Alcohol Tapering How to Taper Off Alcohol Safely
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Alexandra understands addiction from both familial and personal standpoints, as she is active in her own recovery. Alexandra is a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend and has learned the value of recovery and succeeding in whatever she sets her mind to. Her innovative approach as Director of Operations gives her clients a safe and compassionate place at The Freedom Center to begin their recovery journey. Drug and alcohol addiction is a serious health condition that can destroy lives.
Is it better to cut down on alcohol before quitting?
Cutting down your drinking is also a positive goal, and it can even be the first step to quitting entirely. If you're ready to address your drinking, don't be afraid to reach out for help. It's much easier to make positive changes when you've got help and support from other people.
As a licensed clinician, Cheryl stands ready to diagnose and treat a wide spectrum of mental, behavioral, and personality disorders that sometimes present alongside a substance use disorder. Bunmi is a recent graduate of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a concentration in Human Services. Bunmi is dedicated to helping https://ecosoberhouse.com/ her clients reach their full potential and build their toolkit of resources to support their long-term recovery. Vince is a licensed social worker who treats clients recovering from substance use disorders. Vince received his bachelor’s degree in Family Science from The University of Maryland, and received his master’s degree in Social Work from The Catholic University of America.
Can You Taper off of Alcohol?
Staffed by medical professionals, these programs offer 24-hour monitoring so you always have support if any complications arise. People tapering off alcohol may begin experiencing early withdrawal symptoms how to taper off alcohol within 6 to 12 hours after their last drink. In 2019 the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported that 14.5 millions of americans suffered from Alcohol Use Disorder.
How do you drastically reduce alcohol?
- Set yourself a drink limit and count your drinks.
- Swap to low or no alcohol alternatives.
- Limit how much alcohol you keep in the house.
- Change your “after work routine”.
- Delay that first drink.
- Drink only with dinner.
Unlike a home environment, medical detox services have the professional support and resources necessary to treat severe withdrawal symptoms. This medical supervision allows for some patients to quit drinking cold-turkey without compromising safety. If you are struggling with severe alcohol use or addiction, tapering off alcohol at home may not be a safe option. The most effective option for alcoholics to stop drinking is to find a treatment program that offers medical detox services. If you are interested in medical detox, contact one of our Vertava Health treatment specialists to find alcohol detox programs near you.
Take A Step Toward Recovery
Although it is possible for some to quit drinking without any side effects, fit leads to painful alcohol withdrawal symptoms for most. If you have tried to quit in the past, but the side effects of withdrawal caused you to drink again just to find relief, tapering off alcohol may be more effective. The phrase cold turkey refers to abruptly stopping drug or alcohol use. Typically, when a person thinks about the word tapering they think of tapering off medications like opioids. With that being said, tapering is a lot safer than going cold turkey. Although going cold turkey on opioids is dangerous and can cause significant withdrawal symptoms, quitting alcohol cold turkey can be fatal.
Once you have completely tapered off alcohol, you will have to decide if you want to follow a path of total abstinence or moderate alcohol use. If you choose moderate alcohol use, the best way to avoid alcohol withdrawal is to refrain from alcohol use two days in a row. If alcohol use is more frequent, try to abstain at least three days each week.
Challenges of Cutting Down Your Alcohol Intake
Once you have completely tapered off alcohol, it is a good idea to avoid alcohol use for a period of 30 days which will allow your body time to adjust to being alcohol-free. Some people find that they do not want to return to alcohol use while others try to find a happy medium for moderate consumption. If you have tried tapering off alcohol without success, consider a medically supervised alcohol detox program.
Tapering alcohol may be uncomfortable, and there may be subconscious triggers that stimulate the desire to drink 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. In medical detox, doctors and nurses provide around-the-clock care while helping you wean off alcohol.
Licensed medical professionals and highly qualified addiction specialists at The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper can help guide you toward a life without alcohol. Sadly, the threat of severe withdrawal symptoms prevents millions of people from stopping their alcohol abuse. Individuals experience alcohol when they stop giving their bodies alcohol. Depending on the severity of alcohol dependence, symptoms may range from mild to moderate or severe.
After prolonged alcohol use, your body can come to rely on alcohol for normal functioning, and suddenly going without it can cause potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms. This phenomenon is often described as “alcohol dependence.” The most common more mild withdrawal symptoms include headaches, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. As previously stated, some people can become frustrated with how long an alcohol tapering schedule can take and will try to place unreasonable limits on their consumption, setting themselves up to fail.
