Up to 14.5 million Americans ages 12 and older have an alcohol use disorder. If you regularly use alcohol and it negatively affects your health, job, relationships, or quality of life, it’s vital to seek help. At AIM Behavioral Health, board-certified psychiatrist and addiction medicine specialist Manish Parikh, MD, and the team specialize in the treatment of alcohol use disorder. To make an appointment, call the office in Ashland or book online today.
Alcohol use disorder is a medical condition that occurs when your body becomes physically dependent on alcohol. If you have an alcohol use disorder, you might spend most of your time thinking about, trying to acquire, or consuming alcohol.
As the condition worsens, it can affect your ability to work or maintain relationships. You might also experience alcohol-related health problems, like liver disease, high blood pressure, or gastrointestinal issues.
Symptoms of alcohol use disorder include:
If you have an alcohol use disorder, you might also experience physical symptoms like alcohol cravings, lapses in memory, or muscle tremors.
Experts aren’t entirely sure what causes alcohol use disorder, but it’s thought that drinking excessively causes chemical changes in the brain. These changes result in pleasurable feelings when you drink. That results in you drinking more, resulting in a vicious cycle.
After your body is addicted to alcohol, you need to keep drinking to prevent the uncomfortable and potentially life-threatening symptoms of withdrawal.
To diagnose alcohol use disorder, your AIM Behavioral Health provider conducts a physical exam and asks about your alcohol use, including if you drive drunk, if you experience blackouts as a result of your drinking, and if you’ve tried cutting back but couldn’t.
Answer the questions honestly. Your provider isn’t there to judge you, but your responses help determine the best type of treatment. Your provider might also order blood work to assess your liver function and to check for signs of liver disease.
Treatment of alcohol use disorder depends on several factors, including the severity of your addiction and its effect on your quality of life. Your AIM Behavioral Health provider might recommend:
Ultimately, the goal of treatment is to help you achieve lasting sobriety.
To receive treatment for alcohol use disorder, make an appointment at AIM Behavioral Health by calling the office or booking online today.
At Aim Behavioral Health, we understand that living with ADHD can feel like a constant battle. If you're struggling with focus, organization, or managing daily tasks, you're not alone—and you don't have to face it by yourself. We're here to guide you on your path to a more focused and fulfilling life. Using the QB test, a cutting edge assessment tool that helps us fully understand your specific needs, this lets us make a treatment plan that is just right for you. At Ashland Integrative Medicine (AIM) Behavioral Health, Manish Parikh, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist and addiction medicine specialist, and his team provide comprehensive addiction treatment and counseling to adults living in and around Ashland, Kentucky.