Excessive drinking is a widespread problem across the US due to the legal status and availability of alcohol. Social drinking has been normalized to the extent that recognizing problematic alcohol use can often present quite a challenge. This is why many people who engage in binge drinking or frequently drink excessive amounts of alcohol might not be aware of the high risks of this behavior.1

Still, not every pattern of excessive drinking is considered an alcohol use disorder or alcohol addiction. In some cases, even moderate consumption can cause severe damage to one’s physical and mental health and significantly raise the chances of developing alcohol dependence. For example, among the 138.5 million alcohol users, 61.6 million people (44.4%) were classified as binge drinkers, and 17.7 million were classified as heavy drinkers.2

Alcohol Abuse and Recovery Treatment Availability in Nevada

Regarding the state of Nevada, statistics show that alcohol use per person is generally higher than in most other states. For example, in 2019, about 30% of driving fatalities were directly related to driving under the influence of alcohol.3 It was also determined that more than 10% of adult Nevada residents meet the criteria for an alcohol use disorder (AUD) diagnosis, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.4

National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS): 2020, registered 142 substance abuse facilities in Nevada. The largest percentage of those facilities were private non-profit facilities (53.2%), followed by private for-profit ones (34.9%). About 4.6% of facilities are run by the federal and 1.8% by the state government. In 2020, 109 Nevada facilities treated 11,573 patients, and 74% of those facilities provided treatment for alcohol abuse only, while 90% of facilities treated clients with both alcohol and drug abuse issues.5

It’s also worth mentioning that 68.8% of Nevada facilities offered comprehensive mental health assessments or diagnoses. In addition, clients with co-occurring mental and substance use disorders are treated in 67.9% of Nevada facilities.5

Statistics of Recovery From Alcohol Use Disorder in the US

One of the most critical factors determining recovery from alcohol use is its chronic nature. Like other chronic diseases, alcohol use disorder (AUD) needs to be kept under control with proper treatment and medication, if necessary. The type and duration of treatment are determined on a case-to-case basis by a team of substance abuse and mental health experts. The advancements of modern medicine, phycology, and pharmacology have significantly increased success rates of alcohol addiction recovery.6

Chronic diseases, of course, always carry the potential for relapse. Alcohol addiction relapse rates are similar to those of many other chronic diseases. The average relapse rate of AUD is between 40% and 60%, while illnesses like hypertension or asthma have a relapse rate of 50% to 70%. When put into perspective, these rates shouldn’t discourage anyone from getting treatment, particularly now that science-based approaches and FDA-approved medications can ease the detoxification process and help sobriety maintenance.1

How to Recover From Alcoholism?

Recovery from any type of substance abuse disorder, including alcohol addiction, needs to be approached as treatment of a chronic mental health disorder and involves using an appropriate personally tailored treatment plan. Each patient’s personal characteristics are considered when diagnosing the condition and designing a suitable treatment approach.7

Alcohol addiction recovery programs include evidence-based approaches and the use of FDA-approved medication. Depending on the severity of addiction, the patient’s physical health, and the potential presence of one or more co-occurring mental health conditions, alcohol recovery programs may include some or all of the following elements:6, 7

Medically monitored detoxification with around-the-clock care ensures that physical dependence doesn’t cause any dangerous or life-treatment consequences. In case of strong physical dependence, alcohol withdrawal symptoms are mitigated by appropriate medication, and this process can last anywhere from 2-3 days up to a week. However, detoxification is not addiction treatment on its own and is generally followed by counseling or psychotherapy.
Inpatient or residential programs require living at the alcohol recovery center for the duration of treatment. This could last anywhere from 28-30 days (short-term programs) to 3-6 months (long-term programs); and sometimes even up to a year in most severe cases.
Outpatient and intensive outpatient treatments allow the patient to live at home for the entire program duration and visit the facility to receive treatment. Depending on the severity of the disorder and the required services, patients can receive treatment several times a week or every day. The number of hours spent at the facility will depend on each individual’s program.
Therapy or counseling may include various forms of behavioral therapy, the most common one being cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). This is an essential part of every addiction treatment as it helps patients uncover the underlying causes of their alcohol abuse issues and address any potential mental health disorders that co-occur with substance abuse issues in about 50% of cases.
Medication-assisted therapy or pharmacotherapy involves the use of FDA-approved drugs as part of treatment. Medication is used both during the detoxification phase and after as maintenance therapy to help prevent cravings and reduce the chance of relapse.
An aftercare program is a thoroughly planned set of services and activities designed for each patient by the facility that provides the addiction treatment. Aftercare can include screenings, support groups, sober living arrangements, vocational training, and other services.

What Are the Different Stages of the Alcohol Addiction Recovery Process?

Even though no two patients are the same and the best practice requires individually tailored recovery programs and approaches, some basic alcohol addiction recovery steps are universal for most individuals and result in higher rates of long-term abstinence. The main stages of alcohol recovery generally follow this timeline:8

Recognizing alcohol dependence symptoms.
Realizing you need help and contemplating your options.
Asking for help.
Obtaining reliable information and choosing an appropriate rehab center.
Initial assessment and diagnosis.
Preparing for the treatment.
Comprehensive evaluation and creating a treatment plan.
Receiving treatment.
Sobriety maintenance after completing the program.

How Long Does It Take for the Body to Recover from Alcohol Use Disorder?

The alcohol recovery timeline will naturally depend on the specifics of each patient’s addiction, age, overall health, lifestyle, and circumstances of their everyday life. Prolonged consumption of large quantities of alcohol can cause structural damage to nearly all organs in the body. This can lead to many physical health problems or aggravate already existing ones.9

Any comorbid health conditions are taken into consideration by substance abuse experts when designing a recovery plan. Each patient will receive the type of treatment determined to be most effective in the context of their overall health. Before starting treatment, physical health is evaluated by a primary care physician and appropriate specialists if necessary. The addiction recovery program will work around any illnesses by choosing the safest approach and medication. Not endangering the patient’s health is a top priority, so treatment might last longer in such cases .6

This is particularly important during the detoxification phase as it can be quite challenging and, in some cases, dangerous and life-threatening. Detoxification usually lasts about two to three days, but in some cases, it may take up to a week if any particular health concerns require slowing down the process. Some of the most common symptoms people experience after quitting drinking include:10

Exhaustion.
Shaking or tremors.
Irregular heartbeat.
High blood pressure.
Rapid breathing.
Mood swings.
Unclear thinking, confusion.

When it comes to the long-term effects of excessive alcohol use, the liver and the gastrointestinal (GI) tract usually suffer the most severe damage. However, the liver is a very resilient organ, capable of regenerating itself. As a result, liver function and GI tract symptoms can begin to dissipate after a few weeks or months. Still, permanent damage, like cirrhosis, is also possible after prolonged heavy drinking, and it requires longer or lifelong care.9

Alcohol abuse also causes changes in brain functioning, and some or all of it can usually be reversed within a few months to a year. The cardiovascular system can be affected too, and the damage generally resolves within several months with proper care.9

What Should You Not Do in Recovery?

If you opted for an outpatient alcohol recovery program, and you’re not under strict rules and supervision of facility staff, the question of commitment and personal responsibility will be a more significant matter. There will undoubtedly be times when you’ll feel the urge to drink, and you’ll need to do your best to prevent that from happening. You should start by not keeping any alcohol in your home and avoiding places and events where most people will be drinking. Staying away from your “drinking buddies,” if you have such friends or acquaintances, is also necessary.11

You should avoid lying to your doctors or substance abuse specialists about your mental and emotional state and let them know if you have a slip or relapse. Avoid stressful situations or making important decisions if they can be postponed. You should also avoid having too many responsibilities as they can cause high-stress levels during this vulnerable time and raise the chances of relapse.11

However, that doesn’t mean you should allow yourself too much free time with nothing to do, as this can also be one of the relapse risk factors. Instead, try to discover new enjoyable ways to spend your free time, like hobbies, physical exercise, or being in nature.11

How to Maintain Sobriety During Recovery?

Maintaining sobriety is undoubtedly easier in the structured environment of inpatient programs when the presence and support of staff and other patients can help you stay on track, and the very nature of live-in programs doesn’t allow much room for relapsing. However, if you’re attending an outpatient treatment program or have completed treatment and gone back to your everyday life, you’re bound to be surrounded by various triggers that may cause you to relapse.8

This is why substance abuse providers create aftercare plans for patients completing treatment, to help them ease back into their lives and lower the chances of resorting to alcohol use in stressful and triggering situations. Aftercare programs usually include various alcohol recovery support services like self-help groups. Some of the most common ones are AA, NA, and SMART Recovery. These services are available in about 65% of Nevada’s rehab facilities.5, 7

How to Provide Support to Your Loved One in Alcohol Recovery?

First, make sure that you have accurate information about alcohol use disorder and know how to recognize some of the most common signs and symptoms, like:12

Avoiding situations and events where alcohol use is inappropriate or impossible.
Alcohol poisoning.
Irritable or violent behavior that might include physical or sexual assaults in most severe cases.
Aggravation of mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and even suicidal ideation.
Bad decision-making.
Risky behavior.
Various injuries like falls, burns, or car accidents.

You can get reliable information by calling one of the alcohol addiction hotlines. The most authoritative and trustworthy source for all substance abuse-related information is SAMHSA’s national helpline you can reach at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). This is their Treatment Referral Routing Service that can, aside from providing accurate information, direct you to licensed, high-quality alcohol recovery centers near you. Any conversation with a hotline representative is entirely confidential, and you can reach them for free, 24/7.13

You can also use their treatment facility locator to search for rehab centers according to the desired location. Another reliable resource that can provide accurate information and guidance is the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) which can be reached at 301–443–3860.12

You can also turn to reliable substance abuse treatment providers like American Addiction Centers (AAC), a network of top-rated rehab facilities in Nevada, and multiple additional locations across the US. AAC’s helpline is operated by highly trained admissions navigators who can guide you through the process of getting help for a loved one and answer any questions you might have about the cost of treatment and different payment options.

Alcohol Recovery Programs in Nevada