While many people like to enjoy the occasional drink at dinner or a few beers while watching the game, alcohol is a big problem for some people. Over 14 million adults in the United States struggle with an alcohol use disorder.¹ Whether you are one of them or know someone who is, there is hope. Our Lake Worth, Florida, alcohol rehab offers the medical detox and therapy services that can make long-term sobriety possible. 

Understanding Alcoholism 

Alcoholism, clinically referred to as alcohol use disorder (AUD), is a common, chronic, and progressive medical disorder marked by the compulsive consumption of alcohol. People with severe alcohol addictions will continue to drink no matter how it affects their bodies, minds, relationships, jobs, and finances. Individuals with alcoholism struggle to control unhealthy alcohol use despite these adverse effects, so much so that they may prioritize drinking over their loved ones and responsibilities.  

This condition can lead downstream to mental health and physical health problems along with social and daily life problems. An addiction to alcohol is the result of changes in brain chemistry caused by long-term drinking. Since alcohol impacts neurotransmitters in the brain – mainly one called GABA – chronic and heavy use can lead to a change in how the brain produces, uses, and manages these chemicals.  

As a result, the person may develop a tolerance to alcohol (requiring them to drink more to feel the same effects) as well as physical dependence. Dependence is marked by the occurrence of withdrawals whenever the person is without alcohol for a while or attempts to suddenly stop drinking. Alcohol withdrawals are notorious for being uncomfortable, distressing, and even life-threatening.  

Moreover, a person diagnosed with alcohol use disorder will display certain signs and symptoms. Common signs of alcohol use disorder include:  

• Drinking alcohol more often or in higher quantities than intended. 
• Inability to stop drinking or control how much you drink despite attempts. 
• Spending large amounts of time obtaining, drinking, and recovering from the effects of alcohol. 
• Experiencing strong urges to drink or cravings for alcohol. 
• Failing to fulfill responsibilities at work, home, or school due to alcohol use.  
• Continuing to drink alcohol despite experiencing social or relationship problems caused by drinking. 
• Drinking even when it’s dangerous to do so, such as before or while driving or operating machinery. 
• Continuing to drink despite experiencing recurring physical or psychological problems related to alcohol use.  
• Experiencing tolerance, which requires the user to drink more to experience the same side effects. 
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop or cut back on drinking. These may include shakiness, restlessness, nausea, sweating, racing heart, seizures (delirium tremens), or hallucinations. 

Due to the severity of alcohol withdrawals and the nature of alcohol use disorders, finding a facility that offers professional care, such as our South Florida alcohol rehab, is crucial for a safe recovery.  

Why Alcohol Abuse Help Is Important  

Alcoholism is a disease that comes in many shapes and forms. Some alcoholics can be easily picked out because they have noticeably let themselves go. Others may teeter on the fence between heavy drinking and alcoholism. Because many people drink socially or go on the occasional drinking binge, it may be hard to recognize the signs of a functioning alcoholic in someone you love. The problem is that alcoholism is nearly impossible to stop on your own. 

If left untreated, alcohol abuse can be a wide-reaching problem that can ruin a person’s career, relationships, reputation, health, future, and life as a whole. Do not wait until your drinking or the drinking of a loved one leads to legal problems like a DWI/DUI or getting fired from a job to seek out alcohol abuse treatment. 

How Long Is Alcohol Rehab? 

While alcohol is one of the most common and problematic substance use disorders, there is treatment available to help individuals battling alcoholism safely recover. An alcoholism rehab, such as our Florida alcohol treatment center, may vary in duration compared to other alcohol treatment centers in Florida. How long alcohol treatment lasts also depends on the level of care in which the individual is receiving care.   

For instance, residential treatment ranges from 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day programs, depending on the severity of the person’s addiction and the intensity of care they require. Residential care is also usually longer than other programs because it incorporates detoxification. On the other hand, partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) and intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) tend to be shorter in duration, do not require patients to live on-site, and offer fewer session hours.  

Therefore, alcohol rehab can last anywhere from one month to three months, depending on whether the individual needs medically monitored detox, is medically stable, or has an underlying mental illness, among other factors. If you’re interested in beginning your recovery journey, our Lake Worth, Florida, alcohol rehab is here to help. 

Our Palm Beach Alcohol Treatment Program 

Whether you’ve hit rock bottom or your loved one’s drinking has just started to become a problem, we want to help. At Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches, also known as the Center for Alcohol & Drug Studies, our alcohol addiction treatment is designed to help people achieve long-term sobriety. 

Treatment will begin with an alcohol detox to rid the patient’s body of all of the harmful chemicals from their heavy drinking. This is an important first step that should be done under the supervision of trained medical staff in case of severe withdrawal symptoms. At BHOPB, we offer detox on-site with around-the-clock support.  

Patients who partake in any of our programs will also participate in alcohol addiction therapy programs. These include individual counseling sessions as well as group therapy with peers in similar situations. We also offer a wide range of holistic addiction treatment programs, including yoga, expressive art programs, mindfulness, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and more. Together these programs help alcoholics stop their dependency on alcohol and reflect on why they drink or how their problems began. 

Alcohol Treatment in Florida  

When looking for alcohol addiction treatment, you want a facility that will address all of your needs. Often heavy drinking and alcoholism can be related to poor mental health. Whether drinking to self-medicate turned into alcoholism or a mental health disorder developed from a heavy drinking habit, the two become largely intertwined. Because we are a dual diagnosis treatment center, our staff is trained to handle both of these issues.  

Instead of focusing solely on their drinking, patients will be able to work on their mental health issues as well. Through therapies and unique programming, patients gain a better understanding of the connection between their two problems and how to progress forward. 

If you or a loved one is struggling with alcoholism, do not wait to get help. At our Lake Worth drug rehab, we offer alcohol addiction treatment that focuses on total healing from addiction. Contact Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches today to get started.