Taking on Alcoholism in Boston, MA

Boston, Massachusetts: home to several million people, is the largest city in the New England area, and welcomes nearly 20 million visitors every year. The capital of Massachusetts is also referred to as the northern anchor of the northeast megalopolis of the United States, which is the most heavily urbanized region of the country.

Boston has a long and rich history, having played host to many key events of the American Revolution, such as the Battle of Bunker Hill, the Boston Massacre, the Siege of Boston, and of course, the Boston Tea Party. Since then, Boston has been a center of manufacturing, culture, education, and a major east coast port. Boston was also the site of the first rapid transit system and the first public school in the United States.

Home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the first free public library in the U.S., and many national history monuments and museums, Boston remains a center of culture. Residents and visitors alike enjoy music, art, history, fine food, and every aspect of American culture one can imagine all in the many venues that the city of Boston offers.

The city of Boston also offers a great many varieties of alcohol, from wines to whiskeys and everything in between. Unfortunately, there are many who avail themselves of this luxury a little too much. Even in a city that offers as much as Boston, alcoholism is a major problem, destroying the lives of everyone it touches.

At A Better Today, we have experienced professionals to help treat those who suffer from alcohol abuse. In clean, comfortable facilities, our trained experts provide the top quality care needed to address the abuse and the underlying issues that caused it, allowing the best chances for long-lasting recovery.

The Dangers of Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol is probably the most commonly abused substance in the world, and has been throughout history. It is present in every culture across the globe in some form or another and it’s uses range from religious ceremony to recreation and revelry.

Just as common, however, are the accounts of those who overindulge and drink far too much. These accounts range from comical to tragic in the fate and role of the subject. None of them end well or cast the person in a good light. Such is the tragic nature of alcoholism and any form of substance abuse.

Alcohol has a number of detrimental and potentially dangerous effects on the body. Alcohol abuse, whether constant or even a single binge, can have serious, long-lasting effects.

The most familiar effect is the damage that heavy drinking can cause to the liver, such as alcoholic hepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis (a condition in which the liver no longer functions properly due to damage over a long period of time), and steatosis, also known as “fatty liver.”

In addition, alcohol can lead to pancreatitis: a condition that prevents proper digestion through dangerous inflammation and swelling of blood vessels. This is caused by the pancreas releasing toxins into the body.

Less common knowledge is that drinking too much weakens the immune system, making heavy drinkers much more vulnerable to contracting illnesses like tuberculosis and pneumonia. Even drinking too much on a single occasion weakens the body’s ability to fight off infections.

Heavy drinking can also damage the heart, be it over time or by drinking too much on a single occasion. Possible risks to the heart include high blood pressure, stroke, arrhythmia (which is an irregular heartbeat), and cardiomyopathy, which is a “drooping” or stretching of heart muscle.

Believe it or not, heavy drinking can even increase one’s risk of certain cancers. In particular, heavy drinkers are at increased risk for developing liver, breast, throat, esophagus, and mouth cancer.

Perhaps most obvious, but most overlooked, are the ways alcohol physically affects the brain. Alcohol damages the brain’s communications pathways, interfering with thought and affecting the way the brain works and even looks. This makes it difficult for a person to think clearly, move with coordination, and changes moods and behaviors.

How to Tell if Someone is Suffering from Alcohol Abuse

Since alcohol is so common and easily accessible, it can sometimes be difficult to determine if somebody enjoys a drink or genuinely has a drinking problem. It’s even more difficult in the case of a functioning alcoholic. It’s no big deal if somebody has a drink after a hard day or a few on the weekend, but when does it cross the line from recreation to abuse?

Lying about their drinking or hiding how much they drink is a red flag to watch out for. Sneaking off to drink, drinking alone, or lying about when and how much a person drinks indicates a problem.

As previously stated, it’s not a big deal to have a drink to relax after a hard day, but if a person is unable to relax without that drink, that could indicate a problem. If a person needs to drink in order to relax, that’s a red flag.

A major warning sign to watch for is if a person is unable to stop drinking once they start. If a bottle of wine or a case of beer is opened, they have to finish it that same night. By the same token, if they drink so much that they black out, that’s a major problem and should be looked at very carefully.

When a person’s drinking begins to affect their interpersonal relationships, such as with close friends, family members, or a significant other, that’s something that should set off some alarms. This is an indication that alcohol has become more important to the person that those relationships.

Should a person begin neglecting their personal or professional responsibilities in order to drink, or taking time off of work because they are drunk or hungover, this is another red flag. If alcohol has become such a priority that it is overriding a person’s responsibilities and ability to earn a living, that’s a major problem.

If you are unsure if you or someone you love has an alcohol abuse problem, ask. You may not like the answer, but as the sayings go, knowing is half the battle and it’s better to face the enemy you know. At A Better Today, professionals and experts with personal experience are standing by, ready to assist. Through intervention or a personal call, help is available, so don’t wait until the problem gets worse before seeking help.

Does Intervention Really Work?

The short answer to this question is “yes.”

The long answer is “yes, it really does.”

They have to be done correctly, however. As is the case with anything, when an intervention is not handled properly, it can do more harm than good. Simply confronting the person with the problem as a group and telling them they have a problem will make them feel attacked, outnumbered, and cornered.

A Better Today offers the services of professionally trained individuals, called interventionists, who can not only help determine the best method of intervention, but will sit through and coach the intervention as well.

Family tends to be very close to the individual who needs help. As such, without proper guidance, an intervention can quickly fall apart, resulting in yelling, crying, and the person you were trying to reach ends up in a worse place than before.

Planned with love and support and executed with professional assistance, an intervention can literally make the difference between life and death. If someone you love is suffering from alcohol abuse, don’t wait until it’s too late. Call today and ask to speak to an intervention specialist.

What If I Can’t Afford Treatment?

This is a very common question and for good reason. Treatment can be very expensive. In fact, it’s prohibitive cost is one of the most common reasons people don’t seek the help they need. However, times have changed in such a way that makes treatment more affordable than you might think.

Due to advances in medical studies, substance abuse has been officially recognized as a medical disease that affects the body and brain. This means that insurance companies now provide coverage for substance abuse treatment programs and preventative measures.

As with any medical condition, the extent of coverage varies from plan to plan. Some insurance plans will pay for the entirety of treatment while other healthcare programs only offer partial coverage. Call your insurance provider today to find out exactly what your insurance plan covers to see what treatment options are available to you.

Where To Go For Treatment

A Better Today offers some of the finest, luxury rehab facilities available. Experienced and caring staff, some of whom have been through the same struggles, work around the clock to provide the best care available.

Due to the various potential triggers and environmental contributors that might be found in the home or one’s home town, it’s often highly recommended to travel for rehabilitation and treatment. While it may seem like a scary notion, getting away from the familiar scenery and locales may actually do a lot of good. Getting out of one’s comfort zone can be scary, but often leads to positive development.

The facilities at A Better Today are clean, comfortable, and everything is completely confidential, allowing you to focus on your recovery with complete peace of mind. Isn’t it time you stopped living in a bottle? Call (510) 246-8864 today to get help and throw the drink away.

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