If you can’t go a day without drinking or you’ve tried to stop but couldn’t, chances are you have an alcohol dependence. Karen Hanks, MD, and her team at Priority Health in Union City, Tennessee, help you stop drinking and stay sober for the long run with their individualized outpatient program. In addition to therapy and medications that prevent cravings and withdrawal symptoms, they create a care plan that supports your total mental and physical health. To learn how you can overcome alcohol dependence without needing an inpatient clinic, call the office or request an appointment online today.

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What signs indicate alcohol dependence?

Enjoying an alcoholic beverage is such a normal part of daily life that it can be hard to recognize when a dependency develops. It’s also difficult to know where to draw the line because everyone has a different tolerance for alcohol.

But if you look at your habits, you can usually see signs that recreational or social drinking has turned into alcohol dependence. You may need help when you:

  • Drink too much every time you indulge
  • Spend a lot of time drinking
  • Make excuses to pour a drink (like a bad day at work or too much stress)
  • Stop meeting your responsibilities at home and work
  • Keep drinking even when it affects your health
  • Drink alone, avoiding family and friends when drinking
  • Have blackouts or memory loss
  • Need to drink more to get the same effect

Craving alcohol or having withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking are sure signs you have an alcohol dependence.

What effect does alcohol dependence have on my health?

Drinking too much for an extended time can have a devastating effect on your health. Alcohol dependence puts you at a high risk of developing anemia, nerve damage, liver disease (cirrhosis), heart disease, stomach inflammation, and dementia.

Alcohol also affects your personal life and significantly increases your chance of having an automobile accident or traumatic injury.

How is alcohol dependence treated?

The team at Priority Health takes a whole-person approach to supporting your health and helping you stop drinking alcohol. They identify and treat underlying health complications (or refer you to a trusted specialist if needed for advanced diseases).

Your provider recommends lifestyle changes that promote your overall health. For example, many people with an alcohol dependence develop serious nutritional deficiencies.

However, the heart of your treatment includes medications that help you safely detox from alcohol and support your recovery by preventing cravings.

While medications support your detox, individual and group therapy are essential for a successful and long-lasting recovery. During therapy, you learn to recognize behavior patterns and triggers that drive you to alcohol, and you gain the skills needed to maintain your recovery.

We also offer monthly vivitrol injections.

Whether you have questions or worries about your drinking habits or you want to break an alcohol dependency, Priority Health can help. Call the office or request an appointment online today.