Compassionate, structured support for people concerned about alcohol use and ready to explore a path toward recovery.
When drinking begins to feel difficult to control, reaching out for help can be an important step. You may be trying to cut back, concerned about how alcohol is affecting your life, or looking for more structured support after previous attempts to make a change.
At Allevate, we provide compassionate, evidence-based care for people struggling with alcohol use. We take an individualized approach centered on your needs, concerns, and recovery goals rather than assuming there is one path that works for everyone.
We also offer Vivitrol as a medication-assisted treatment option for alcohol dependence when clinically appropriate. Medication can be one part of a broader recovery plan, and we can help you explore whether it may fit your individual needs.
“Alcohol abuse” is a term many people still recognize, but the current clinical diagnosis is alcohol use disorder (AUD). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, combined the older diagnoses of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence into AUD, which may be categorized as mild, moderate, or severe.
Alcohol use disorder involves difficulty stopping or controlling alcohol use despite negative effects on health, relationships, responsibilities, or other areas of life.
If you are wondering whether your drinking has crossed a line, you do not need to fit a particular stereotype or have every possible symptom. What matters is how alcohol is affecting you and whether you are finding it difficult to make the changes you want to make.
Alcohol use disorder can look different from person to person. Some people first become concerned about how much they are drinking. Others notice changes in their relationships, responsibilities, physical health, emotional well-being, or ability to control their alcohol use.
Signs that drinking may be becoming harder to manage can include:
Healthcare professionals look at 11 recognized symptoms when evaluating AUD. You can review those criteria in the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s guide to alcohol use disorder.
If you are concerned about your drinking, you do not need to diagnose yourself before reaching out for support.
Problematic alcohol use can affect many parts of life. Over time, you may notice changes in your physical or mental health, relationships, work, responsibilities, finances, or personal safety.
Drinking may begin taking up more of your time or attention. It may create tension with people you care about, make it harder to follow through on responsibilities, or continue even when you recognize consequences you would rather avoid.
If you have tried to change your drinking and found it difficult to do on your own, professional support can give you another way forward. Care can help you better understand what you are experiencing and consider treatment options based on your individual needs.
You do not have to wait for alcohol-related problems to become severe before asking for help.
It may be time to talk with a healthcare professional if you are:
We approach these conversations without judgment. Our focus is on understanding what you are experiencing and helping you explore appropriate support.
If your body has become physically dependent on alcohol, suddenly stopping can cause withdrawal. In some cases, alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous or life-threatening.
Symptoms can include shakiness, sweating, anxiety, nausea, sleep problems, a racing heart, or seizures. More severe withdrawal may require medical monitoring and treatment. NIAAA guidance on alcohol withdrawal and recovery provides additional information about withdrawal risks and when medical care may be needed.
If you are concerned that stopping alcohol could cause withdrawal, seek medical guidance rather than trying to manage severe symptoms on your own. Call 911 or seek emergency medical care for seizures, severe confusion, hallucinations, loss of consciousness, or other life-threatening symptoms.
For some people, medication can be one part of recovery.
We offer Vivitrol®, an extended-release injectable form of naltrexone, as a medication-assisted treatment option for alcohol dependence. Naltrexone is an FDA-approved medication for alcohol use disorder and may help reduce the urge to drink for some people.
Vivitrol is administered by a healthcare provider and should be used as part of a comprehensive treatment program that includes psychosocial support. FDA prescribing information states that people receiving Vivitrol for alcohol dependence should be able to stop drinking before treatment begins and should not be actively drinking when the first injection is given.
The FDA prescribing information for Vivitrol also includes important contraindications and safety considerations, particularly for people who currently use or have recently used opioids.
Whether Vivitrol is appropriate for you depends on your individual circumstances and clinical evaluation.
There is no single treatment plan that defines recovery.
Evidence-based treatment for alcohol use disorder may include medication, behavioral healthcare, recovery support, or a combination of approaches depending on individual needs. You can learn more about these options through NIAAA’s guide to treatment for alcohol problems.
At Allevate, we start with the person in front of us. We want to understand what you are experiencing, what you have already tried, and what you want to work toward.
For some people, the goal may be stopping alcohol use. Others may be taking their first step toward understanding how drinking is affecting their life. Wherever the conversation begins, our focus is on helping you explore structured, individualized support without promising that recovery will happen on a particular timeline or in a particular way.
Alcohol abuse is an older diagnostic term. DSM-5 replaced the separate diagnoses of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence with a single diagnosis, alcohol use disorder (AUD), categorized as mild, moderate, or severe.
Drinking may be a reason for concern if you regularly drink more than intended, have difficulty cutting back, experience strong cravings, continue drinking despite negative consequences, or experience withdrawal symptoms. A healthcare professional can evaluate your symptoms and help determine whether AUD may be present.
Yes. We offer Vivitrol as a medication-assisted treatment option for alcohol dependence when clinically appropriate. Vivitrol is an extended-release injectable form of naltrexone that may help reduce the urge to drink for some people.
No. Vivitrol is not appropriate for everyone. Current or recent opioid use, medications, medical considerations, and other factors can affect candidacy. A clinical evaluation is needed to determine whether Vivitrol may be appropriate for you.
For some people who have developed physical dependence on alcohol, suddenly stopping can cause potentially dangerous withdrawal. If you are concerned about withdrawal or have experienced withdrawal symptoms before, seek medical guidance before attempting to stop on your own.
This page is for educational purposes and does not replace individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Treatment recommendations depend on your individual needs and clinical circumstances.
Alcohol withdrawal can become a medical emergency. Call 911 or seek emergency medical care for severe or life-threatening symptoms.
Call us at 640-252-9785 or
complete the form below.
