Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol Use Disorder

At Gulf Coast Recovery Center, our Tampa-based alcohol treatment addresses not just the withdrawal symptom of recovery but the possible underlying mental health issues that leads to addictive behavior. The truth is alcohol use disorder cannot be cured. It must be managed with lasting lifestyle changes and, if necessary, medication. Fortunately, our specialists help clients to forge a path toward lifelong recovery.

What is Alcohol Use Disorder?

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic and debilitating condition characterized by the compulsive consumption of alcohol. This disorder can severely impact various aspects of life, leading to diminished social functioning, impaired judgment, and an increased risk of accidents and health issues.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 29.5 million people in the U.S. 29.5 million are classified as having an alcohol use disorder in 2021. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers alcohol use disorder among its top preventable causes of chronic illness, along with poor diet, tobacco use, and lack of physical activity.

Alcohol use disorder exists on a spectrum, ranging from mild to severe. The difficulties around the treatment of alcohol use disorder relate to various factors that cause the addictive behavior.

How Does Alcohol Rehab in Tampa Work?

Alcohol rehab in Tampa begins when the patient enters a medically supervised detoxification program, which enables the body to rid itself completely of alcohol, with the most uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms of withdrawal safely managed.

Following detox, the patient enters a Tampa-based alcohol rehab program. The treatment approaches involved in such a program include therapy, counseling, and group support. These and other therapies help the patient manage their cravings for alcohol and regain control over their lives.

Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder

People living with an alcohol use disorder often hide their symptoms and downplay their problem. Still, the following sign and symptoms of alcohol use disorder may indicate the need for rehab:

What Causes Alcohol Addiction?

Getting at the causes of alcohol addiction involves uncovering the complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors.

Genetics is a big reason for alcohol use disorder amongst roughly half of all people with the disorder. Just as diabetes and heart disease is known to run in a family, alcoholism can as well. Those with an ancestor or family member who struggled with alcohol addiction may be more likely to develop alcohol use disorder compared to those without.

Environmental factors also play a large role in the development of alcohol use disorder. The availability of alcohol, the acceptance of alcohol usage among a family or friend group, and other factors enable the development of addiction. Other environmental factors like early exposure to alcohol, social norms, and peer pressure also contribute.

Finally, psychological factors like stress, trauma, or an underlying mental health condition can also play a role. After all, alcohol abuse alters brain chemistry, reinforcing a desire for more alcohol. Such neurological changes lead to tolerance and withdrawal symptoms, which motivate one to repeat their addictive behaviors.

Long-Term Effects of Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol can cause severe damage to both the brain and the body. The long-term abuse of alcohol can lead to drastic changes in behavior, mood, memory, judgment, coordination, and sleep patterns.

Alcohol affects the brain by changing the structure of nerve cells known as neurons. Neurons send electrical signals throughout the body via synapses, which are tiny gaps between neurons. When alcohol enters the brain, it binds to these synapses and blocks the flow of information. Memory loss, poor judgment, impaired thinking skills, and other cognitive impairments soon follow.

Alcohol affects the body by first mixing with the stomach’s gastric juices and digestive enzymes. It then moves through the small intestine and large intestine, where it is absorbed into the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, alcohol can affect every cell in the body.

If the alcohol flowing through the bloodstream is excessive and constant, damage to the heart, pancreas, liver, and skin can occur. Appetite, heart rate, blood pressure, and many other bodily functions are also affected by long-term alcohol abuse.

What to Expect at our Alcohol Rehab in Tampa

At Gulf Coast Recovery Center, our alcohol rehab in Tampa begins with a medically supervised alcohol detox. Detox minimizes the most intense symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, including:

In some cases, a patient’s alcohol withdrawal symptoms may warrant medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Naltrexone, disulfiram, and acamprosate have all been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat withdrawal symptoms related to alcohol use disorder.

Once detox is complete—usually within three to five days—entrance into an alcohol rehab program can help the patient maintain sobriety over the long term. Rehab features a variety of therapies, including counseling, behavioral therapies, and support groups.

Who is a Good Fit for Alcohol Rehab?

Those who present a good fit for our Tampa-based alcohol treatment typically exhibit at least a handful of the signs of alcohol use disorder. Just as importantly, they acknowledge the need for help in overcoming their struggles with alcohol.

How We Treat Alcohol Addiction

The best treatment programs for alcohol use disorder address not just the physical dependence one may have developed to alcohol, they seek out the root causes of the addiction. Gulf Coast Recovery Center offers a wide variety of services designed to address the whole patient.

While the treatment of alcohol use disorder begins with a medically supervised detox program, what follows is a comprehensive Tamp-based alcohol rehab. We offer a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) as well as an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), including virtual IOP and evening IOP. For those not quite ready to make the transition from rehab to everyday life, we also offer sober living arrangements.

Our dual diagnosis treatments address the patient’s alcohol use disorder and any underlying mental health conditions. After all, alcohol abuse has been found to be closely linked to mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and trauma. We also offer cutting-edge treatments such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), brainspotting, and holistic therapy.