Alcoholism and Treatment in San Antonio, TX

In America, so many people use alcohol that it could almost be considered a part of the culture. Unfortunately, that only makes it more difficult to distinguish between “normal” drinking habits and unhealthy ones. Alcoholism has become a major issue for Americans, approximately 17 million of which have some type of alcohol use disorder. In addition, around 10% of children live in a home with someone who has a drinking problem. Alcoholism is a chronic disease that can be very damaging to the health of an individual, as well as to relationships, finances, and lifestyles. Luckily, alcoholism responds well to treatment.

Types of Treatment for Alcoholism

Many people think of treatment for alcoholism as consisting of 28-day rehab or 12-step programs, but the truth is that there are many types of treatment programs available. At Drug Detox Centers San Antonio, we believe that alcoholism is a very personal disease, and that treatment should reflect that. We understand that there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the problem of alcoholism, so we strive to offer treatment programs that are versatile, holistic, and highly individualized. In addition, we believe that just becoming knowledgeable about the wide variety of treatments can be a big step towards recovery.

Medicinal Treatment

Many people aren’t aware of the fact that there are several medications currently approved by the FDA for the purpose of helping individuals stop drinking or reduce the cravings associated with alcoholism, and many more being researched and developed. These medications are prescribed in order to offset the changes in brain structure and function that can result from prolonged alcohol abuse.

Peer Support Groups

While 12-step programs such as the one promoted by Alcoholics Anonymous fall into this category, there are numerous other types of peer support groups available for those facing alcoholism. Peer support groups can play an important role in recovery because it puts individuals in touch with others who understand the struggles of alcoholism, ranging from cravings to depression to poor physical health. Participating in these groups can help people realize that they aren’t alone, and provide them with valuable resources for how to deal with their disease.

Behavioral Therapy

Behavioral therapy is a proven way of successfully treating alcohol abuse disorders. It works in many ways, including helping individuals develop the skills they need in order to deal with cravings, helping them create realistic goals, teaching them stress management, and educating them on how to deal with relapse prevention.

Behavioral therapy can take many forms. Among the most common are cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational enhancement therapy, marital or family counseling, and moral reconation therapy. Each of these seeks to arm individuals with skills and strategies that can help them overcome their immediate struggles as well as sustain lasting recovery.

At Drug Detox Centers San Antonio, we are very familiar with alcoholism, its effects, and its treatments. Our recovery programs offer a broad spectrum of treatment types and formats, and we work closely with individuals to achieve their recovery goals. If you are interested in finding out more about our services, or have questions about alcohol abuse and treatment, please contact us today at (210) 625-6828!