Alcohol rehab in Dallas: your options, explained

Why withdrawal needs care

After long, heavy drinking, stopping suddenly can bring on withdrawal. NIAAA says this can be painful or even life threatening, and advises getting medical help to plan a safe way to stop. Doctors can prescribe medicines to make withdrawal safer. If this could apply to you or someone you love, read about detox.

Withdrawal can include shaking, sweating, nausea, trouble sleeping and anxiety. It differs from person to person, so tell your doctor about any withdrawal you have had before. NIAAA says talking to a primary care provider is an important first step for anyone thinking about treatment.

Medicines for alcohol use disorder

Alcohol use disorder is the medical term for alcohol addiction. NIAAA lists three medicines approved to treat it in the United States. Naltrexone can help reduce the urge to drink. Acamprosate can ease symptoms during abstinence, meaning time without alcohol. Disulfiram discourages drinking by causing an unpleasant reaction if a person drinks.

NIAAA says these medicines are not addictive, and that they may be used alone or with counseling. A primary care provider or other health care provider can prescribe them. So you may be able to start without entering a program. Ask about it at your next visit. See medication-assisted treatment.

Counseling and support groups

NIAAA lists several kinds of counseling for alcohol use disorder. They include cognitive behavioral therapy, which teaches you to notice and change patterns that lead to drinking, and motivational enhancement, which helps build your own reasons for change. Couples and family counseling is another option, and that can matter for families who have been hurt by drinking. Other approaches include contingency management, 12-step facilitation and mindfulness-based therapy. Ask a program which ones it uses.

Support groups offer help from peers, meaning people in the same position. NIAAA names Alcoholics Anonymous, along with SMART Recovery, LifeRing and Women for Sobriety. Groups are often used alongside treatment.

Levels of care for alcohol

Care for alcohol runs from outpatient visits, including telehealth, through intensive outpatient and residential treatment. The list below shows Dallas programs by detox service. It does not show which substances each one treats, so confirm alcohol care on the phone.