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Because people with alcoholism often experience denial (the refusal to recognize truth or reality), they often begin treatment only at the insistence of friends, family members, coworkers or others. Sometimes, patients seek treatment after an intervention (an orchestrated attempt by family and friends to encourage a person to seek help for addiction).

Treatment techniques vary according to the severity of the alcohol problem and other factors. Treatment for people who abuse alcohol may involve cutting back on drinking. For those who are dependent upon alcohol, treatment must involve refraining from drinking (abstinence). Patients may be treated in an outpatient program or a residential inpatient program.

Components of alcoholism treatment programs may include:

• Detoxification. Patients withdraw from alcohol, a process which usually lasts four to seven days. Medications to minimize symptoms experienced with withdrawal (such as seizures) are usually administered.
  
  
• Medical assessment and treatment. Patients are treated for medical conditions that may be present with alcoholism, such as high blood pressure, increased blood sugar and liver and heart disease.
  
  
• Psychological treatment. Patients with mental health disorders that contribute to alcoholism, such as depression, may receive treatment for the underlying disorder. Others receive support through group and individual counseling.
  
  
• Medications. Some patients are treated with special drugs, designed remove the compulsion to drink, block the intoxicating effects of alcohol or help to prevent relapses in people who have stopped drinking alcohol.

Because relapse (using alcohol after a period of abstinence) is common, people with alcoholism often receive ongoing treatment. This may involve individual or group counseling or participation in a self-help group. One of the most popular self-help groups is Alcoholics Anonymous (worldwide fellowship of people with alcoholism whose primary goal is to advocate recovery and sobriety through a 12-step process). Members meet on a regular basis and share personal stories of their recovery in an attempt to provide support and foster sobriety.

Because family support is important to recovery, many programs offer marital counseling or couples therapy, family therapy or other services as part of treatment. Programs may also help patients find other types of services needed for recovery, such as legal assistance, job training, childcare and parenting classes.

Other therapies for patients with alcoholism may include:

• Acupuncture. The insertion of thin needles under the skin. This may reduce cravings for alcohol. Acupuncture is performed by an acupuncturist.
  
  
• Motivational enhancement therapy. Therapy aimed at helping the patient acknowledge the alcohol problem and change behavior through stages.
  
  
• Cognitive behavior therapy. Psychotherapy that relies on the recognition of distorted thinking and replacing such thinking with more realistic ideas.
  
  
• Couples therapy. Therapy attended by both the patient with alcoholism and their significant other. Involving a partner may increase the chance of successful treatment.
  
  
• Aversion therapy. Involves taking a medication that causes an adverse response, such as nausea and vomiting, when alcohol is ingested.