Alcoholism and Treatment in Everett, MA

Alcoholism is a serious and potentially debilitating medical condition that often requires extensive treatment. Also known as alcohol use disorder or alcohol dependence syndrome, alcoholism is commonly treated through a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Alcoholism and treatment centers are located right here in Everett, including facilities that specialize in medical detox, behavioral therapy, and relapse prevention programs. Depending on the extent of abuse or addiction, alcohol and treatment can take anywhere from a few weeks to many months.

What is Alcohol Abuse?

While the previous psychiatric diagnosis of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence were combined in 2013 as alcohol use disorder, abuse and dependence cases can still be differentiated according to their symptoms. Alcohol abuse is defined by uncontrolled and problematic drinking behaviors, with binge drinking the most obvious example. In the United States, binge drinking is defined by more than three standard drinks for women and more than four standard drinks for men over a single two hour period. When left untreated, alcohol abuse can easily lead to alcohol dependence, a more serious condition that has been linked with a wide array of physical and psychological health problems.

What is Alcohol Dependence?

Alcohol dependence is typically recognized by the existence of tolerance and withdrawal symptoms when drinking is stopped or reduced. People who are dependent on alcohol often need to drink everyday in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms, some of which can lead to psychological stress and additional medical complications. Withdrawal symptoms can be physical-somatic or emotional-motivational in nature, with most dependent people experiencing a mixture of symptoms depending on their history and extent of addiction. A medical detox period is generally advised to help manage these symptoms, followed by behavioral therapy and long-term pharmacotherapy during rehabilitation.

Withdrawal and Medical Detox

Alcohol is associated with a wide array of problematic withdrawal symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, headaches, hand tremors, hallucinations, seizures, and delirium tremens. Some of these symptoms can cause serious problems and even death in left untreated, which is why it’s so important for alcoholics to find their way to a professional treatment program. Medical detox describes the experience and process of withdrawal in a medically supervised setting, including the administration of medications to alleviate and manage the withdrawal syndrome. A range of drugs can be used in this context, including the benzodiazepine sedatives Valium and Serax.

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation programs are designed to follow detox, where they are applied to patients who are already clean and sober. Rehab facilities are located across the United States, including residential rehab centers, outpatient rehab programs, and partial hospitalization. While detox helps people to stop drinking in the early stages of treatment, rehabilitation is also needed to address the psychological issues that surround alcoholism. Rehab programs are often based around behavioral, cognitive, and motivational programs, including systems dedicated to relapse prevention and aftercare support. Everett Drug Treatment Centers is your ultimate recovery resource. Please give us a call today at (617) 553-9495.