholics than those who come from drug-free homes, but other factors such as cultural background, genetic predisposition, and environmental conditions can also play a role in alcohol addiction.
Alcohol addictions are typically overcome with the treatment of addiction, which may be preceded by an alcohol addiction intervention. As with addiction treatment, most rehabilitation facilities focus on identifying the root causes so that individuals can understand and overcome those catalysts. Addiction rehab is most effective in an addiction treatment center, especially because a safe, medically supervised detox is a key component in successful alcohol addiction recovery.
Relapse Warnings
The flip side of the coin is that if any of the steps of addiction treatment are missing or incomplete, there are chances that relapse will occur sooner. Again, broken down into the four main points:
Chemical dependency is still a problem.
An addict can withdraw from heroin and be on a daily dose of methadone instead. This is not “recovered from addiction.” Someone can be put on prescription pills – such as suboxone or Naltrexone – to “manage cravings.” This is not “free from chemical dependency.” At some point, the replacement drug may not satisfy the craving, and relapse is just around the corner.
Root causes not remedied.
The person is thrust back into life, into the same position as before, unable to cope with life’s problems. The education in life skills was non-existent or incomplete, and counseling did not get to the deep-rooted trauma or events which contributed to addiction. If a person feels “overwhelmed” by the environment, it is a warning sign that more work is needed to prevent relapse.
Too much wreckage on the road.
The addict or alcoholic runs headlong into the same family or friends that he or she wronged in the past. While addicted, a person can lie, steal, and resort to all manner of behavior in order to obtain drugs. Others can feel quite betrayed. While it may not be possible to repair every single relationship, more work may be necessary to wipe the slate clean and prevent relapse.
Lack of preventative action.
The relapse prevention steps must be detailed and proactive for lasting effects. You have to really dig in, drill various scenarios, and coach the person on all sorts of eventualities. It is an active and realistic process, not dry and theoretical. Contact with enablers and other factors could result in relapse if this step is vague or impractical.
