Reduce your alcohol intake to reverse the health-related conditions caused by excessive alcohol. Alcohol addiction is a result of excessive alcohol intake. It can cause changes to the brain and neurochemistry, so a person with an alcohol addiction may not be able to control their actions. Reducing your alcohol intake may lower your risk of physical and psychological conditions caused by alcohol.
Ways to Reduce Your Alcohol Intake
- Set a realistic goal. Record the maximum number of drinks you want to drink per day and the maximum number of days you want to drink per week. Writing down specific goals helps you set limits with measurable guideposts.
- Space your drinks. Another trick for cutting down alcohol consumption is to use drink spacers or nonalcoholic beverages between drinks containing alcohol. Some people will alternate a drink of water, juice, or soda between their alcoholic beverages to slow down their consumption.
- Avoid your triggers. To reduce or stop drinking, you’ll want to avoid situations in which you are accustomed to drinking. Avoiding these triggers can prevent you from drinking when you otherwise might not.
- Learn to say No. Most likely, you will be offered a drink or expected to drink with someone, just as you did in the past. Say it quickly and firmly so that you don’t give yourself time to change your mind.
- Count your drinks. Recording how many drinks you have may also help you reduce or slow down your drinking. Keep a handwritten note in your wallet or record your drinks on your smartphone, whichever is more convenient for you.
- Measure your drinks. If you are going to count how many drinks you have, make sure you are accurate. Learn what counts as a standard drink so that you can accurately count how many you have had.
- Pace yourself. Some people trying to cut down have been successful by pacing their drinking. The risk of misusing alcohol and alcohol dependence increases if drinkers consume alcohol rapidly, particularly during their first few drinks.
- Consider medical support. Consider talking to a healthcare provider about medications that are effective medical treatments for alcohol use disorder.
Treatment for Excessive Alcohol Intake
Treatment may involve a brief intervention, individual or group counseling, an outpatient program, or a residential inpatient stay. Working to stop alcohol use to improve quality of life is the main treatment goal. Counseling and therapy for groups and individuals help you better understand your problem with alcohol and support recovery from the psychological aspects of alcohol use.
Naltrexone Hcl to Reduce Alcohol Intake
Naltrexone Hcl works by blocking the joyful feeling that you may experience after taking opiates and alcohol. This medicine reduces your cravings and affects your brain to stop feeling the effects of opioids. It helps reduce the urge to take opiates. Naltrexone Hcl is also effective in treating alcohol abuse when combined with a series of treatments and procedures.