Is Alcohol Rehab Right for You?

The Facts

Deciding to go to alcohol rehab may not be the easiest decision…but it is the best decision for your health. Before you decided whether or not you struggle with alcoholism, know the facts:

• 7.2% of people ages 12 and older with AUD in 2019 received alcohol rehab or treatment in the past year
• About 18 million people in the U.S. struggle with alcoholism and alcohol abuse
• Alcohol contributes to about 18.5% of ED visits
• 22.1% of overdose deaths related to prescription opioids is contributed to alcohol

The Stigma

There is a stigma about alcoholism that may lead you to believe you’re weak-willed or choosing to drink too much. These negative beliefs can cause you to hide the amount you drink and be dishonest with those around you as well as yourself.

You may have tried to stop drinking alcohol or to set limits on how much you drink but failed. This is because you’re no longer in control — alcohol is. The good news is that help is out there. With professional support and the drive to get better, you can get back on track to a healthy and sober life.

Is Alcoholism a Disease?

Yes. Addiction to alcohol is a progressive illness, meaning it gets worse as time goes on. If left untreated, it can result in serious health repercussions and can even be deadly. Often, loved ones who don’t understand this is a disease become frustrated at your seemingly stubborn refusal to stop drinking. Even when you start experiencing consequences like having financial issues, losing a job, failing grades at school or your social life falling apart, you continue to drink.

This is the nature of addiction— a desire to stop and repeated efforts to quit lead back into the same cycle. The only way to break this cycle is to admit that you have a problem and seek guidance from medical professionals. This disease can be treated and brought under control by committing to abstinence. Together with counselors and doctors, you work towards understanding why you became an alcoholic and learning new coping mechanisms to prevent relapses. Environmental factors such as exposure to drugs, alcohol and cigarettes at a young age, family members who suffer from addictions and traumatic events increase your risk of becoming an alcoholic.

Alcoholism can lead to:

• Heart disease
• Organ damage
• High blood pressure
• Increased risk of stroke
• Digestive problems
• Cancer
• Impotence
• Infertility
• Liver and/or renal disease
• Mental health issues

If you feel your use of alcohol is out of control or you’d like more information, you can reach New Day Recovery at 330-953-3300. New Day Recovery provides effective alcoholism treatment programs to residents of Northeast Ohio as well as across the country.

Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder

Medically, alcoholism is known as an alcohol use disorder (AUD). Everyone displays addiction in different ways, but there are specific giveaways. Due to drinking being socially accepted, alcoholics can become highly adept at hiding their drinking problem. If you’re unsure if your drinking has reached problem levels, consider whether the following could be applied to you.

• Not being able to set limits on how much you drink or regularly drinking more than you intended
• Spending a disproportionate amount of time getting drunk, recovering from drinking and thinking about alcohol
• Finding that you often go out to get more alcohol once you’ve started drinking, in case you run out
• Drinking until you pass out
• Experiencing regular blackouts
• Developing a tolerance so that you need to drink more to obtain the desired effects
• Not deriving pleasure from activities you used to enjoy
• Intending to cut down or stop drinking but being unable to
• Having frequent, strong cravings for alcohol
• Failing to keep up with your responsibilities, such as school, finances, work and home life
• Continuing to drink in spite of a negative impact on your health, personal life or social life
• Using alcohol in situation when it poses a threat to yourself and others
• Going through withdrawal symptoms such as shaking, nausea and sweating when you’re not drinking or making sure you can get a drink to avoid these problems