Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol use disorder is a medical condition in which a person has trouble stopping or controlling their drinking, even when it's hurting their health, work or relationships. It is not a moral failing or a lack of willpower. Over time, regular heavy drinking changes how the brain handles stress, reward and self-control.

Doctors use the DSM-5, the standard guide for diagnosing mental health and substance use conditions, to check for AUD. It lists 11 possible signs, such as drinking more than you meant to, trying to cut back without success, and needing more alcohol to feel the same effect. Depending on how many signs are present, AUD is described as mild, moderate or severe.

AUD often builds slowly. For many people it starts as a way to relax, celebrate or take the edge off stress, and then the relationship with alcohol quietly changes. Work still gets done and responsibilities are met, but the evening doesn't feel complete without a drink, and mornings get harder.

If you recognize these patterns, it doesn't mean you've failed at anything. It means your body and brain have adapted to alcohol being present. That is something medical care can help with, at any level of severity.

When someone who has been drinking heavily and regularly stops or cuts back sharply, the body reacts. Early symptoms can include shaky hands, sweating, anxiety, nausea, a fast heartbeat and trouble sleeping. Symptoms often start within hours of the last drink and are usually most intense in the first few days, though some can last longer.

Alcohol withdrawal can become life-threatening. Some people develop seizures, hallucinations or delirium tremens (DTs), a severe state of confusion with a racing heart and fever. It's hard to predict who will have severe symptoms, which is why stopping heavy drinking should happen with medical support rather than alone at home.

If you're thinking about quitting, talk with a medical professional first. If someone has a seizure, becomes very confused, sees or hears things that aren't there, or has trouble breathing, call 911 right away.

Care at Serenity Moon Recovery usually begins with medical detox for alcohol use disorder. Licensed nurses monitor you around the clock, and our medical director oversees your care. The team checks your vital signs, watches for warning signs of severe withdrawal, and uses medications when needed to keep you safe and as comfortable as possible. Our article on what to expect in the first 72 hours of detox walks through those early days.

Detox treats the body's withdrawal, but it isn't the whole of treatment. In residential treatment, you live on site in a calm, home-like setting while you work on the reasons drinking took hold. Therapy includes individual and group sessions, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to spot and change drinking patterns, and motivational interviewing to help you find your own reasons for change.

Medication can also be part of recovery from alcohol use disorder. Your physician can talk with you about whether medication-assisted treatment makes sense for you. Medications currently offered on site: naltrexone and buprenorphine (Subutex and Suboxone).

Many people with alcohol use disorder also live with anxiety, depression, trauma or sleep problems, so a psychiatrist is part of the team and can help with co-occurring mental health conditions. Family therapy helps loved ones understand what you're going through, and before you leave we build a plan for aftercare and ongoing support.