Hitting Rock Bottom in Little Rock
With more than 200,000 people in the city limits, Little Rock is the capital of Arkansas as well as its most populous city. Little Rock has a rich history and is a central hub for culture and transportation in Arkansas, but it also has an unfortunate history of alcohol abuse as well.
As of the last year, drunk drivers were responsible for 25% of all automotive deaths in the state of Arkansas, according to a study by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). That’s just from drunk driving, and doesn’t include the fatalities from liver disease, homicides, or accidents caused by alcohol. Alcohol abuse is a serious concern and it can be found anywhere.
Fortunately, A Better Today Recovery Services offers quality care with industry-leading treatment techniques. Using fact-based research and techniques, we can help people reach the root of their addiction, identify the underlying cause, and cope with it accordingly.
Is Alcohol Really That Dangerous?
Alcohol has been a part of nearly every culture in the world for centuries. Almost every civilization has fermented what they had available to make wine, beer, vodka, whiskey, mead, and so on. The incidents of overindulgence, however, are just as widespread and go back just as far.
There are always those who will take something too far, even to the point of destroying themselves. Is it really harmful, though? Everyone knows you shouldn’t drink and drive, that’s an obvious danger, but what about the less obvious dangers? Heavy drinking can lead to some very serious health hazards that you may not be aware of.
First, there is the damage alcohol can cause to the liver. Heavy drinking can cause liver inflammations and other problems such as alcoholic hepatitis, steatosis (also known as “fatty liver”), cirrhosis, and fibrosis. Thousands of people die every year from liver failure brought on by excessive drinking.
Heavy drinking, whether over a long period or too much in a single instance, has been shown to cause significant damage to the heart. High blood pressure and stroke are the most common heart problems that arise from alcohol abuse, but not the only issues. Heavy drinkers are also at increased risk of heart arrhythmias, which is an irregular heart beat, and cardiomyopathy, which is a stretching or “drooping” of heart muscle.
Studies have shown that too much drinking can even increase a person’s risk of developing certain types of cancer. Among the list are esophagus, mouth, breast, throat, and liver cancer.
These are just the ways alcohol affects the body. There are several other dangers a person might face while intoxicated. Alcohol impairs judgement, leading to poor decision-making, which can prove dangerous and even fatal. Between impaired perception, diminished reaction time, poor decision making, and lack of awareness, the dangers only continue to mount.
How to Identify a Drinking Problem
One reason alcohol abuse is so rampant is that alcohol is legal. It is readily available and easy to access. It’s pretty normal for a person to have a drink after work or perhaps a few drinks over the weekend when going out with friends. This does not constitute a problem.
How do we tell when drinking has crossed the line? How can we know when it’s gone from simply enjoying a drink to a genuine abuse problem? Fortunately, there are some telltale warning signs to watch for that can help identify a drinking problem.
One of the most obvious signs is when a person drinks so much that he or she blacks out. This is caused by simply drinking way too much. Doing this just once should raise an eyebrow, but making a habit of it is a sign of a serious problem.
If a person starts to lie about how much or how often they drink, or hiding it from others, this is a signal that something is wrong. Moreover, on some level they are likely aware of the fact that there is a problem. Whether this is from shame or guilt, there is at least a subconscious recognition that something needs to be fixed.
Beyond this point, you may notice a person unable to stop drinking once they start. It may not be immediately noticeable, but watch for signs such as drinking a whole case of beer immediately after it is opened. This is a good indicator that they are unable to stop drinking once they begin. Likewise, if they habitually drink more than they intend to, that’s a sign that they aren’t in control.
How A Better Today Can Help
Here at A Better Today, we understand that there is no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” treatment. No two people are the same and, as such, alcohol abuse affects each person differently. For this reason, A Better Today tailors each person’s treatment program in order to suit their individual needs, thus ensuring the best chance for long-lasting recovery.
Among our many treatment options, we offer individual and group therapy sessions. Individual therapy offers a valuable opportunity to sit down with a therapist and work through difficult, even painful, subjects and can lead to insightful breakthroughs. Group therapy works to develop communication skills without the use of alcohol and provides feedback from friends who are also in recovery.
Family therapy is also available. Substance abuse has a tendency to tear families apart and family therapy can help repair that damage, heal those wounds, and reestablish channels of communication that may have been harmed by the abuse.
We also offer cognitive behavioral therapy, which focuses on positive beliefs, thought patterns, and attitudes toward one’s self. This also works to provide the client with healthy coping mechanisms for dealing with future issues like cravings, depression, and triggers.
These examples are just a handful of the treatment options we provide at A Better Today. Different options work for different people and we work hard to figure out the right combination for each person. Many of our caring and compassionate staff are in recovery, and remain part of a vibrant, supportive community in ABT’s alumni. You’re not just a client or a patient here; you’re part of a family.
Treatment: How and Where?
In recent years, substance abuse has been positively identified and categorized as a brain-altering disease. As such, substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation is covered by most health insurance providers. This means that treatment may not be as costly as you might think.
At A Better Today, we’re dedicated to providing top quality care to those in need and we are happy to work with each person’s insurance plan to determine the best treatment options. A quick phone call is all it takes, so call us and find out what your plan covers.
It’s also a good idea to consider traveling for treatment. Going into rehab can be scary enough but the value of getting out of one’s comfort zone is more than worth it. People sometimes need to leave their comfort zone behind in order to experience new things, especially change.
At A Better Today, we want to provide each and every person that comes through our doors with the tools and support network to live a long, healthy, and happy life of recovery. Don’t wait for the situation to get worse before taking action. Don’t wait to become a statistic. Pick up the phone today and call (520) 288-8484.