Alcoholism Resources and Support Groups

The terms below are not mutually exclusive, and the services are often used to complement each other. Sometimes an intervention, no matter how resistant your loved one is in the moment, is just what’s needed to help an alcoholic begin recovery. Most of us weren’t exactly thrilled to get sober house sober, but once we made a start the benefits far outweighed our defiance. But the truth is, by bailing the alcoholic out of situations they’ve created for themselves, you pad the consequences of their drinking. Your help prevents them from experiencing the real effects of alcoholism.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) allows individuals to have more treatment options. Services for conditions like mental health and addiction are now a part of the ten essential health benefits. Individuals can no longer be denied coverage or charged at a higher fee because an individual has a substance use disorder, like AUD.

Considerations During and After Treatment

Your city’s local Alcoholics Anonymous central office can help coordinate it. Google “Alcoholics Anonymous + your city” to find their contact information. But sometimes the best resource for the still-drinking alcoholic is a sober person from their own life. An old drinking buddy who found recovery or a sober aunt or uncle they admire and respect can sometimes accomplish in an hour what you’ve been trying to do for years. Lean on those in your life who understand the disease of alcoholism and seek their guidance.

This may mean making major changes to your social life, such as finding new things to do with your old drinking buddies—or even giving up those friends and finding new ones. Treatment should address more than just your alcohol abuse. Addiction affects your whole life, including your relationships, career, health, and psychological well-being.

Get equipped with the tools you need to protect yourself from someone’s alcoholism.

An example of this might be an instance where you think that an employee is intoxicated but the employee denies it. In this instance, an alcohol test may be given at the employee’s request or with the employee’s permission. If intoxication is indicated by the test, the agency may use it as a basis for some type of administrative action, such as sending the employee home, or taking disciplinary action. An agency may not take disciplinary action solely because an employee declines to undergo a voluntary alcohol test. These rules call for mandatory alcohol testing, using EBTs, of applicants for identified positions and in cases of reasonable suspicion of alcohol use, and for random testing of employees in these positions. Any agencies conducting this type of testing will have a specific program spelled out in agency policy.

If you have a drinking problem, talk to your healthcare provider about how to quit safely. Just as some people with diabetes or asthma may have flare-ups of their disease, a relapse to drinking can be seen as a temporary setback to full recovery and not a complete failure. Seeking professional help can prevent relapse—behavioral therapies can help people develop skills to avoid and overcome triggers, such as stress, that might lead to drinking. Most people benefit from regular checkups with a treatment provider. Medications also can deter drinking during times when individuals may be at greater risk of relapse (e.g., divorce, death of a family member).

Helping Someone with a Drug Addiction

When a person is struggling with alcohol addiction, they may hide how much they drink, lie to themselves or others about their consumption, or deny they have a problem. This can make it difficult for them to get alcohol addiction help or for loved ones to talk with them about seeking treatment. Talk to your healthcare provider about naloxone, a medicine that is available to patients for the emergency treatment of an opioid overdose. With so many therapy options, there is hope for anyone with an addiction to recover.

A treatment facility locator for alcoholism and mental health disorders is available through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Department of Health and Human Services which helps educate the public about how to prevent or recover from alcoholism. It also focuses on providing helpful information about dual diagnosis conditions, such as mental health disorders and substance abuse. The National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) is useful for those who are interested in helping others overcome an addiction. Health professionals with specializations in prevention, treatment and recovery make up the NAADAC’s membership base.