It does not matter whether alcoholism is a “disease” or a behavioral problem or a “moral weakness.” (SeeAlcoholism 101: Places to get treatment in the San Jose area). That distinction is best left to the medical community and academics. For the alcoholic the best treatment is simple: abstinence.
Abstinence is the most effective treatment for alcoholism and any long term recovery program must focus on maintaining abstinence. That concept scares many alcoholics away from seeking or maintaining treatment. The national statistics demonstrates that.
The facts: Although suffering from occasional misery and despair, many people with alcohol problems do not seek treatment. According to the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in 2007 there were 20.8 million peoplein the U.S. who needed but did not receive treatment for illicit drug or alcohol abuse.
Of those, about 19.4 million people did not believe they needed treatment while 1.4 million admitted to needing help. Of those 1.4 million, only 380,000 made an effort to get help, leaving 955,000 waiting for a more convenient time perhaps. These official numbers do not include treatments sought at self-help groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, or spirituality-based recovery programs found in churches, temples, or mosques. Quantification of those approaches is not feasible.
Still, the numbers are astounding and tell a common story: There are millions of untreated alcoholics and substance abusers out there. Everybody knows the personal, social, and economic damage that causes. Damage is sometimes obvious, sometimes subtle.
Proposed Hierachy of Treatment Options:
- Stop drinking for one year on your own. Anyone that handles the bad and good days without drinking for one complete year is probably OK. (Caution: Check with your doctor before suddenly giving up alcohol.) If that fails, however,
- Go to A.A. meetings. They are free and anonymous. Socializing with others is optional. If that fails or does not seem to be enough, join an outpatient group.
- Outpatient groups, run by therapists, counselors, or psychiatrists, provide support outside twelve step methods. If that fails an inpatient treatment facility gives a jump start to recovery.
- Enter a treatment facility. To find outpatient or inpatient services contact the Employee Assistance Program representative, a healthcare advisor, people at the A.A. meetings, Santa Clara County’sDepartment of Alcohol and Drug Services, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’Treatment Facility Locator. Other resources are at the National Institute of Health.
Cities, counties, states, the federal government, employers, friends, and family provide a tremendous amount of financial and human resources to alcoholics seeking treatment. Help, effective help, isavailable to anyone who wants it, whether they are rich or poor, democrate or green paarty, homeless or live in a beautiful home. There is always hope. Just ask.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services