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How to Quit Alcohol and Drugs

If you want to quit drinking there are many resources available -- from support groups, treatment and rehabilitation centers, professional counseling, and pharmacological treatment.
Should You Cut Down Drinking Alcohol or Quit?
If you have been drinking at a level that is considered high-risk or heavy drinking, you may want to consider making a change in your drinking patterns -- or quit altogether.
How I Quit Drinking
What made you decide to quit drinking? Did you get help from others or do it on your own?
The First Stage of Recovery Is Treatment Initiation
The first stage of recovery from alcohol or drug abuse is reaching out for help and seeking some kind treatment or rehabilitation - a process known as treatment initiation.
The Second Stage of Recovery Is Early Abstinence
The toughest part of trying to recover from alcohol and drug problems comes during the early abstinence stage when a number of issues make it difficult to focus on learning to live a sober life.
The Third Stage of Alcohol and Drug Rehab Is Maintaining Abstinence
Once you have achieved abstinence for a period of time and began living a drug- or alcohol-free lifestyle, it is time to begin to put the tools you learned in early abstinence to work toward maintaining abstinence.
The Fourth Stage of Rehab Is Advanced Recovery
The fourth stage of alcohol and drug rehab is reaching a state of advanced recovery in which you continue to lead a lifelong sober lifestyle.
Avoid Substituting Addictions
It is easy for alcoholics and addicts new to recovery to substitute one addiction for another, becoming obsessive or compulsive about other behaviors.
Money Management
Returning to work after going through a professional alcohol and drug rehab program is usually a necessity for most, but employment and managing money can be problematic for alcoholics and addicts.
Exercise and Nutrition
Relaxation, exercise and better nutrition not only improve the physical and emotional health of people recovering from alcoholism or drug addiction, in their own way they can also help prevent relapse.
Managing Anger
Everyone gets angry occasionally, but alcoholics and addicts tend to have problems managing and expressing anger.
Developing a Drug-Free Lifestyle
If you are trying to maintain abstinence from alcohol or drugs over a long period of time, it is important to develop a drug-free lifestyle in all aspects of your life, at home, at work and during your leisure hours.
Dealing With the Past
If your drinking or drug use reached the point that you needed professional help to deal with the problem, chances are you came into recovery with a lot of negative baggage from the past.
Developing Healthy Relationship
If you are trying to maintain abstinence from drugs or alcohol, it is very important that you develop positive, healthy relationships to support you during your recovery process.
What Helped You Most When You Decided to Quit?
Please share what support you found most helpful when you decided to stop drinking?
Why Did You Decide to Quit Drinking?
Please share what made you decide to quit drinking.
How Does Alcoholics Anonymous Help?
Alcoholics Anonymous has helped millions of people since it was founded in 1935, but exactly how does A.A. help people stop drinking?
Finding the Right Treatment Program
Finding the right treatment program involves careful consideration of such things as the setting, length of care, philosophical approach and your or your loved one's needs.
Getting Help for Drinking Problems
If you have decided, for whatever reason, that you want to stop drinking, there is a world of help and support available.
Trying to Quit Drinking and Not Being Able to Stop
No one wants to discover that their use of alcohol has become alcohol dependence, but sometimes the reality of the situation can no longer be ignored.
Computer-Delivered CBT Helps Addicts
A computer-assisted CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) program designed to teach drug and alcohol abusers skills to change their behavior has been shown to help them remain abstinent significantly longer than others who received traditional counseling only.
Does Treatment Work?
The NIAAA says that many commonly used treatments for alcohol abuse and dependence have yet to be adequately evaluated.
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