Alcoholism, a severe form of alcohol dependence, affects millions of Australians. An Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report from February 2024 found that one in five Australians were abused by someone under the influence of alcohol over the past year. The report also found that 2.4 million Australian women were harmed by someone under the influence, while Australians aged 18 to 24 were most likely to have been harmed by someone under the influence.
Moreover, the report revealed that around 31% of Australians drink too much, with one in four having more than 10 drinks per week.
Drinking excessively harms everyone. This includes friends and family, as well as the person drinking. The more a person drinks, the higher their chances of being injured or contracting illnesses and diseases, especially cancer.
If you struggle with alcoholism and want to get help, you have many options available to you. Getting the help you need sooner rather than later can help keep you and your loved ones safe from harm.
Choosing the Right Help
When you start looking at options, you need to consider several factors. These include:
- How long have you been drinking?
- How much do you drink?
- Do you already have health issues, and are you at risk of developing a specific disease?
- What are your social circumstances?
Depending on the answers to these questions, you will likely require a combination of services and treatments either as an outpatient or in a rehab facility.
Lower Risk Alcohol Use Requires Early Intervention
If you have only been drinking for a couple of weeks or months, you may benefit from short-term therapies. This type of intervention usually focuses on making you aware of the risks of prolonged drinking and when alcohol consumption turns into alcoholism.
Short-term treatments also focus on highlighting the benefits of reducing or stopping alcohol consumption. They are meant to show people how drinking affects them and their loved ones and how treatment can help them get their lives back on track. Both public and private services typically offer this type of treatment.
Alcohol Dependency Requires a Different Approach
If you are constantly thinking about accessing or drinking alcohol, you may already be on your way to full-blown alcoholism. Alcohol dependence requires a completely different approach. You will likely need to follow a structured program and more intensive treatments to motivate you to stop drinking.
If you try to stop drinking on your own, you may experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. This is especially likely if you binge drink or if you have been drinking for a long time.
It is not a good idea to go through withdrawal on your own. Withdrawal symptoms can be intense and cause you to relapse. Even worse, these symptoms can become life-threatening.
Should you want to stop drinking abruptly, you must have a medical professional nearby or, at the least, on standby. Several institutions offer withdrawal treatment programs where you will have a medical team watching over you.
Moreover, these institutions offer after-care programs to prevent patients from relapsing after going through withdrawal.
Rehabilitation Programs
There are several rehabilitation programs to choose from if you want to break an alcohol dependency.
Residential Centres
These include residential rehabilitation centres where qualified staff will monitor your progress and provide medical care, if needed.
Some residential facilities allow staff and patients (or clients) to work together in a therapeutic atmosphere. This helps patients adjust to their surroundings and makes them feel more in control of the process.
These centres typically offer programs that last a minimum of 12 weeks. During this time, you will have limited contact with your loved ones.
It is important to note that all residential treatment centres provide withdrawal treatment. Most of them require patients to undergo and complete detox before they are admitted to a residential facility.
Outpatient Centres
If you do not drink very heavily but still want to cut down or stop, an outpatient facility may be a good option for you. You will receive counselling while undergoing withdrawal at home. If you have a strong support system at home and a stable home life, your doctor can refer you to an outpatient centre.
Inpatient Centres
Your doctor can also refer you to an inpatient facility if they believe it is the best option. If you enter inpatient rehab, your withdrawal will be supervised by medical professionals. Many of these centres also offer support groups.
More Options for Alcoholism Recovery
Other options for alcoholism recovery include counselling, especially if you suffer from alcohol dependency and mental health problems simultaneously. It is crucial to see a counsellor or psychologist to learn how to cope with stress and how to avoid triggers that cause you to drink.
Counselling is often a one-on-one process, so if you are not comfortable with that type of setting, peer support groups may be a better option. There are also social support options that can help keep your finances and health on track while you get better.
Luxury Rehabilitation With HARP
If you prefer anonymity while you undergo withdrawal, HARP should be at the top of your list of choices. HARP is located in the Dandenong Mountain Ranges, immersing the facility in nature. It is also the only luxury rehab within these ranges, so chances are slim that you will encounter anyone you know.
HARP combines several therapies, including therapy and education, to help patients rebuild their lives. If you are a working professional or if you own a well-known business, you will likely not want anyone to know about your withdrawal. You also would not want people to know that you are entering a rehab facility.
HARP prides itself on offering complete anonymity, privacy, and unmatched care for those who need it the most. The facility employs only the highest-qualified doctors, nurses, counsellors, and psychologists focusing on addiction recovery.
Moreover, HARP does not believe patients should be cut off from their businesses or loved ones while recovering. While at HARP, you will have daily opportunities to speak to your family and friends and check in with your business.
Overcome Alcoholism With the Help of HARP
If you seek empathy and familiar luxury surroundings, HARP has enough of both. With access to the outdoors, a private gym, and a day spa, you will experience judgment-free care and world-class treatment while you work toward complete recovery.
If you want to break free from alcoholism, book a discovery call today and discover how HARP can help you.
