According to Statistics Canada, one in five Canadians meet the criteria for alcohol use disorder. Learning how to stop an alcohol addiction safely is essential. Turn to programs for drug and alcohol treatment at Venture Academy by calling 866.762.2211 today or reaching out online.
What Is Alcohol Addiction?
If you’re concerned about your child’s alcohol consumption, you may be wondering, “What is alcohol addiction?” Alcohol addiction is a relapsing and chronic disorder that leads to compulsive consumption of alcohol despite all of the negative consequences that consumption causes.
Alcohol has a powerful effect on the brain, diminishing negative feelings and enhancing pleasurable ones. The brain will want to continue experiencing pleasure, leading to further use.
As your loved one continues to drink, alcohol can start changing the structure and function of their brain, leading to the transition from controlled use to chronic misuse.
Common signs and symptoms of alcohol addiction include:
- Inability to stop drinking
- Needing to drink more to get the wanted effects
- Lying about drinking
- Experiencing cravings
- Inability to stop drinking
- Having withdrawal symptoms
Some factors can increase the risk of developing an alcohol use disorder, though it is a condition that can occur to anyone. A family history of substance use disorders, living in a negative environment, or having a co-occurring mental health condition can all increase the chances of developing a substance use disorder.
How to Stop an Alcohol Addiction
Someone with an alcohol use disorder needs to turn to professionals for help in managing the condition. Venture Academy can help teens and young adults by providing intensive substance abuse treatment services.
Alcohol Detox
If your child has had an alcohol use disorder for a long time and the body has grown accustomed to functioning with alcohol, stopping alcohol consumption can lead to serious withdrawal symptoms, including:
- Shaking
- Vomiting
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Headaches
- Sweating
- Nausea
- High blood pressure
- Confusion
- Fever
When withdrawing from alcohol, some people also experience a severe form of withdrawal called alcohol withdrawal syndrome. It can lead to hallucinations, seizures, and even death.
By relying on professionals to provide medical detox services, you can help your child go through the process without experiencing the worst symptoms.
Medical detox provides 24/7 monitoring to help your child begin treatment on the right foot.
Residential Treatment
Residential treatment can be one of the best options for teens and young adults with an alcohol use disorder.
Residential treatment offers hours of individual and group therapy sessions to help your child understand the cause of their addiction while ensuring that they are safe and away from their everyday stressors.
Residential treatment relies on individual therapy sessions to help uncover the cause of the substance use disorder. Treatment can involve many therapeutic modalities, including:
- Motivational interviewing
- Cognitive-behavioural therapy
- Dialectical behaviour therapy
- Executive function management
- Trauma-informed practice
Group therapy can help your child see that they are not alone with the challenges they face. These sessions also help your child put into practice the techniques they learn during individual therapy.
Family therapy sessions are also an important part of residential treatment. These sessions can help you and your child relearn how to communicate while also starting to
rebuild trust.
Turn to Venture Academy for Alcohol Addiction Treatment
If your child struggles with an alcohol use disorder, getting help is important for their mental and physical health.
At Venture Academy, we offer intensive treatment options that can last anywhere from 30 days to a few months. We begin the process with an assessment that allows us to recommend the right level of treatment, and we provide the guidance your loved one, you, and the rest of the family needs.
Contact Venture Academy today by calling us at 866.762.2211 or connecting with us online.