Alcohol Abuse occurs when people regularly drink too much and it causes problems in their lives. This can include putting themselves and others in danger, causing legal problems, or neglecting their work and school responsibilities.

If you think that you or a loved one has an alcohol problem, it’s important to seek help. There are a number of different treatments that can help you.

Addiction

Alcohol is one of the most addictive substances, and 1 in 12 people will suffer from alcohol use disorder at some point in their lives. Addiction is a serious and chronic medical condition that affects mental health, physical health and social functioning.

Often, an individual develops a substance addiction due to a biological mechanism that causes changes in brain chemistry. The substance acts on areas of the brain responsible for motivation and reward processing.

After a person consumes alcohol, the basal ganglia release dopamine and glutamate that can make the drinking experience more rewarding. Repeated activation of the basal ganglia's reward system can lead to a craving for alcohol and increased consumption.

Addiction is a serious and life-threatening condition that affects mental, physical and social functioning. It can be difficult to control, and can lead to severe health issues and legal problems.

Treatment

There are a variety of treatment options for alcohol abuse. Choosing the right one depends on your needs and goals. You may need a brief intervention, individual or group counseling, an outpatient program or a residential inpatient stay.

A primary goal of treatment is to stop drinking. In many cases, this is done by cutting back or quitting altogether.

Your doctor will help you decide if this is the best course of action for you. He or she can also recommend experts who can help you make the transition to a healthier life.

Counseling: Your therapist can help you talk about the factors that trigger your use of alcohol and help you learn new ways to cope with them. They can also give you tips on how to prevent a relapse.

Medications: There are medications that block the opioid receptors in the brain, reducing cravings for alcohol and preventing withdrawal symptoms when you quit. Naltrexone (brand name ReVia) is the most commonly used drug.

Prevention

Alcohol abuse is an important public health issue that causes tens of thousands of deaths every year. It is linked to many problems including liver disease, depression, violence, teen pregnancy and dysfunctional relationships.

The prevention of alcohol misuse includes a variety of strategies that aim to reduce or prevent the harmful use and impact of alcohol. These include laws and policies that regulate the availability of alcohol, community programs that encourage positive behaviors, and family and social interventions that support people in recovering from substance use disorders.

Well-supported scientific evidence suggests that a wide range of effective programs and policies prevent substance initiation, misuse and related harms. These programs and policies are effective at different stages of the lifespan, from infancy to adulthood, and they have shown considerable consistency across gender, race and ethnicity, and income.

Relapse

Relapse is a common problem for people in recovery. It occurs when a person begins using alcohol or other drugs again, usually after a period of abstinence.

Recovering from a relapse can be difficult, and it can feel as though a person is going backwards in their recovery journey. However, there is hope.

A person can return to the road of recovery by assessing their situation and taking steps to prevent a relapse from occurring again. The best way to do this is by working with a therapist or support group.

Self-care is a vital part of recovery, and it includes taking care of your mental, emotional and physical health. It also includes making sure you’re consuming nutritious food and getting plenty of rest and recuperation time.

There are many triggers that can lead a person to relapse, including stress cues, people, places and things. Relapse prevention works to combat these triggers, and teaches clients coping mechanisms.