Hope Integrative Medicine · Care, step by step
Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment, Step by Step
Treatment works without a residential stay: medication, counseling and regular follow-up while you keep living at home.
What treatment looks like
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Request an appointment
New patients are often able to be scheduled within a week of requesting an appointment. Send the form or call; our front desk can check your insurance before your first visit.
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In-person assessment in West Ashley
A full evaluation of your drinking pattern, past attempts to cut back or stop, other health conditions, medicines, mental health and goals. Whether withdrawal can be managed safely as an outpatient is decided here.
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A plan built around your goals
Some people want to stop drinking entirely; others start by cutting back. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) pairs an FDA-approved medication with counseling, chosen together with your provider.
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Weekly visits, in person or virtual
Regular follow-up keeps the plan working, with local labs and periodic vitals checks close to home.
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A monthly schedule
Once things are steady, visits move to a monthly schedule. Each plan is tailored to the patient and their situation.
Ready for the first step?
New patients are often able to be scheduled within a week of requesting an appointment.
Drinking raises the risk of 7 cancers
- MouthCancer of the oral cavity
- ThroatCancer of the pharynx
- Voice boxCancer of the larynx
- EsophagusSquamous cell cancer of the food pipe
- LiverLiver cancer
- BreastBreast cancer
- Colon and rectumColorectal cancer
Safety: Stopping heavy daily drinking suddenly can cause seizures or delirium tremens, which can be fatal. Talk to a clinician before stopping, and call 911 for confusion, hallucinations or a seizure.
Sources: National Cancer Institute: Alcohol and Cancer Risk.
Medications, one page each
What each medication is, how it is taken and what to expect at your visits.
Common Questions
Yes. The National Cancer Institute links drinking to cancers of the mouth and throat, voice box, esophagus, liver, breast, and colon and rectum. The more someone drinks, the higher the risk, and even light drinking raises the risk of some of these cancers.
Stopping is linked to lower risk of several of these cancers, including mouth and esophageal cancer. It may take years for the risk to fall to that of people who never drank, and it is never too late to stop.
Stopping heavy daily drinking suddenly can cause seizures or delirium tremens, which can be fatal. Talk to a clinician before stopping, and call 911 for confusion, hallucinations or a seizure. Whether withdrawal can be managed safely as an outpatient is decided at your evaluation; when the risk of severe withdrawal is high, we help arrange a higher level of care.
Not usually. Many people do well with medication, counseling and regular follow-up while they keep working and living at home.
Read the full guide to alcohol use disorder treatment
This article is general information, not medical advice, and does not create a patient–provider relationship. Every situation is different, so see a provider who can evaluate yours and develop a plan of care. Any medication discussed here may not be right for you: the right choice depends on your diagnoses, other health conditions and current medicines, so take medication only as directed by the provider managing your care. If you are ever in doubt about an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.