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SAMHSA’s National Helpline | SAMHSA

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SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
Also visit the online treatment locator.

SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service), or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.

Also visit the online treatment locator, or send your zip code via text message: 435748 (HELP4U) to find help near you. Read more about the HELP4U text messaging service.

The service is open 24/7, 365 days a year.

English and Spanish are available if you select the option to speak with a national representative. Currently, the 435748 (HELP4U) text messaging service is only available in English.

In 2020, the Helpline received 833,598 calls. This is a 27 percent increase from 2019, when the Helpline received a total of 656,953 calls for the year.

The referral service is free of charge. If you have no insurance or are underinsured, we will refer you to your state office, which is responsible for state-funded treatment programs. In addition, we can often refer you to facilities that charge on a sliding fee scale or accept Medicare or Medicaid. If you have health insurance, you are encouraged to contact your insurer for a list of participating health care providers and facilities.

The service is confidential. We will not ask you for any personal information. We may ask for your zip code or other pertinent geographic information in order to track calls being routed to other offices or to accurately identify the local resources appropriate to your needs.

No, we do not provide counseling. Trained information specialists answer calls, transfer callers to state services or other appropriate intake centers in their states, and connect them with local assistance and support.

Suggested Resources
What Is Substance Abuse Treatment? A Booklet for Families
Created for family members of people with alcohol abuse or drug abuse problems. Answers questions about substance abuse, its symptoms, different types of treatment, and recovery. Addresses concerns of children of parents with substance use/abuse problems.
It's Not Your Fault (NACoA) (PDF | 12 KB)
Assures teens with parents who abuse alcohol or drugs that, "It's not your fault!" and that they are not alone. Encourages teens to seek emotional support from other adults, school counselors, and youth support groups such as Alateen, and provides a resource list.

After an Attempt: A Guide for Taking Care of Your Family Member After Treatment in the Emergency Department
Aids family members in coping with the aftermath of a relative's suicide attempt. Describes the emergency department treatment process, lists questions to ask about follow-up treatment, and describes how to reduce risk and ensure safety at home.
Family Therapy Can Help: For People in Recovery From Mental Illness or Addiction
Explores the role of family therapy in recovery from mental illness or substance abuse. Explains how family therapy sessions are run and who conducts them, describes a typical session, and provides information on its effectiveness in recovery.
For additional resources, please visit the SAMHSA Store.

Last Updated: 08/30/2022

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How to deal with alcoholism on your own: useful tips

Publication date: May 24, 2021

Festive feasts, friendly meetings, sealed by drinking alcohol together, a bottle of beer after work - it would seem, what's wrong with that? But very little time passes, and the person himself does not notice how he can no longer live a day without alcohol. And then binges come, forcing you to fall out for several days (and later - weeks) from your usual life. Addiction forms quickly and easily, but getting rid of it takes years and a lot of effort.

What is alcoholism and how to deal with it? Let's deal with everything in order.

General information about the disease

Yes, alcoholism is a disease. It is caused by the formation of mental and physical dependence on the use of alcohol. The love of alcoholic beverages for many is due to the feeling of euphoria that appears after drinking. It makes you forget about all the problems, gives a sense of confidence, liberates.

Dependence is formed in stages. Gradually, ethanol molecules are built into the usual metabolic processes, and the absence of alcohol in the blood begins to cause physical discomfort. Moreover, the more a person drinks, the stronger this discomfort is - an abstinence syndrome develops. A particularly heavy blow to the body is caused by prolonged drunken states that destroy the functioning of organs and systems and lead to the degradation of the individual.

How to deal with the desire to drink on your own? Is it possible to beat addiction forever? These questions are of interest to many patients, and even more often their relatives. We hasten to assure you - you can quit drinking! The main thing that is required for this is the desire of the addict!

The main difficulty of treatment is the lack of motivation for sobriety and unwillingness to follow the recommendations of a specialist. If the drunkard himself realized the magnitude of his problem and wanted to change, the chances of success increase several times.

That is why the relatives of an addict need to motivate their loved one to sobriety in every possible way, but at the same time do not try to treat them without knowing it or force them to code. This approach is 99% doomed to failure.
If a person has recognized alcoholism, how to deal with it at home? Of course, the best option would be to go to a drug treatment clinic.

Experienced narcologists will be able to assess the state of your body and select the most appropriate treatment option. As a rule, treatment is complex.

It includes a number of measures to cleanse the body, normalize the functioning of damaged organs and systems, provide psychological support to the patient, coding and undergoing rehabilitation programs. This whole therapeutic scheme is applied in stages - taking into account the patient's readiness for each therapeutic action.

But in some cases (the initial stage of alcoholism, a high level of motivation, due willpower), the patient may try to overcome addiction at home.

Alcoholism: how to fight - advice from experienced

Experts are sure that even when trying to stop drinking on your own, you need to follow the sequence of actions. According to a number of people, a simple step-by-step algorithm of behavior helped them become a former alcoholic. We hope it will be useful to you or your loved one.

First step: find the reason for drinking and try to eradicate it

The solution is simple - stop ignoring the problems. If you have a bad boss, change jobs, and if you were drinking out of boredom, take up a hobby.

Step two: get rid of all alcohol in the house

When the decision to stop drinking is made and the frightening problems are solved, check the fridge and bar. Throw out all alcohol and those foods that can provoke a desire to drink. For example, dried fish, boiled crayfish, etc. Do not succumb to the persuasion of friends to drink again, or buy beer "in reserve". Remember that a bottle of alcohol in the house is bad. Do not buy alcohol to store in the kitchen - no beer, no bottle of wine "for guests."

Third step: use traditional methods

If you decide to eradicate alcoholism, how to deal with it with the help of traditional medicine - ask a narcologist. There are quite a lot of auxiliary means (a decoction of oats, tincture of bay leaf, etc.), but your weakened body may not perceive some of them well. Do not harm yourself - it is better to consult a specialist.

Fourth step: do not let yourself relax

The desire to drink on a holiday will not leave you until you are firmly convinced that it is not necessary. At a common feast, you can drink juice and pour yourself mineral water instead of vodka. Good friends will understand and support you. And the bad ones... Do you need bad friends?
Stay away from people who drink. There is no need to communicate with them.

To avoid fatigue as one of the reasons for the desire to drink - sleep more. The body must get enough sleep, then the charge of energy will be enough for the whole day and more. The desire to drink is less likely to occur if a person has had a good night's sleep.

Your ally in the fight for sobriety can be physical activity that helps to cope with alcoholism. The hormone of happiness, produced during physical exercise, provokes a state that occurs with drunkenness.

The money that was spent on alcohol can be spent on yoga, fitness, going to a psychologist with pleasure - they will help you cope with cravings and improve your well-being. But don't overdo it. You don’t have to immediately harden, and run, and climb. These changes should come into your life gradually.

Fifth step: see a doctor

If you have a sufficient history of alcohol abuse, be sure to visit a therapist. The examination will help to identify the consequences of alcoholism and normalize the work of damaged organs and systems.

Step Six: Don't Forget About Motivation

Throughout your struggle with alcoholism, you need to stay motivated. As a result, a completely sober lifestyle should become the norm (without periodic binge drinking or absences for one-time drinking parties).

Step Seven: Make sure your diet is nutritious

Eat healthy food. Include broths, cereals in the diet. Eat dairy products. It is very useful to get rid of addiction to eat fatty fish and lean meat. Eat vegetables, fruits. They are rich in vitamins and can lift your mood in a more natural way.

Eighth step: don't give in to temptations

A psychotherapist will teach you how to resist temptations and control your desires and emotions. Together with him, you will more easily understand why you unconsciously go to a place where they sell alcohol.

If you still don't know how to deal with addiction at home, and where to start the path to a sober life - just follow these simple tips. We hope they help you stop drinking for good!

Text checked by medical experts:
Head of the socio-psychological service of the MC "Alcoclinic" by a psychiatrist-narcologist Serova L.A.

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View all photos Alcoholism is a disease that cannot be overcome on one's own. Treatment in clinics, rehabilitation programs can be the beginning of a new life, but then you have to learn how to solve problems without resorting to alcohol. Those who decide to quit drinking need the support of people who have managed to cope with addiction.

Those who attended self-help groups were most effective in quitting alcohol. Such meetings are held throughout Russia, including in Moscow. They have been functioning for more than 30 years and during this time have helped thousands of patients return to a full life.

As part of the article, we will tell you what principles these communities are based on and what is needed to become a member.

Content:

Alcoholism is an addiction!
Why do people sleep
Stages of alcoholism
Withdrawal from alcohol
Popular Methods to Quit Alcohol
But how to be? Can you heal yourself?
How to stop drinking alcohol on your own?
Have you made the decision to stop drinking alcohol?
Free help for alcoholism

Alcoholism is an addiction!

Addiction is manifested not only in the uncontrolled consumption of alcohol. She is multifaceted and insidious.

People who drink alcohol are prone to suicidal thoughts, they feel lonely, they cannot find a place in life. Dependence is manifested in the inability to work and take responsibility, in negative emotions and prolonged depression, in conflict and the individual's desire for isolation.

Alcohol dependence is often supplemented by uncontrolled intake of medications and drugs. But the person does not understand that it causes irreparable harm to physical health, and all attempts by relatives to help him do not bring results.

Some go to clinics on their own. For some time, the problem goes away, but there is a high probability of a breakdown and that everything will happen again.

It is not enough to get rid of the physical craving for alcoholic beverages. It is important to change the stereotypes of thinking. Only in this case can you recover.

Why do people drink too much

According to scientists and doctors of narcological clinics, the causes of alcoholism can be divided into 3 large groups:

Social: unfavorable environment, traditions of a certain region or country, lack of education, negative example of older family members. Teenagers start drinking because they want to achieve recognition in society, obeying the “herd mentality”. In adults, the formation of dependence is influenced by a psychogenic factor - the frequency of alcohol consumption in a particular environment.
Biological. According to scientists, the risk of developing alcoholism depends on heredity and the rate of metabolic processes in the body. Women develop alcohol and drug addiction faster than men. This is due to the fact that their body produces fewer enzymes that break down ethanol.
Psychological. It has been scientifically established that ethanol has a stimulating effect on the nervous system, causing a person to experience euphoria and relaxation. People prone to depression, stress and destructive behavior begin to drink more often. For them, this is a kind of “doping”, which helps to deal with difficulties.

In this article, we will not focus on the causes of the development of the disease, but simply designate them. It is much more useful to talk about the positive experiences of people who have achieved long-term remission. Consider the methods that have helped them succeed.

Stages of alcoholism

Addiction to alcohol is a disease that goes through several stages in its development.

1 stage. There is an overwhelming desire to drink. After taking alcohol, it becomes impossible to control the dose. But the addict is still able to stop drinking on his own, if he makes maximum efforts of will.

2 stage. Here it is customary to talk about the chronic form of the disorder. The patient no longer receives the usual relaxation and feeling of euphoria, as before, but he physically gets used to ethanol and cannot fully exist without a new dose. There is a vicious circle - a multi-day binge, from which you can not get out on your own. The drinker loses interest in what is happening, reacts sharply to the attempts of others to stop access to alcohol, ceases to justify his use.

3 stage. There is a pronounced degradation of a person as a person. The severe physical condition is combined with mental disorders: insomnia, tremors in the limbs, hallucinations are disturbing. In an attack of "white tremens" there is a risk of harming yourself or others, committing an illegal act.

The faster a person is helped, the more likely it is that he will stop drinking and achieve a stable remission. It is more difficult to deal with pathology in the second and third stages. The body's own resources are not always enough to maintain physical health, and mental illness does not allow one to correctly perceive information from the outside.

Alcohol negatively affects all aspects of life: spiritual, emotional, physical. Ignoring the problem, lack of desire to fight is a direct path to degradation and death.

Withdrawal from alcohol

In society, it is not customary to use the term "alcohol withdrawal." But in fact, this state is no different from drug withdrawal. In Russia and other countries of the world, alcoholic beverages are also recognized as a powerful psychoactive substance (surfactant), which comprehensively destroys human life and health.

A sharp refusal of alcohol is accompanied by severe symptoms:

nausea and vomiting;
increased anxiety;
hallucinations;
mental disorders;
severe headaches.

The pain experienced by the patient is comparable to drug withdrawal. The longer the rejection lasts, the more pronounced the reaction.

Alcohol addicts know firsthand what withdrawal is and how difficult it is to get out of this state. Not only the patient himself suffers, but also his relatives and friends, who are forced to observe a sad picture, and become co-dependent.

Popular methods to quit alcohol

In this block, we will talk about what methods people resort to in an attempt to quit alcohol and other psychoactive substances. Main ways:

Coding (chemical method). The principle of the procedure is in taking or filing drugs that form intolerance to alcoholic beverages.
Hypnosis. This is the introduction of a patient into a trance in order to reach out to his consciousness and motivate him to refuse.
Folk remedies. These include the reception of tinctures according to recipes, appeals to healers, grandmothers.

In the experience of Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous, the majority of addicts who have quit have tried a variety of methods: binding, medication, detox, and so on. But all of them either give a temporary result, or do not help to cure.

Drugs in the case of a chronic form of the disease do not give a lasting effect. As soon as their action weakens, patients break down. And sometimes it happens immediately after coding, and patients continue to get drunk, despite the physical anguish of the incompatibility of drugs and ethanol.

Hypnosis is a relatively effective method. But it will not help with low suggestibility. And it is not reused due to reduced performance.

Using folk remedies is a waste of time. First, their effectiveness has not been proven. Secondly, not all of them are safe. Tinctures, decoctions are usually prepared from several herbal ingredients that can cause allergies.

But how to be? Can you heal yourself?

The answer will seem unexpected and not entirely clear at first glance. For addicts, the help of those people who themselves have gone through this path is effective.

For such purposes, in many cities of Russia and the world, communities of recovering addicts NA - Narcotics Anonymous and AA - Alcoholics Anonymous have been created. Communities are based on the 12-step program, they appeared more than 80 years ago in the USA. Through this program, thousands of addicts have been able to quit taking psychoactive substances.

AA and NA are another name for self-help groups, where people who have achieved long-term remission share positive experiences with those who are just starting to struggle with addictions.

AA and NA are not religious or political organizations, they are not a medical institution or a sect. Many of the groups do not even have a fixed legal address - they rent premises for holding meetings. The main purpose of these meetings is to help patients form new life priorities that are not related to alcohol intake.

Community effectiveness is built on 3 main ideas:

Recognizing your addiction and seeking help.
Providing free voluntary support to each other.
Application of moral principles.

The goal is not just to encourage the beginner to stop using psychoactive substances, but to develop an independent mature personality. To achieve the goal, they go gradually, step by step, working through and consolidating every moment.

Main stages of the program:

Awareness of the problem and desire to find a solution.
Support request. Relationships are built in such a way that old-timers help newcomers. But at the same time, it is possible that a person turns to God or uses additional incentives.
Building trusting relationships with other people. In a society of the same dependent people, a person feels himself on an equal footing. There are no narcologists here who talk in a professional language, use complex terms.
An honest assessment of yourself and your actions. This is necessary in order for the alcohol addict to change their behavior.
Compensation for damage done to someone in the past.

In the company of people with similar problems, it is easier to accept a new way of life and follow it. After all, there is a living example nearby, to which such an approach helped.

How to stop drinking alcohol on your own?

In more than 90% of cases, quitting drinking for alcoholics is a pipe dream. Many admit that they made countless attempts to cope with the problem, but nothing came of it, even for a short time.

In a sober state, alcoholics do not leave the feeling of discomfort, anxiety. The possessed mind begins to concentrate all thoughts on drinking. Next, the usual mechanism is launched - the more the addict drinks, the more you want.

After the patient comes to his senses, he has basic feelings: guilt, fear, pity. Oppressed morale again pushes to drink alcohol. This forms a vicious circle from which there is no way out.

Here is a typical diagram and understanding of why you cannot stop drinking on your own. We definitely need the help of those who have gone through this path themselves and are ready to support in difficult times.

Come join a self-help group! This is a free addiction recovery program.

Those who have just decided to give up their strength to fight addiction are helped:

Understand what it takes to overcome cravings and addictions to alcohol.
Find support, life values and motivation, support of other people
Establish relationships with loved ones and relatives, as this additionally stimulates you to stop drinking for a long time.
Restore what was destroyed.
Learn to take care of yourself and take responsibility for other people.
Find a hobby to fill your time with useful things and think less about the next glass.

All this is difficult to decide at once, especially if the patient has been drinking for many years. But in NA and AA, the participant will be able to understand that he is not alone.

Gradually, members of self-help groups begin to show a desire to be sober and the ability to restrain themselves. At meetings, you can hear from addicts how hard it was for them to overcome cravings for alcohol and other psychoactive substances, and at that moment they called one of their sober friends to speak out.

From a medical point of view, this method of quitting drinking seems unusual. But it works and has proven its effectiveness in practice.

Have you made the decision to stop drinking alcohol?

Have you made the decision to stop drinking? Free offer to stop using with AN and AA. There are numerous groups in Moscow and the Moscow region. Any person suffering from addictions can get free anonymous help.

Meetings are held regularly and important aspects of sobriety are discussed:

actual problems for each member of the group;
ways to get rid of bad habits;
failure prevention methods, etc.

You can ask your questions by phone +7 (495) -505-33-96 or WhatsApp .

There are no doctors and psychologists at the meetings. Help is provided by former alcoholics and drug addicts who were able to stop using PAS and voluntarily abandoned their previous lifestyle. Often their advice is more useful than sessions with psychotherapists and psychologists.

The basis of anti-alcohol assistance is a 12-step program. This is a set of principles that are easy to follow in everyday life. But these are not laws that should be strictly followed, but only recommendations.

Among them:

General well-being. The recovery of each depends on the unity of the community.
Determination of their moral support personally by each member of the Academy of Sciences.
Own desire to join the community. The main condition for participation in the program is voluntary desire.
The existence of each group as a separate link. They can unite only to perform common tasks.
Bringing the core message and ideas of NA to every addict.
Financial matters do not affect the course of recovery.
Each group relies only on its own forces and does not accept outside help.
The community must always remain unprofessional - without the involvement of medical personnel and psychologists.
There is no rigid system of governance in NA, all participants have the same rights.
NA does not apply to religious and political associations.
The community does not promote their ideas.
The therapy takes place in complete anonymity: participants do not need to provide documents and be afraid that their problem will be publicized.

Communities, unlike rehabilitation clinics, do not require isolation: it is not necessary to leave family or work to start treatment. It is possible to attend meetings and at the same time continue to do the usual things, not change the normal course of life. Psychologically, it is more comfortable to solve the problem of alcoholism.

NA and AA are also a saving option for those who do not want or are simply afraid to go to rehabilitation centers and clinics. The basic rule of the organization is voluntariness and psychological comfort for all participants. The beginner has no obligations - he can stop therapy at any time. The program is based on the voluntary consent of the participants and does not imply coercion.

Decided to throw your strength into the fight against addiction - you are not alone. Come to meetings where people know firsthand about addictions!

Here people selflessly help each other to start a new life and overcome old habits, to develop the right attitudes in life. At meetings, sober addicts share their experiences. And it inspires those who are just starting their journey.

It does not matter at what stage in your life path you come to NA: you are just about to quit drinking and using other substances, you came after treatment and rehabilitation, you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms. If you sincerely want to quit and need help, you will be welcome!

Free help for alcoholism

Unlike clinics and rehab centers, classes at NA are free. They are open to anyone who wants to achieve lifelong remission. The possibility of joining the community does not depend on gender, religion, financial status.

NA has nothing to do with commercial organizations. Money, documents, material values are not required - everything is anonymous and free. You just need to choose a convenient time and group for yourself and attend the meeting. Help is available to everyone.

Members of NA and AA do not involve psychologists, doctors and other specialists in their work. They use their own skills and a basic platform that has helped them and other addicts recover.

Communities exist on voluntary contributions. They go to rent premises, purchase literature and tea. Each participant can contribute a feasible amount. And if there is no financial opportunity to develop, then this is not necessary.

People who have already managed to overcome pathological cravings express great gratitude to those who once helped them.

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