If you have been convicted of driving under the influence, you may be wondering whether you may be addicted to drinking. Alcohol addiction is a serious disease which cannot be ignored. However, there are numerous programs which address alcohol treatment in Virginia.
Am I addicted to alcohol?
There is no medical test or objective criteria which determines alcohol addiction. The disease can manifest itself in many different ways. Some of the more common indicators of alcohol addiction include:
- One or more DUI convictions;
- Frequent absences from work or school;
- Erratic behavior in social situations;
- Blackouts or loss of memory after drinking binges;
- Consuming alcohol in the morning, at work, or at unusual times of the day;
- Drinking alcohol with most or all of your meals;
- Drinking alcohol alone;
- Sneaking drinks of alcohol and/or lying about your alcohol consumption; or
- Liver disease or other medical problems which are caused by excessive alcohol consumption.
The most important thing to remember is that alcohol addiction is not limited to any specific group. In other words, anyone young or old, rich or poor, male or female, employed or jobless, or of any ethnicity or religion can become addicted to alcohol.
Overview of How to Combat Alcohol Addiction
It may sound like a cliché, but it is true: the first step to overcoming alcohol addiction is admitting that you have a problem. Only then will you be able to focus your energies on getting the help you need.
The initial phase of kicking the drinking habit is known as detoxification (or detox for short). This involves purging the body of toxins deposited by alcohol and allowing the body to repair and fortify itself in order to return to its normal state. Detoxification can be painful and in some cases dangerous, and the process could last anywhere from a few days to over a week.
After the body has been detoxified, the next step is known as rehabilitation (or rehab). The main focus of rehabilitation is to change an addict's behavior so that they learn to live life without alcohol. This can be accomplished using therapy, medication, coping mechanisms, and support groups.
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