How To Taper Off Alcohol: Key Strategies and Tips

weaning alcohol

Our 30-day inpatient program offers the most structured and supportive pathway to ongoing recovery from alcohol addiction. Exercise can be a beneficial component of a comprehensive strategy to reduce alcohol consumption, but it should not be the sole method. Consult with a healthcare provider for a personalized plan that may include exercise as https://ecosoberhouse.com/ part of your recovery. The Recovery Village Ridgefield medical detox center in Vancouver, WA, is a fully staffed rehab facility designed to help you wean off alcohol in comfort. We offer 16 detox beds and around-the-clock medical care provided by a multidisciplinary team of addiction experts.

  • Unearthing information from underexplored, far-flung corners of the Internet, Long’s passion is finding emerging trends in substance use and treatment that the public should know about.
  • Quitting cold turkey is the preferred method of withdrawal, but only if done under medical supervision, where symptoms can be treated as they occur.

Direct Taper

  • Typically, quitting cold turkey from a 12-beer-a-day habit is going to be more stressful than tapering off slowly.
  • Further, mental health disorders like anxiety and depression are extremely common in those who struggle with drinking, and these disorders can make it even harder to stay sober.

Sunshine Behavioral Health strives to help people who are facing substance abuse, addiction, mental health disorders, or a combination of these conditions. It does this by providing compassionate care and evidence-based content that addresses health, treatment, and recovery. At a rehab clinic, an alcohol withdrawal taper can be provided to slowly get you back to normal life.

weaning alcohol

How to Aid an Addicted Parent in Their Journey

Deciding to taper off alcohol is a slower process that requires planning, but Alcohol Use Disorder it can decrease both the chase of experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms and relapse. Slowly tapering your alcohol use can help you manage mild withdrawal symptoms and decrease the risk of AUD. However, you may experience withdrawal symptoms or relapse if you’re not tapering correctly and safely. The time it takes to taper off alcohol varies based on how much a person drinks. You may decide to seek medical treatment for your withdrawal symptoms or make the choice to enter a professional detox or rehab center. Even if you don’t succeed the first time, there are still plenty of treatment options you can turn to.

  • Benzodiazepines are the most common medications physicians use to taper alcohol and reduce withdrawal symptoms.
  • The time it takes to taper off alcohol varies based on how much a person drinks.
  • Tapering helps people stop using alcohol and other substances in small and manageable steps.
  • There are a range of symptoms you can experience when you stop drinking.
  • Some alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be so severe that they can lead to death.

Top Techniques in IOP Treatment

weaning alcohol

Stress is a common trigger that makes it hard to modify your alcohol intake. Finding a different, more healthy way to unload stress may go a long way in helping someone succeed in cutting back on their alcohol use. People attempting to quit may turn to drinking again to prevent withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol is the third-leading preventable cause of mortality in the United States, with approximately 95,000 people dying from alcohol-related causes each year.

If you were to suddenly stop drinking alcohol, your receptors would become hyperactive because they are no longer being depressed. This is why you should taper off alcohol, or use a prescribed medication like benzodiazepines, during detox3. It’s vital to do this under the supervision of a medical professional to ensure the process is safe and smooth.

weaning alcohol

These symptoms generally peak between 24 to 72 hours but can persist for weeks 1. Choosing to taper off alcohol is an admirable decision and a step in the right direction. As with many self-detox methods, the risks and rewards go hand in hand when attempting to overcome an alcohol substance use disorder. But, with a little prior knowledge on how to taper off alcohol, adequate planning and professional consultation from a healthcare provider, it can certainly be done. Those who find that they cannot taper off the number of drinks for any significant weaning alcohol length of time have likely developed alcohol use disorder, a condition commonly known as alcoholism. For others, simply cutting back the number of drinks can bring on alcohol withdrawal symptoms, making it more difficult to stop.

  • This can be achieved by drinking one less drink each day or by setting specific goals, such as only drinking on weekends.
  • Landmark Recovery’s aftercare programs are designed to provide this support, helping patients navigate life post-treatment and avoid relapse.
  • Lastly, engaging in alcohol therapy can also make a major difference in your healing journey.
  • Although, you’ll need support if you want to successfully and safely taper at home.
  • While this process isn’t enjoyable, there are so many benefits in the new sober life that you’re creating for yourself.

Principles of Effective Day Treatment

In medical detox, you receive around-the-clock care from doctors and nurses to help prevent and treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms and their complications. This can set you up for a safe and effective detox and put you in a good position to continue your recovery in rehab. For people with moderate to severe alcohol addiction, utilizing an alcohol detox center is always the safest option. Alcohol detox centers have professionals trained to recognize and treat complications caused by alcohol withdrawal. A healthcare professional can provide invaluable guidance on the best ways to safely taper off alcohol. For instance, they may recommend reducing alcohol intake by two drinks each day until reaching zero drinks for individuals who drink fewer than 20 standard drinks a day.