[By Steve Boulet, BS / CASAC, Operations Manager, Withdrawal and Stabilization Services for Behavioral Health, St. Peter’s Health Partners]
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recently reported that each year there are more than 178,000 alcohol-related deaths in the United States, with more than 200 disease and injury-related conditions associated with alcohol misuse.
April is Alcohol Awareness Month, a time to educate individuals about alcohol use disorder (AUD). It is also a time to remind people that recovery is possible and treatment is available to help people face and recover from addiction’s powerful effects.
People struggling with alcohol use disorder typically engage in compulsive behaviors and use alcohol, and sometimes other substances, as both a coping mechanism and a way to get through day-to-day life. These behaviors often continue despite harmful consequences.
There are numerous warning signs for someone with an alcohol use disorder but the most common are:
- Has anyone ever asked the person to cut down on their alcohol use out of concern?
- Does the person ever feel guilty regarding their alcohol use or try and hide it?
- Has the person ever used alcohol in the morning as an “eye opener” or to function throughout the day?
- Has the person had negative consequences to their alcohol use including legal problems, marital problems, employment problems, and others?
If you or a loved one is trying to overcome an alcohol use disorder, you need a compassionate, experienced team. The good news is that treatment services are available and St. Peter’s Addiction Recovery Center (SPARC) can help.
We offer a comprehensive program that can help you achieve and maintain a substance-free lifestyle on the road to recovery. Whether you are taking the first steps on your treatment journey or are further along, SPARC offers a full spectrum of services to assist with your return to a more independent, healthier life.
Not everyone’s journey is identical, but some of the stops on your road to recovery could include:
Detox
Inpatient detox offers assistance with withdrawal and stabilization that begins when eligible individuals present to a SPHP Emergency Room. Once there, they will receive a full medical work up for admission. Detox is a short stabilization stay with referrals to other levels of care. For information, call SPARC Detox at (518) 525-1303.
Outpatient Counseling
SPARC offers multiple locations throughout the Capital District for outpatient counseling, providing group and individual sessions with medication-assisted treatment and referrals to other levels of care, as needed.
- Albany – 64 Second Ave. – (518) 449-5170
- Cohoes – 55 Mohawk St. – (518) 235-1100
- Latham – 636 New Loudon Rd. – (518) 783-5381
- Rotterdam – 2925 Hamburg St. – (518) 357-2909
- Saratoga – 125 High Rock Ave. – (518) 885-6884
Inpatient Rehabilitation
SPARC offers inpatient rehab at locations in Guilderland and Troy, providing group and individual counseling and introductions to recovery programs with medication-assisted treatment and referrals to other levels of care, as needed.
- Central Intake – (518) 452-6797
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, remember that help is only a phone call away. For more information on all of our programs, please visit us at https://www.sphp.com/addiction.
