5ways to stop drinking alcohol

1. Join Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous has been the quintessential source of help for alcohol addicts since the 1930s and has helped tens of thousands of people stop drinking. The group uses a 12-step program that teaches problem drinkers to release their reliance on alcohol by focusing on a higher power and being accountable to family and friends. There are thousands of Alcoholics Anonymous groups all over the country, and anyone who wants to stop drinking can join. There is no membership fee, though some groups accept voluntary donations to keep the meetings going.

2. Let a Pill Deter You From Drinking

Disulfiram, also known as Antabuse, is widely used in Europe as a deterrent to drinking, and it is now starting to be used in the United States as well. Disulfiram prevents the body from fully metabolizing alcohol, which causes a buildup of toxins in the system that can cause some extremely unpleasant side effects. Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sweating, blurred vision, confusion and low blood pressure are just some of the normal side effects this drug can produce.

If a person has consumed a lot of alcohol while taking disulfiram, more intense reactions can occur. These effects of the drug may require medical intervention and can even be life-threatening. The horrible side effects produced by disulfiram are meant to discourage people from continuing to drink. However, due to its potentially dangerous nature, only severe alcoholics who have a strong motivation to quit drinking should take it.

3. Use Self-Management and Recovery Training

Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART) is like the nonreligious version of Alcoholics Anonymous, only with a wider reach. SMART recovery can be used for any addiction, not just drinking. The SMART system teaches people to manage their urges as well as their feelings about alcohol and to enhance their personal motivation to quit drinking. This technique doesn't rely on a higher power. Instead, it teaches personal power, showing each addict how to control his addictive behavior.

The SMART organization is still quite small, with about 300 groups meeting each week around the world. However, the SMART website has virtual meetings, message boards and information that you can use if there isn't a group meeting in your area.

4. Get the Alcohol Out of Your System

Detoxing from alcohol is a necessary step if you've been an alcoholic for a long time and drink to excess on a daily basis. In cases of severe alcoholism, the body is constantly inundated with alcohol, so when you stop drinking, your body goes through extreme withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can actually be fatal in certain circumstances. However, you'll never get sober without going through detox. The best thing for you to do is to go to an in-patient alcohol rehab center. Such centers have doctors on staff who can help you go through detox safely by managing withdrawal symptoms with medical intervention as necessary.

5. Avoid Alcohol Entirely

Sometimes alcohol can be sneaky. It hides in certain foods, such as wine in a pasta sauce or rum in a chocolate cake. To kick the alcohol habit completely, it is critical that you avoid alcohol in all of its forms, even in food. If you're not sure of the ingredients in something you're about to eat, ask. Even if you don't realize alcohol is present in your dinner, it will still be exerting a subtle influence over you, and that will make it even more difficult for you to stop drinking. It may also bring back a long-forgotten craving for alcohol once you've been sober for a while.