At Joel Nathan, MD, we can provide you with more information about how clinical alcohol detoxification programs are helping patients who are suffering from an addiction to alcohol. This is a terrible and chronic disease that can have devastating life consequences. Many people who are addicted to alcohol end up losing their jobs, their homes, and their financial stability along with all their familial relationships due to alcohol quite literally becoming the most important thing in their life. An addiction is uncontrollable and forces the addict to seek out the drug at all costs. While most people have the impression that this is a choice, once you have become an addict, changes happen inside the brain that create the need for the drug to constantly be in the system. These changes can create dangerous behavior in addicts, and it can also create a situation where trying to stop drinking can lead to physical consequences, making it that much harder for an addict to fully recover. This is one reason why so many alcoholics find it difficult to quit. Fortunately, there are New York resources available that can make the alcohol detoxification process more manageable. To learn more, call 347-237-7944 and schedule an appointment with our office.
According to SAMSHA, there are around 23.5 million people in the United States over the age of 12 who need treatment for drug or alcohol abuse. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of these — 11.2, to be exact — received treatment in an actual facility.
Additionally, more than 16 percent of people who responded to the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse said that they had used illicit drugs in the past year alone. Also, 22 percent of Americans over the age of 18 have binge drank in the past year, and 20 percent have smoked cigarettes in the last month. In other words, Americans are no strangers to drug use and addiction. If you are an alcoholic, there is no shame in seeking help to recover. The first step is to admit that you have a problem and to understand that you are one of millions of people who are addicted and in need of help. There is no reason to feel embarrassed, but you have the option for regaining control over your life. At Joel Nathan, MD, we can show you how to do so through an effective alcohol detoxification program.
At Joel Nathan, MD, we warn addicts and concerned family members that drinking too much alcohol can cause actual physical changes and these changes make it harder to get clean. One of the well-known challenges with many drugs is that they create a tolerance in the system, where an addict needs to continue to increase the amount that they use along with the frequency in order to sustain a tolerable mental and emotional state. This is one of the reasons why people who begin drinking on a casual basis end up being an addict, with alcohol having taken control of their daily actions and lifestyle.
Disulfiram, Acamprosate, and Naltrexone can all be useful in helping patients recover from an alcohol addiction. They function in different ways and help by blocking opioid receptors that reward drinking, reducing withdrawal symptoms, limiting feelings of unhappiness, or even causing a bad physical reaction when a person drinks. If you are addicted to alcohol, you need to speak with a trained professional to determine which one (if any) of these medications could be useful in helping to recover. In some cases, you may end up trying more than one.
Additionally, if you are also addicted to tobacco, there are medications you can use to help you detox from tobacco at the same time. Most people are familiar with the tools used to treat this addiction. Whether you are trying gum, the patch, or an oral medication, they can help reduce the cravings and prevent a relapse.
Therapy is a critical component of an alcohol or drug addiction treatment program. There are two types of therapies: individual therapy with a doctor or group therapy sessions. Both can be incredibly effective, so it is important to consider what type of therapy you will feel the most comfortable with. We believe in a customized approach to drug treatment, and that includes therapy. There is no one type of therapy that will be right for everyone. However, every addict does need to have therapy or counseling included in their program. This is because we have to discuss things as they arise that could lead to using alcohol again, including individual situations that take place that could lead to an increased amount of stress. Additionally, during therapy, there will be discussions surrounding tools and best practices that other people are using in order to help them combat drug addictions, and recovering addict can learn from each other. There has been no better example of this than with Alcoholics Anonymous. The AA support system has helped millions of people overcome their alcohol addiction, and there are several chapters in the New York area.
Sometimes, alcohol detoxification is not chosen but required due to a court order or family intervention. In this case, it can still be beneficial, given the long-term results. However, if the detox is not voluntary, inpatient care may be the most successful, since patients must decide not to drink when treating their addiction through an outpatient process. This is because outpatient care takes place under the supervision of a medical professional but without being checked into a treatment facility.
At Joel Nathan, MD, we can provide you with more information regarding alcohol detoxification, what you can expect from the process, and how you may be impacted physically. If you live in New York, NY or the 10022 area, call (347) 237-7944 to schedule an appointment with our office. Our staff are highly-trained and able to answer all the questions you may have without judging you for your addiction. You will be safe and supported here, since our only goal is your lasting sobriety.