Resources
Step Chat – (Alcohol.Org)
StepChat is an online board for chat rooms, mainly using AA and the 12-Step model, to help people who may want to remain completely anonymous, who do not have access to AA meetings in person, or who may not be able to leave their homes to get peer support to remain sober and on track to recovery.
Department of Veterans Affairs
The Department of Veterans Affairs provides comprehensive medical benefits, which include treatment for mental illness, substance abuse, and co-occurring disorders.
What Are The Stages of Addiction?
Although not every person struggling with alcohol misuse goes through these stages, they can be a helpful checklist to assess alcohol consumption and prevent forthcoming problems.
1. Pre-Alcoholic
The first involves general experimentation with alcohol and is when alcohol tolerance develops as the person begins drinking more regularly as a coping mechanism for anxiety, stress, or other emotions.
2. Early Stage
Drinking becomes more regular and individuals begin using social gatherings as an excuse to drink. They may also start consuming alcohol to cope with the negative consequences caused by drinking such as hangovers. At this stage, blackouts may also occur.
3. Middle Stage
Crucial stage when a person begins to drink frequently and consistently, maybe even starting off their morning with a drink. They may struggle with worsening relationships with friends and family or experience changes to their behavior that impacts them negatively. They often feel health impacts such as hangovers or feeling sick more often when not drinking.
4. Late Stage
This final phase leads to a complete loss of control over alcohol consumption—the individual must drink. At this point, the individual’s body begins to require the presence of alcohol to feel normal. When the individual does not consume alcohol regularly, they may experience withdrawal symptoms and intense cravings.
Getting Help for Addiction
Treatment may involve medications to ease withdrawal symptoms, therapy through a rehabilitation program to understand the addiction and change behaviors, and long-term aftercare programming such as peer support groups to help maintain sobriety and avoid relapse.
It should also be noted that no single treatment is appropriate for everyone and plans must be reviewed and modified according to a patient’s changing needs.
Supporting People with Their Recovery.
Once alcohol treatment has been completed, it can be beneficial to continue to know how to support an alcoholic during their recovery efforts as they manage their sobriety. A few ways to continue supporting them on their recovery journey include:
Encourage new social activities and interests: Your loved one will need to find new social activities that don’t involve alcohol consumption and the more you become involved in finding new things to do together, the easier it may make it for them to settle back into normal life again as a sober individual. Consider looking into outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, kayaking or find new hobbies to get into such as cooking, yoga, or wood working. Volunteering is also a great way to give back to the community and a way for your loved one to feel like they are making a difference in others’ lives.
Discuss relapse triggers: Triggers may lead to a relapse or cause them to begin thinking about drinking again. If you’re aware of these potential triggers, you may be able to help them avoid those situations or people that cause anxiety, stress, or other emotions that may prompt a relapse. It may help to ask them what has caused them to drink alcohol in the past whether it be loneliness, depression or boredom, and find way to encourage healthier coping mechanisms that don’t rely on alcohol.
Be cautious of enabling behaviors: If they begin to drink again or try and make excuses for their drinking, don’t take over their responsibilities or help them avoid the consequences (legal or relational). Instead, set boundaries with them that show you no longer allow unacceptable behaviors in their life. This doesn’t mean to become angry or to try to control them, these boundaries are meant for you. Additionally, you may want to encourage them to speak with an addiction specialist, therapist or other peers in recovery about what’s going on.
Have a plan for relapse: As with other chronic conditions, relapses following a period of sobriety may occur and are common. In the case that your loved one does relapse, it may be helpful to have a plan in place. First and foremost, the faster you discuss the relapse with them and/or they return to treatment, the better. Consider having the number of their sponsor (if available) or an addiction hotline in your phone to call if this should happen.
It is also important to remember that while you can do your best to support them, a relapse may occur and is common. If this happens, it is not your fault, regardless of how supportive you’ve been.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE/SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS- (Be The influence)
Operation Hope Scarborough (207)553-2575 www.operationhopemaine.weebly.com
Operation Hope Waterville (207)680-4700 www.waterville-me.gov
The Family Restored (207)387-0015 https://thefamilyrestored.org
Providence Retreat Scholarships (207)298-9130 https://providenceretreat.org
Dignity Emergency Recovery Funds (207)773-9724 https://dignitymaine.com
Please click below for more information on substances or services.
· HIV
· COVID-19
For more information on these topics and more please visit
https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics
Mental Health Emergency
Maine State Crisis Line: 1-888-568-1112 - Or - call 911, or visit the closest emergency room.
Warm Line: 1-866-771-9276 (WARM)- a 24/7 line for support for those with mental illness.
Alcohol is the third most common cause of preventable death in the US. 88,000 people die every year from alcohol-related causes, and 31% of driving fatalities involve alcohol. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that six people die every day from alcohol poisoning.(recovery village)
35%2 of people with alcohol use disorders will develop advanced liver disease, and alcoholic liver disease is the number one reason3 why people need to get a liver transplant. The liver is not the only organ that is damaged by excessive alcohol consumption: Cardiovascular disease4, hypertension, stroke, autonomic dysfunction5, some types of cancer6, and pancreatic disease7 are all linked to excessive alcohol use. In addition, recent studies have shown that chronic alcohol intake is linked to cognitive decline8 in older adults.